Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Memory > [Solved] Mix two brands/sizes of RAM

[Solved] Mix two brands/sizes of RAM

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - [Solved] Mix two brands/sizes of RAM

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Best answer from GhislainG.

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I have GeIL Esoteria 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model GX24GB6400ERBPDC installed on windows 7 machine. EVGA i680 MB. I have an additional Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804. When I install the Crucial in the MB it posts fine, even memory test from MB comes out ok. But when I boot Windows 7 each time I get the BSOD. I've read on the boards that as long as the speed is the same (DDR2) I should have no problems. How can my MB work fine/recognize both sets of memory but WIN7 balks? Is there anything I can do to use the additional memory? Thanks in advance.


Message edited by whayes on 11-07-2009 at 01:33:06 PM
Geil requires 1.9V - 2.5V and Crucial requires 2.2V. If installing both kits, you'll need at least 2.2V or more. It always is more difficult to get 4 modules working. You might also have to loosen the timings from 4-4-4-12 to 5-5-5-15.
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Best answer

Geil requires 1.9V - 2.5V and Crucial requires 2.2V. If installing both kits, you'll need at least 2.2V or more. It always is more difficult to get 4 modules working. You might also have to loosen the timings from 4-4-4-12 to 5-5-5-15.

Reply to GhislainG

On my MB I selected auto for both voltage and timing. Shouldn't that adjust/suffice for all modules or should I manually tweak the voltage and timing. I don't want to burn out the memory or MB or anything else by doing this.

Reply to whayes

If you don't want to increase voltage manually, then you should buy modules that only require 1.8V to run. Set the voltage to 2.2V to see if it corrects your issue.

Reply to GhislainG

Dude, thanks a lot. I increased the voltage to 2.2v and wa la it worked. I also set the timings to 4-4-4-12 2t, they had been on auto registering at 5-5-5-18 2t. If I have any problems I'll go back to auto for the timings. I almost threw away 2GB of RAM! Thanks again!!


Message edited by whayes on 11-07-2009 at 11:37:37 PM
Reply to whayes
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Memory > [Solved] Mix two brands/sizes of RAM
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