Need help with installing additional RAM. Already checked usual incompatibility issues.

Dark Element 117 · Jul 16, 2016

I built this computer 1.5 years ago. It has a ASUS H87M-Plus motherboard, which I installed 2 sticks of HyperX, 4 GB RAM to. Now I'd like to increase my capacity to 24 GB by installing 2 more sticks of 8 GB each. I have bought nearly identical copies of my original RAM, the only things being different are the color and the capacity. I have read in the manual for the motherboard that it does support varying capacities as long as the are the same capacity in one back. Even though the frequency, latency, and even the model # are the same it won't boot. It doesn't even post, meaning can't even get to the bios. I also know that the RAM is compatible with the motherboard because the new RAM works when loaded into the system without my old RAM. I have also tried resetting the cmos, but also nothing.

Please give me any tips on how to resolve this issue.

Tradesman1 · Jul 16, 2016

There are no guarantees when mixing packages of DRAM even if you tried adding another set of the same exact model you already have. Always best to get a single package of the full amount of DRAM you want

Calvin7 · Jul 16, 2016

You wrote, "frequency, latency, and even the model # are the same".

Those ratings will only apply to a single kit. Once doubled up, they will likely be unable to operate at the rated frequency, latency any longer. That is, if they are able to boot up at all.

A work around when doubling up kits is to manually lower the memory frequency if you are able to get into the BIOS.

Dark Element 117 · Jul 17, 2016

Calvin7 :

So, your saying that even though both kits were rated the same values, since they weren't made at the same time it's likely that those values have changed slightly? Would this appear in the bios? Also, which set of RAM would I lower?

Dark Element 117 · Jul 17, 2016

Tradesman1 :

What about all those DIY computer builders who say to make sure you have enough expandability when picking the mobo just in case you want to add RAM in the future? Are you suggesting that they mean that you buy and entire new RAM set?

I know that having all the RAM from the same kit is optimal, but I've heard a lot of people say that as long as it is the same frequency and latency, doesn't even have to be same brand, that it should work.
____________________________

Take a look in the forums, it's full of people trying to mix DRAM (often with no success at all, I've helped hundred here with voltage and timing adjustments to get them to play, and often we've had no success, I covered this in an article, Fiction, items 2 & 6:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2741495/ddr3-faqs-fiction.html

Not saying they WON'T play, but that you should be aware it's a 50/50 maybe....and if they don't play you could be looking at return shipping fees, restocking fees (if they even offer refunds), lost time, etc

doctor8ball · Jul 18, 2016

Dark Element 117 :

I would run CPU-Z and you will see the memory timings under the "MEMORY" tab and all the required information of each slot in the "SPD" tab. You will then probably see the speed and timing differences from one slot to another.

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