Adding 6gb to 3gb on a triple channel system?

[lithodora]

I have an ASUS P6T Deluxe mobo which currently has 3GB of RAM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227369

The 1GB chips are in the Orange slots as shown here.

(upper left)

I am thinking of getting 6GB more of RAM (due to pricing mostly). Matching up as best I can with my current RAM I'll be ordering this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227642

My question is how to arrange the RAM to best advantage? Should I just put the 2GB chips in the black slots?

 

[WyomingKnott]

I have an ASUS P6T Deluxe mobo which currently has 3GB of RAM.

The 1GB chips are in the Orange slots as shown here.



I am thinking of getting 6GB more of RAM (due to pricing mostly). Matching up as best I can with my current RAM I'll be ordering this:

My question is how to arrange the RAM to best advantage? Should I just put the 2GB chips in the black slots?

There are two different schools of opinion. I personally mix and match similar memory. Fair warning: Some people insist that you will suffer from not having exactly matched memory, and they may be right in general.

In my opinion, put 'em in the black slots. If you want to settle the question for sure, benchmark it that way and again with only the new memory in. That board should handle two sticks of 1333 in each channel, but not two of 1600. You have 1333, so it should be fine.

 

[jaquith]

1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 3X1GB
1333 8-8-8-24 @ 1.35V 3X2GB
======================
1333 8-8-8-24 @ 1.5V* 9GB

1. You must run a 64-bit OS to access >4GB RAM
2. The Voltage disparity is too great to have either kit work properly.
3. Yes, I'm one of the 'insist' folks; you'll need to set the WORST of each to get it to work properly {CAS & Voltage} disparity is indeed an accident {errors} waiting to happen.

I would 'try' the OCZ OCZ3P1333LV6GK DDR3 PC3-10666 1333 MHz 6GB Platinum XTC http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ3P1333LV6GK-PC3-10666-Platinum-Channel/dp/accessories/B001IT2E42
1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 3X2GB

 

[lithodora]

Considering the cost is even less and the CAS & Voltage match I will most likely go with the one from Amazon, but an additional question then: which would give me a greater performance gain? Pulling out my 3GB and going with a 'faster' RAM of 6GB (or even something like this) or going to 9GB as I am planning?


Seems 9gb would be better than less regardless of the speed (well the speeds I mention).

 

[jaquith]

You get the WORST of each set; there's NO multiple speeds or averaging in the BIOS. Imagine your PC as an atomic clock - speed differences or CAS differences are read into the BIOS as 'errors' and more than likely one of the channels will be shutdown {e.g. either the 3X1GB is 'ON' and 3X2GB is 'OFF'}.

1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 3X1GB
1600 8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V 3X2BG {you'll need to 'find' the CAS speeds per JEDEC if the 1600 are running @ 1333 (less)}
=====================
1333 8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V 9GB

1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 3X1GB
1333 9-9-9-20 @ 1.65V 2x4GB
=====================
1333 9-9-9-20 @ 1.65V 10GB {you can only use 2 of the 3 sticks of 1GB// pairs or triplet}

 

[lithodora]

The plan is to put in this:

1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 3X1GB (black slots)
1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 3X2BG (orange slots)
=====================
1333 7-7-7-20 @ 1.65V 9GB


I was asking if that would yield a much higher performance gain than just running:

1600 8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V 3X2BG (or some variation close to this)

Meaning can the 6GB at a 'faster' speed be just as good as 9GB at slower speeds.

When I got the first 3GB it was about all that was available at the time for a reasonable price. I was running Windows XP so 3GB was fine. Now I am running Win 7 (x64) and can go with more (as long as I can afford it). I'm trying to get the best bang for my buck at this point.

 

[jaquith]

The MIXING 'Answer' will always be a 1600 or 2000 AND 1333 will always yield 1333 the slowest.

Otherwise the fastest is 1 stick per Channel or a 3X2GB set; 1600 8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V 3X2GB. Faster only be a bench test or 1~3%. My favorite set is the Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 8-8-8-24 1600MHz; great OC and excellent performance.

Bench:
Comparison Module #1: Mushkin Redline 996805 6-8-6-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #2: G.Skill Pi Series 7-8-7-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #3: Mushkin 998687 8-9-8-24 1866MHz
Comparison Module #4: Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 8-8-8-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #5: Kingston HyperX T1 9-9-9-27 1600MHz
Comparison Module #6: Mushkin Blackline 998677B 7-7-7-20 1333MHz
Comparison Module #7: Patriot Viper II Sector 7 9-9-9-27 1800MHz

Stock:

 

[lithodora]

Best answer selected by lithodora.