RAM Has Same Model Number, But Different Voltages

[kc27]

My older Gigabyte GA-8SQ800 motherboard had two 512 mb sticks of Kingston Value RAM, #KVR400X64C3A, 2.5V

I purchased two more sticks of that same model number memory. It's the same model number, but the memory is slightly different. it is 2.6V and has chips on a single side, where the original memory is double sided.

Is mixing RAM with two different voltages and single sided vs double sided chips going to be an issue? I thought I was avoiding this by purchasing the same model number of memory, but apparently the specs are now different as compared to my original RAM. The original ram was made in 2003, the added RAM in 2008.

Below is some info on the RAM. (Note the even thought the RAM in DIMM 1 and DIMM 3 is labeled as 2.6 V, this report shows it at 2.5 V

Thanks in advance for any ideas on this.


--------[ EVEREST Ultimate Edition ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v4.50.1330
Benchmark Module 2.3.224.0
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Quick Report
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2011-02-09
Time 19:09


--------[ SPD ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ DIMM1: Kingston K ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Kingston K
Serial Number 6414B42Eh (783553636)
Manufacture Date Week 2 / 2008
Module Size 512 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 11-14-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 10-12-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
Product Information http://www.kingston.com/products/default.asp

[ DIMM2: Kingston K ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Kingston K
Serial Number 1BFFFFFFh (4294967067)
Manufacture Date Week 22 / 2003
Module Size 512 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 11-14-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 10-12-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 8-10-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
Product Information http://www.kingston.com/products/default.asp

[ DIMM3: Kingston K ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Kingston K
Serial Number 6714B76Dh (1840714855)
Manufacture Date Week 2 / 2008
Module Size 512 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 11-14-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 10-12-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
Product Information http://www.kingston.com/products/default.asp

[ DIMM4: Kingston K ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Kingston K
Serial Number 1BFFFFFFh (4294967067)
Manufacture Date Week 22 / 2003
Module Size 512 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 11-14-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 10-12-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 8-10-2 (RC-RFC-RRD)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
Product Information http://www.kingston.com/products/default.asp

 

[kc27]

I answered my own question. It started causing errors, so the difference is significant enough to avoid mixing these two type of memory..

 

[COLGeek]

Is your BIOS memory settings set to AUTO or are they manually configured?

 

[geekapproved]

Hmmm....I remember way back in the days of SDRAM (non-DDR), you could NOT mix single and double sided dimms. Not sure about DDR though.

 

[kc27]

Is your BIOS memory settings set to AUTO or are they manually configured?

The BIOS offers these two choices

Normal: Set DRAM Voltage Control to Normal. (Default value)
+0.1V: Set DRAM Voltage Control to +0.1V

I assume Normal is 2.5v because in the user's manual it states "Supports only 2.5V DDR DIMM"

 

[COLGeek]

Looks like your mobo has set all to 2.5 based on what your manual says is supported. If you only have the 2.6v memory installed, will the system boot properly?

 

[bryanl]

You'll need to run all the RAM at 2.6V. The 2.6V rating indicates at least one chip on the module is defective, and Kingston, like almost all makers of memory modules, cheated by raising the voltage requirement to "eliminate" the defect. Kingston shouldn't have provided an inferior replacement part without first confirming that your motherboard supported adjustment of the memory voltage. I'd speak with higher level tech support to get this straightened out, all at Kingston's expense, of course, including shipping.