Ram with faster timings, same voltage

lolwut767

Honorable
Dec 14, 2012
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10,540
Hi all,

Yet another question that you've probably heard before.
I have a 1x4GB Corsair XMS3 stick in my desktop currently, but I wanted to add some more.
I bought some more (2X4GB Corsair XMS3), and the speeds were faster (which I know that is usually OK to mix).
HOWEVER, the new ram runs at the timings of 11-11-11-30, whereas the old runs at 9-9-9-24.
The system I run is a Dell Optiplex 780 (SFF) with the standard mobo.

Now, should I...
A) Mix them, boot into the bios, and change the settings, or
B) Not use the old 9-9-9-24 and use the new ones on its own.

Thanks for ye olde helpe.
:)
 
If you mix them together, you are better to set the settings to auto. One thing you need to make sure the RAM is 1600MHz 11-11-11-30 or 1866MHz 11-11-11-30, if it is the 1600Mhz, then they will run in the lower speed/timing at 1600MHz 11-11-11-30. If RMA is 1866MHz, then they will run in 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 after you mix them.

Also when you mix the RAM, the RAM will run in the single channel mode because you have 3x4GB, even though they have a small difference between them. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/PARALLEL-PROCESSING,1705-11.html

And there is no difference between 8GB and 12GB. If you don't use the PC for heavy photo/video editting then just get other 4GB RAM. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-memory-upgrade,2778-8.html