Is it OK to mix 2 brands of RAM?

Can You Mix Different RAM Brands? In short, the answer to this question is: yes. No matter the brand, speed, and size of the RAM, theoretically, you can mix and match RAM in your system, though it may prove to be problematic.

What happens if you mix RAM brands?

“Can you mix RAM brands?” is one of the most common questions among PC enthusiasts, bound to cause confusion when choosing your system's memory. The answer is: in most cases, yes, you can! But should you? At best, your mismatched kit will be as slow as your slowest stick, and at worst, your system will crash.

Can you mix old and new RAM?

Although you can mostly mix RAM sticks that have different specs, you can't mix ones from different generations e.g. DDR2 RAM and DDR3 RAM, so just bear this in mind.

Does RAM have to match?

Most laptops or computers come with at least two slots for RAM sticks, if not more. Most modern motherboards will provide four RAM slots. There's a prevailing misconception you cannot use different RAM sizes together or that you cannot mix RAM brands. Simply put, that's not true.

Can you mix DDR3 and DDR4 RAM?

Every DDR generation is different from the others. DDR4 is not backward-compatible with DDR3 so a DDR4 DIMM will not fit on a DDR3 DIMM slot. Not only is the key notch of each DDR generation different (please refer to Figure 1 above), but the DDR4 pin size and arrangement is different from DDR3.

Just How Bad is Mixing Memory?

What happens if you use two different types of RAM?

Nothing exciting. While you can technically mix speeds, there is one important thing to note: your DRAM would all run at the speed of the slowest module. For example, if you have a DDR3 1333MHz system and install a second module at 1600MHz, they would both run at the 1333MHz speed.

Can I use 1333MHz and 1600MHz RAM together?

Yes, you can mix 1333 and 1600 MHz RAM sticks, however the system will downclock all RAM to the speed of the slowest stick.

Is it bad to have mismatched RAM?

Mismatched sizes of RAM sticks can affect memory configuration. A larger RAM module paired with a smaller one causes asynchronous operation. You may know this as Flex Mode. It can cause the smaller RAM to pair with only half of the bigger RAM module.

Is 32 GB RAM overkill?

32GB of RAM is considered high and is generally overkill for most users. For most everyday use and basic tasks such as web browsing, email, and basic office work, 8GB of RAM is more than enough. Even for gaming or video editing, 16GB is typically sufficient.

Is it OK to mix different RAM speeds?

You can use memory modules of different speeds as long as they are faster than those specified for your computer. It is recommended to use modules of the same speed as those already installed in your system. If you do mix speeds, the modules will all run at the speed of your slowest modules.

Does RAM brand matter?

The main thing you'll want to do is make sure that the speed, latency, and size of all individual RAM sticks are identical. If this is the case, then mixing RAM brands should work, because on paper you're using identical RAM for a dual or quad-channel configuration.

Can I just swap out my RAM?

To upgrade or add new RAM to your laptop, locate the RAM slot inside your computer and align the new RAM module to fit into position. Then, press down gently on the RAM cartridge until you hear a click signaling that the module has locked into the RAM clips inside your laptop.

Is 64 GB RAM overkill?

For gaming, 64GB of RAM is definitely overkill. For editing/streaming/recording, unless you're doing extremely demanding resolutions, 64GB is probably overkill there as well.

Is 3200MHz RAM good?

Both 3200Mhz and 3600MHz of RAM have a very outstanding performance. They can be operated using the correct devices to give effective results. When compared to other RAM sizes, the performance of these two RAM sizes is excellent and highly recommended.

Can you use 2 different brands of RAM reddit?

The general rule is avoid doing it like the plague. The timings of different brands are always slightly different. You may get it to work if the settings default to the slowest ram. Its just one of things you try to avoid at all cost.

Can I mix DDR3 and DDR5 RAM?

Motherboards are built to support only one type of memory, so you can't mix and match SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, or DDR5 memory on the same motherboard. They won't work, and they may not even fit in the same sockets.

Does 32GB RAM give more FPS than 16GB?

32GB of RAM is becoming increasingly popular amongst gamers, and the increase in FPS from 16GB is likely to be a key reason. With 32GB, you will have graphically enhanced gameplay, while still being able to do multiple things in the background, like livestreaming and using Chrome, system software, or Spotify.

Is 1 TB RAM overkill?

With 1TB of RAM, you could buffer dozens or even hundreds of videos (on YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, and other sites) ahead of time to play at your leisure. Normally this is a bad idea, because loading data from virtual RAM to physical RAM is slow. But if you have 1TB of RAM, this won't ever be a problem for you.

Is 16GB or 32GB better for gaming?

16GB of RAM is considered the 'sweet spot. ' It allows for solid game playing, high-intensity work with computer programs, and gives you a fair amount of memory. If you want to be a serious gamer, 16Gb might be your ideal setup.

Can mismatched RAM cause freezing?

Defective RAM can cause all sorts of problems. If you're suffering from frequent crashes, freezes, reboots, or Blue Screens of Death, a bad RAM chip could be the cause of your travails. If these annoyances tend to happen when you're using a memory-intensive application or game, bad RAM is a very likely culprit.

Is DDR4 better than DDR5?

Compared to DDR4, DDR5 RAM kits have a higher base speed, support higher-capacity DIMM modules (also called RAM sticks), and consume less power for the same performance specs as the previous generation. However, DDR4 still holds some key advantages, like overall lower latency and better stability.

Should I double my RAM?

In a nutshell, installing more RAM may improve computer speed if you frequently use many programs or browsing tabs at once, or if you do memory-intensive tasks like gaming or Photoshop. Under regular use, however, a CPU upgrade will probably have a greater immediate effect on performance.

Can I use 3 16GB RAM together?

Yes, it'll run normally, but in flex mode instead of regular dual channel, meaning that after you use the first 16gb (from your 2x16 sticks) that are in dual channel, data will be read at single channel speeds from the 3rd stick.

Can I mix 2666mhz and 3200MHz RAM?

Yes you can, but then your other ram which is 3200 Mhz will slow itself down to 2666 Mhz to stay in sync with your slower RAM. It will affect your overall system performance minimally but you will have more RAM.

Can I use 3200MHz RAM and 2400MHz RAM together?

Can I use 3200 MHz RAM in a 2400 MHz motherboard? If your motherboard won't support RAM faster than 2400MHz, then yes, your 3200MHz RAM will work - at 2400MHz.