RAM questions

[Wizrdwarts]

What will happen if I mix 2 different brands of RAM with the same timing/type/size, will it negatively affect performance?

What is the CAS latency supposed to mean? Like 4-4-4-12? I read some articles, is there some simple way to explain it? Is lower better?

[camper.]

Lower is better. Latency and bandwidth determine the overall speed of your RAM, there are a few calculators around somewhere. Imagine downloading a file, but it waited 4 seconds/ticks between packets of 1500 bytes, reducing it to 3 will give you a 4/3 speed increase (not in the real world, with respect to RAM, howver).

They're in order of most importance, the first one (CAS latency) is the most important on performance, the last one doesn't affect much but does affect system stability and the two left are a mix.


If you mixed two brands of RAM, you would be limited to the lowest/slowest settings of either. The worst type to mix is voltages, i.e. 1.8v and 2.1v - running at 2.1v will decrease the lifespan of the 1.8v RAM, running at 1.8v will underpower the 2.1v RAM.

Aside from voltage differences, the real world difference isn't significant. I ran PC-6400 and PC-3200 RAM at 860MHz, no issues. Mileage may vary.

[JustMe0171]

camper knows what he's talkin about

when i upgraded my ram i had 1.5 gig , ihad 1stick of gig in one slot and a 512 in my other , i hav 4 slots, your #1&3 & 2 &4 slots are suppost to have the same size etc.

example i could of had 2 gigs in 1&3, and a 512 in #2 slot and it would of worked good.

but a gig & a 512 in 1st & 3rd slot (on my MB anyway) isnt good, will only run with 2 512's .

So i took it all out cause i wanted 3 gig of exact same and runs super.
in my POS mb my slots tabs are color coded like 2 white & 2 blacks , makes it easy for the layman to put in equal amounts of ram , and allway put highest in first &3rd slot. since it reads or uses in order.

a good prog to help you see what you got & where is cpuz , just google it, download its free.

i kinda confused myself , sry i hope this helps.....

[Namakan]

I recommend getting more of what you have now, thats always safe

[looqas]

As a side note. Even if your older mobo supports only 677MHz memory it's cheaper to get 800MHz mem stick. Those sticks will "underclock" to 677MHz automatically. Besides chances are that you'll be able to run the 800MHz sticks at tighter timings thus making the gap between 677 and 800 performance negligible.

So faster memory is backward compatible. So you can mix memories. I ran 3 different manufacturer's memory sticks (4x512MB. 1 Kingston, 1 samsung, 2x buffalo) and they ran very well in Dual channel also.

The only thing left to worry about is the voltage like camperstrike pointed out.