Mixing RAM sticks?

The_YongGrand · 24th May 2008, 08:32 PM

Hey there!

I have a dual-processor Pentium 3 system... and with 256MB PC133 there, Apacer brand.

So could I mix RAM sticks of different brands, all like 256MB Kingston.. 256MB brandless...

Anyone tried that ... and any complications?

Digerati · 24th May 2008, 08:45 PM

There most likely will be complications. Never mix RAM.

g0tanks · 24th May 2008, 08:53 PM

I don't know about any problems with older systems, but I mix RAM all the time and it works fine. Just make sure it has the same speed and timings.

mikegas · 24th May 2008, 09:08 PM

If the RAM is different speed, always set at the BIOS the slowest of the two. It works in my ancient desktop ..

zy · 24th May 2008, 09:23 PM

so far no problems... althought i use kingston sticks more often, but it has different memory chips

g0tanks · 24th May 2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikegas

If the RAM is different speed, always set at the BIOS the slowest of the two. It works in my ancient desktop ..

Usually the bios does this automatically anyway.

Adrian Wong · 24th May 2008, 09:48 PM

Well I have always used mixed modules of different speeds and makes.

It's not an issue unless you use the speed of the fastest modules, instead of the highest speed supported by ALL modules.

Adrian Wong · 24th May 2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g0tanks

Usually the bios does this automatically anyway.

That depends. Some BIOS would just default to automatic DRAM timings, leaving you to set the RAM clock speed. But yeah, many BIOS now automatically detects and uses the highest common clock speed.

Rraven · 24th May 2008, 10:23 PM

If you place the slowest stick in slot 1 of the memory the bios will detect that and set all memory to that speed automatically.

Chai · 24th May 2008, 10:51 PM

I was using mixed modules as well. 3 different modules and capacity on the mobo!

24th May 2008, 08:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Hyperactive Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,744 Reputation: 1144 Rep Power: 18	Mixing RAM sticks? Hey there! I have a dual-processor Pentium 3 system... and with 256MB PC133 there, Apacer brand. So could I mix RAM sticks of different brands, all like 256MB Kingston.. 256MB brandless... Anyone tried that ... and any complications? __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E7200, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Gigabyte 945GCMX-S2, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5B-E Plus, nVidia Geforce 7950GT 512MB DDR3

24th May 2008, 08:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
g0tanks Active Join Date: 6 May 2008 Posts: 608 Reputation: 175 Rep Power: 3	I don't know about any problems with older systems, but I mix RAM all the time and it works fine. Just make sure it has the same speed and timings. __________________

24th May 2008, 09:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY / Penang MY Posts: 13,336 Reputation: 2158 Rep Power: 41	so far no problems... althought i use kingston sticks more often, but it has different memory chips __________________

24th May 2008, 09:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,304 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	Well I have always used mixed modules of different speeds and makes. It's not an issue unless you use the speed of the fastest modules, instead of the highest speed supported by ALL modules. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

24th May 2008, 10:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	I was using mixed modules as well. 3 different modules and capacity on the mobo! __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

24th May 2008, 08:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Digerati Just Started Join Date: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 45 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	There most likely will be complications. Never mix RAM.

24th May 2008, 09:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
mikegas I'm a regular Join Date: 7 May 2008 Posts: 464 Reputation: 206 Rep Power: 4	If the RAM is different speed, always set at the BIOS the slowest of the two. It works in my ancient desktop ..

24th May 2008, 10:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rraven Just Started Join Date: 13 May 2008 Location: Blairsville, GA Posts: 50 Reputation: 129 Rep Power: 0	If you place the slowest stick in slot 1 of the memory the bios will detect that and set all memory to that speed automatically.

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