Called Tech Support for RAM Upgrade and this is what they told me. Can you confirm? Help me Upgrade to 16gb.

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mikemefistous

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Jun 3, 2016
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This is my 2nd post on this.

I am really confused with the whole RAM thing and my previous post here: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3169153/needed-upgrade-single-channel-8gb-ddr4-adding-16gb.html#18514864

is where the people confused me even more.



My RIG:

CPU: i5 6600k OC to 4.5ghz

GPU: gtx970 Gigabyte

MOBO: z170x gaming 3 Gigabyte (4 RAM SLOTS, 2 dual channel)

win7 x64.

RAM: Single Channel 8gb DDR4 Vengeance 2664MHz (16-18-18-35)


I bought the MOBO,CPU,RAM 23 days ago from the same store.

On their store they have that Single Channel 8gb RAM for 50 Euro.

They have a 16gb RAM Kit of the same model(speed/timings etc.) that is dual Channel for 100 euro.

I didn't have the money to get the 16gb RAM Kit 23 days ago, because my budget was only 50 euro for 8gb of RAM. So my thought process before my first post, was that i'd get the 8gb for now that i have the money and i'll spend another 50 to get another 8gb and have a total of 16gb.



That said, my MOBO has dual channels(4 slots), Channel A and Channel B.

I have my Single 8GB Ram Stick on Slot 1(Channel A)

I want to Upgrade to 16 GB.

What i thought was, i'll get the 8gb 23 days ago and when i have the money, i 'll get the exact same and add it on to my MOBO and i'll have a total of 16gb and everything will be a OK.

But as you can see from my post, people replied telling me, that even if i have the identical model, 2 times, there is no guarantee they will be compatible and work together as 16gb of RAM in total.

So i call the tech support and i tell them, i want to return my 8gb, get my money back basically and give them back to them + 50 more euro to get the 100 euro 16gb kit.

They told me, that i don't have to do that and said what i can do is buy the identical model, place it on the same Channel A as the other model and they would be compatible and work just fine and if they didn't work fine, i'd have to send them back my PC, since the issue would be on the Motherboard and not on the RAM compatibility.


WHat are your thoughts on that? I am ridiculusely confused. 2 people replied saying "identical modules can be incompatible when purchased separately" yet the tech support of the shop told me, that's not how RAM works and that i wouldn't have an issue wiht compatibility if i bought the same model. After they told me that, i asked them "what channel should i put the new 8gb on the same Channel A with the other single one or on Channel B? To which they replied, i should put it on the same coloured channel. So for clarification i asked again "So you mean i should put them both on Channel A? To which they replied Yes. I said okay thanks and now i am made this post.
 
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Robert Cook

Robert Cook

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considering how often I have mixed RAM of different speeds and brands I cam calling BS on the whole Identical sticks will not work. the two stick that come in a dual channel set are just two stick together in a box, buying an identical stick and putting it in the A2 slot should work perfectly.
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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You should be fine.

Personally, I've never had issues 'mixing & matching' RAM (even of differing brands/speeds) but others have, and it is a possibility - that's all the responses in the prior post are trying to tell you.

As for 'it's a motherboard, not a RAM problem' if it doesn't work, technically it's only your problem (no offence intended). RAM manufacturers, and motherboard makers post disclaimers that mixing & matching RAM is no guarantee to work.

As for your 'tech support' guy - honestly, they just sound like they don't want to (or can't) process a refund.
If it doesn't work, they want your whole desktop? They just want to make a quick buck off of you.

Buy a second 8GB module (identical) - you shouldn't have an issues at all.
 
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manddy123

manddy123

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If your MOBO supports Dual Channel ( which obviously does ) and you buy two identical RAM, same brand, timings and clock speed, and put them in the respective slot ( They are normally colored the same ) it should automaticaly start working in dual channel. You don't have to worry.

You can use CPU-Z to confirm that. It's a program that analises your computer specs and show everything, including if your RAMs are working in dual/quad channel.
 
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helpstar

helpstar

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Well, all that "we" are telling you, is that the chance of having better compatibility with a kit is higher, than buying two single modules seperately. It´s not like it will of course fail if you do so.

The tech guy is replying to you like I would, if you were a customer of mine. The one module is not defective, works fine but is used and I don´t want it back. Why should I give you money for a working stick?

Buy the second single module and install it into the Dimm Slot DDR4_1 and DDR4_2,
You can install both in DDR4_3 and DDR4_4 for dual channel too.

basically both installed in the same colored sockets. Have a look at the writing on the motherboard too.

"the same Channel A" is definitely a wrong advice
 
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rgd1101

rgd1101

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wrong. they tested them together before putting them in a set.
that why Tradesman1 said
"You can try adding another stick, but there are no guarantees it will play with your current stick (even if it's the same exact model)..Alway best to get the full amount you want in a single package - that way they are tested and guaranteed to play nice"

We don't mean it not going to work. most of the time they do. you just see people having issue mixing on the forum.
 
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Rogue Leader

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Just want to toss in, don't put it in the same channel run the new ram in dual channel, I don't know why he told you to do that but thats totally not correct. I looked through the responses to your thread, they all do say that it "should" work but theres no guarantee and thats what you should be aware of. Now since you are stuck with the RAM you bought already and the shop swears it will work fine, just buy the extra 8gb stick and install it. If it doesn't work then they promised you it would and they can deal with the problem.
 
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MeanMachine41

MeanMachine41

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Well I for one disagree. You should not mix DIMM Kits even of the same spec. Sure they may or they may not work and if they don't it can be very frustrating and taking a risk. There are discrepancies during Manufacture and that's why DIMMs are factory binned into selective kits.

Here's on Authoritative overview on the topic. https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?57038-Don%92t-combine-memory-kits!-The-meat-and-potatoes-overview

I never mix DIMMs and answered many threads where this has been the problem especially with the higher frequency modules.
 
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mikemefistous

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Jun 3, 2016
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So... Uhh what should i do?
I ordered it, they said they'll have it arrive on their shop in 2-3 days and when i'll go to buy it and before i pay, i'll ask one of them to confirm it again and make em say "if they don't work due to compatibility issues you can return."

Then i'll wait another month and gather some more money and order some different type of RAM in a 16gb kit.
 
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