Mixed 2x4gb RAM sets?

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Burnitory

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Jun 21, 2015
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Hey guys, I have a question. I've built a few PC's before, but I'm not super knowledgeable about a lot of the more specific things of hardware. I haven't seen any questions about the same exact question I have. Forgive me if this has been asked a million times and I just didn't see it.

I have 2x4gb of Gskill Ripjaws DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 (I know it's old) and one of the most common bottlenecks for me is maxing out my RAM usage. So I figured I'd get another 8gb (2x4gb), but the problem is that I can't find the same exact ram anywhere anymore. However, I did find this on Newegg
http://
(same thing, but 9-9-9-24). Is there any major issue with running 2 different sets that are the same brand, speed, model and everything but just slightly different timings?

My other option would be to have to spend twice as much and buy 16gb and I guess just toss the 8gb that's already in there which feels like a waste.


AMD FX-8350
Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0
Gskill Ripjaws DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 2x4GB
Western Digital Black WD20 03FZEX-00Z4SA0 SATA Disk Device (2TB)
EVGA GTX 970 SSC
SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V
An old CoolerMaster I've had for a long time (not sure what model anymore)
Windows 7 Ultimate
 
Solution
Darkbreeze
Here's the thing. AMD, and particularly the FX chipsets, Bulldozer and Piledriver, were particularly fickle when it comes to RAM because the memory controller architecture was rather "weak". Some systems wouldn't even run with anything faster than 1600mhz modules, especially on lower end boards. Most boards wouldn't run with four 1866mhz modules without tweaking the voltage and timings, and in some cases overclocking the CPU to bolster the memory controller, and practically few systems would run with four module configurations using disparate memory kits if the memory wasn't all tested together.

That's not to say it can't work, or that others haven't done exactly what you are trying to do, just that it's always a crapshoot and the fact...
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Lutfij

Lutfij

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Oct 7, 2009
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Provided your current ram kit is the same series and that your board allows you to manage the timings, frequency and voltage of the rams, then you can set the rams to the prior kits timings and specs. Now we don't know the specs to your current set of rams. Mind sharing a link to it?

I'm an advocate of not mixing and matching rams since they can and will lead to more hair puling due to troubleshooting. Heck there have been instances where the identical kit of ram(bought years apart) caused issues. It's for this very reason that I suggest that you either get the maximum ram kit your wallet an your board supports or take a gamble and get the near identical ram kit.

Can you list your specs like so:
CPU:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards, can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.

If you do buy more disparate sticks, they must be the same speed, voltage and cas numbers.
Even then your chances of working are less than 100%

What is your plan "B" if the new stick/s do not work?

Sometimes increasing the ram voltage in the bios will make things work.

If you want 16gb, my suggestion is to buy a 2 x 8gb kit that matches your current specs.
Then, try adding in your old 8gb,
If it works, good; you now have extra ram.
If not, sell the old ram or keep it as a spare.



 
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Burnitory

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Jun 21, 2015
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85% sure this is the exact set I have currently: http://

Yeah sure, I guess I should have added that from the start.
AMD FX-8350
Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0
Gskill Ripjaws DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 2x4GB
Western Digital Black SATA HDD (2TB)
EVGA GTX 970 SSC
SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V
An old CoolerMaster I've had for a long time (not sure what model anymore)
Windows 7 Ultimate

I plan on building a new PC within the next year or 2, so this RAM thing is just a band-aid for now to help a bit until then. Which is why I don't want to spend a bunch on RAM that I don't plan on keeping all that long.
 
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Burnitory

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Jun 21, 2015
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Yeah I know, I'm just trying to save some money. I didn't really want to spend $120 on what is essentially just meant to be a somewhat temporary band-aid to hold me over until I build a new PC.

 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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How certain are you that a lack of ram is hurting?
Look at the task manager hard fault page statistics.
If that is more than 1 per second, then you really do have a lack of ram and windows is swapping code in/out to the page file.

Looking at ram usage is tricky. Windows will keep unused code in ram in anticipation of reuse.
Try a backhanded experiment.
Using msconfig in boot options, REDUCE your ram from 8gb to perhaps 7.5gb.
See if that makes any important difference in your performance.

You may also want to look at your startup tasks and eliminate those that are not really necessary.


 
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Burnitory

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Jun 21, 2015
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Well I'm pretty certain, because during the times that I run into issues my RAM is often in the 90s usage when I look. My startup is fine, I don't idle above like 20%. I get the problems when I'm playing certain games and/or multitasking a lot. For example, having discord running, and several browser tabs including youtube in the background while playing an MMO or working on music or something. On rare occasion, I run 2 games at once for various reasons, but only if they're lower-requirement games. I know this kind of thing can be mitigated a bit by not doing such things, but I'd rather have the headroom than limit the stuff I'm doing.

I just looked (lots of tabs open, discord, and Golf It running right now) and my hard faults was 4-6
 
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Burnitory

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Jun 21, 2015
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I already know who the pig is. The pig is Burnitory! :lol: He keeps opening too many things in his browser plus a game. I already know the causes, I keep wanting to use too much RAM at once... The question was just about the 2 RAM sets not matching lol.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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176,790
Here's the thing. AMD, and particularly the FX chipsets, Bulldozer and Piledriver, were particularly fickle when it comes to RAM because the memory controller architecture was rather "weak". Some systems wouldn't even run with anything faster than 1600mhz modules, especially on lower end boards. Most boards wouldn't run with four 1866mhz modules without tweaking the voltage and timings, and in some cases overclocking the CPU to bolster the memory controller, and practically few systems would run with four module configurations using disparate memory kits if the memory wasn't all tested together.

That's not to say it can't work, or that others haven't done exactly what you are trying to do, just that it's always a crapshoot and the fact that the FX series was even more fickle when it came to memory compatibility, not just regarding dual channel operation, but at all, really increases the chances that it may be a waste of your time and money. My advice would be to try and find an exact match for your current memory, timings and all, used. That would give you a better chance but the fact that memory physical configuration on the module changes so much even though the part number stays the same, from production run to production run, and that even modules which were from the EXACT same production run but were not tested together at the factory still stand a good chance of not working together makes it potentially a seriously frustrating and risky venture.

At least if you go with used memory of the exact same model and timings you don't stand to be out the full cost of a new set, and if it doesn't work you can likely turn around and resell them for exactly what you bought them for. There are still plenty of buyers out there looking for DDR3 memory. Case in point, you.
 
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Solution
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Burnitory

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Jun 21, 2015
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Okay well then I guess I'll either just tough it out until I build a new PC, or cough up the money to just buy a 2x8GB set and replace my 2x4. There's still a decent number of DDR3 sets on Newegg, I'm just stuck in a specific situation of what I'm trying to get is all.


Thanks for all the help and info guys!

 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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Make that a 2 x 8gb KIT, not individual sticks.

 
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