Upgrading RAM: Buy another of same kit?

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JackNaylorPE
Adding more RAM is always a crapshoot. Sometimes it works with no issues, sometimes you have to raise voltage / reduce timings and sometimes it just won't work no matter what. Your biggest problem is buying a 2 x 4GB kit that has the exact same model number is no guarantee that they will be the same RAM. The lower the DDR speed and higher the timings, the more likely to have success

Corsair DDR3-2400 CAS 10 Version 4.50 had Hynix modules w/ 10-12-12-28 timings
Corsair DDR3-2400 CAS 10 Version 4.52 had unknown* modules w/ 10-12-12-31 timings

* I didn't take HS's off to see who made them but they weren't Hynix

Matching those two sets was problematic.... so I returned the newer version of the Corsairs and bought a 2 x 4GB set from...
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Robert Cook

Robert Cook

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so you have one single 8Gb stick? if you get one with identical specs and from the same brand it is pretty much certain to work, although as I learned a few posts ago you have to really say TECHNICALLY...
I just upgraded my phenom system to 24Gb as I got my hands on a 16Gb kit totally different timings, and it plays fine...
so for all intensive purposes yes it will work.
 
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damric

damric

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You never really know until you try it. You can buy a same model stick with same timings profile, ect, and then you open the box and it's a different color PCB under the heat spreader. Or you go to install it and read the AIDA 64 info and it shows that it's not the same number of ranks. It might not even have the same ICs (samsung, hynix, or micron). If you can compare the serial numbers on the stickers, sometimes that can be a clue. Good luck.
 
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rocklee557

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No, I have a 2 stick kit right now.
 
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Robert Cook

Robert Cook

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ah so then get the second 8GB dual stick kit, and put them in their respective slots, and you should be good to go.
@damric completely different RAM chips still work fine together. hynix and elipda can work, you just get held up on the elipda stuff. it seems people are out to villify RAM and make it seem like a temperamental beast. although I agree getting them to match in the first place is the best way to go.
 
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damric

damric

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I didn't mean to come off as a Debbie Downer. They certainly can work together no doubt, but it may take a little or even a lot of effort. I was just posting some of my experiences, and those were all with various g.skill RAM. I always end up pushing RAM timings and frequency to fastest possible, so I carefully do my own binning and become well aware when they send me a fish.
 
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JackNaylorPE

JackNaylorPE

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Adding more RAM is always a crapshoot. Sometimes it works with no issues, sometimes you have to raise voltage / reduce timings and sometimes it just won't work no matter what. Your biggest problem is buying a 2 x 4GB kit that has the exact same model number is no guarantee that they will be the same RAM. The lower the DDR speed and higher the timings, the more likely to have success

Corsair DDR3-2400 CAS 10 Version 4.50 had Hynix modules w/ 10-12-12-28 timings
Corsair DDR3-2400 CAS 10 Version 4.52 had unknown* modules w/ 10-12-12-31 timings

* I didn't take HS's off to see who made them but they weren't Hynix

Matching those two sets was problematic.... so I returned the newer version of the Corsairs and bought a 2 x 4GB set from Mushkin (Hynix) and they worked just fine.

Also note the driving 4 sticks instead of 2 is a bit harder on your MC. If your system is overclocked, you may have to tweak your CPU OC settings (raise voltage or decrease OC)

 
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rocklee557

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Well, I ended up picking up another set of RAM and it worked fine in dual channel mode. Thank you everyone for your help!
 
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