Can you mix sticks of ram

The same thing happens with modules that have different latencies. The system will run based on the module with the slowest timings. Another thing to keep in mind is what speeds your motherboard can handle.

What about DRAM modules with different voltages? You guessed it: both modules would run at the higher voltage. For example, if you have a 1. If you wanted your DRAM modules to run at 1. The verdict? Possible, though you will lose the benefits of the more efficient module.

If you can afford to replace all the modules with faster, lower-latency modules, you will get the best benefit. If you are trying to save money, you will get the best value by purchasing an additional module with the same speed and latency. If you are experienced at overclocking , it is possible to adjust the BIOS and other settings to tweak the performance of mixed-speed modules.

But it can lead to unpredictable results. Theoretically, if the other traits generation, speed, latency, voltage are the same, there should be no issue using DRAM from two different brands. Though some older DDR3 systems require matched sets of memory. Another thing to keep in mind is that many memory brands do not manufacture their own DRAM; they simply assemble the modules.

There are only a handful of true memory manufacturers , so you will ultimately be choosing DRAM from those sources. Slight variations in the assembly process, not to mention the differences in production among the manufacturers, might affect the performance of the modules.

RAM isn't the same as your hard drive. RAM auto-manages the data it holds, adjusting to hold frequently accessed data. That's not to say constantly filling your RAM is a good thing. If you constantly fill your RAM, it can lead to other speed issues. Most modern operating systems use what is known as a paging file, also referred to as virtual memory.

Your computer will begin pushing some data from the super-fast RAM into the much slower regular memory. Virtual memory is really useful as it stops your computer from slowing to a crawl. However, if you frequently run out of RAM, it's usually a sign that it's time to purchase some higher-capacity RAM modules.

Back to the RAM clearing speed-boost myth. Don't use RAM boosting or memory cleaning software. They don't work. At best, they're just a nuisance and a time-waste. At worst, you could introduce adware or scamware to your computer. The final myth is that you must always use an equal number of RAM sticks. Like the first section on different sizes, you don't have to use two or four or six RAM sticks.

You can also use three sticks of RAM if you want, but as above, it can come at the cost of overall performance. If you have two matching 8GB RAM sticks, they will run in dual-channel mode, providing the most efficient and effective system performance. Great, right? So, while you have a larger capacity, your overall performance may drop. You'll find a lot of debate online regarding using an equal number of RAM sticks. You don't have to use an equal number, but it can harm your overall system performance if you decide not to.

But don't worry, we have excellent guides to explain the differences. The iPhone's base architecture is much different from Android. That's why you won't find Apple talking about how much RAM its iPhones have, while they're still as fast as the best Android phones. Unfortunately, not all Mac models allow you to upgrade your system RAM. For many Mac users, this is never an issue, but it can become an issue for some.

You can do a lot with RAM: mismatched sticks, different speeds, different sizes, and so on. In any case, I don't recommend it. If you're buying new RAM, you're probably going to make your life a lot easier by buying the exact same model as you currently have in your machine. That said, if you absolutely have to mix them, here are some general guidelines.

You want to make sure each stick has the same CAS latency, timings, and voltage. While you can tweak these settings in the BIOS to make the two sticks match we briefly showed you how when we discussed overclocking your processor , I don't know why you'd want to.

You'd have to spend quite a bit of time messing around with it all, and probably underclock at least one of your DIMMs in the process—and there's no guarantee it would work even then. Really, it's a lot more trouble than it's worth.