Tekforums

Chat => Entertainment & Technology => Topic started by: Kunal on November 08, 2007, 17:24:13 PM

Title: Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Kunal on November 08, 2007, 17:24:13 PM
Ive used up two of the four DIMM sots on my HTPC. 2 x Corsair 512Mb DDR2 PC6400.

Ill be ordering a new graphics card soon (going to wait and see how the Radeon HD3850 looks otherwise Ill get a 8800GT) and want to order some more RAM at the same time.

Thing is, the Corsair 512Mb DDR2 PC6400 (CM2X512A-6400) costs 20.99, while the 1Gb sticks cost 26.99 quid.

Id rather spend a bit more and get the additional memory so I have 3Gb in total.

Just wondering if Ill have any problems with 2 x 512Mb and 2 x 1Gb, considering theyre from the same series and have the same latency settings.

// Edit

Just found it even cheaper at Scan:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=255300

41.88 for 2 x 1Gb sticks.
Title: Re:Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Quixoticish on November 08, 2007, 18:31:08 PM
I doubt it, Ive ran a system with two 512s and one 1GB stick in for ages with no ill effects or problems, and the same for a system with two 1GBs and one 512.
Title: Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: White Giant on November 08, 2007, 18:49:16 PM
Yep should be fine. Make sure it compatable with your mobo - some are funny about which brand they take.
Title: Re:Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Serious on November 08, 2007, 21:02:47 PM
Providing you stick in a pair it should work, try to put the bigger sticks in the first two slots though. By using a second pair you avoid the problems of losing the memory speed increase. IE one or three sticks would be slower than two or four.

If nothing else and it doesnt work you can ebay the 512s and gain most of your money back
Title: Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Maldonado on November 08, 2007, 22:52:43 PM
juggle your sticks around if you have issues, your mobo will read the SPD timings off one stick only (usually) which might make it throw its toys out. or sometimes the mobo will be fussy about which slots the larger sticks go in... basically, if at first you dont succeed... download memtest86 :)
Title: Re:Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Kunal on November 10, 2007, 23:54:04 PM
Think I might just flog the 2 x 512s and get another 2 x 1Gbs.
Title: Re:Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Serious on November 11, 2007, 03:30:03 AM
Unless you have both a 64bit chip and OS running you will only see 3GB of the memory anyway so it may not be worth it.
Title: Re:Mixing RAM sizes
Post by: Kunal on November 11, 2007, 09:46:20 AM
Quote from: SeriousUnless you have both a 64bit chip and OS running you will only see 3GB of the memory anyway so it may not be worth it.

I have both.