Can i use mismatched ram

In fact, your operating system and your software should be using up every little bit of RAM available. Freeing up RAM with one of those booster programs does nothing. If anything, it might actually slow down your system since "freeing up" means you are removing certain computations from the RAM's memory.

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.

However, using mismatched RAM modules may negatively affect the performance and stability of your computer for the reasons we describe in detail in this article. If entering terminal commands is not your favorite activity, then you can install a graphical system information tool like CPU-X :. While you could theoretically use any RAM stick that loosely matches the specifications of your current RAM module or modules, you would most likely compromise the performance and stability of your system.

Even though the major RAM form factors have remained largely the same over the years, the RAM sticks themselves have evolved considerably. There have now been five RAM generations:. But what do they mean? That being said, it is still a crapshoot as to whether or not it will work. They sell matched kits of ram for a reason. Solandri Illustrious.

Jan 4, 4, 92 39, 1, Cut and paste from another thread since it's basically the same question. All the other RAM brands like G. Then dress them up with fancy coolers and LEDs before selling it to you. They buy whichever manufacturer's RAM is cheaper that week, so even if you buy identical model numbers, you're not guaranteed to get identical RAM. Even if you buy manufacturer-brand RAM, because RAM bought at different times comes from different batches if not different factories , they may still have problems working together.

That's why it's recommended to buy a RAM kit when building a new system, rather than mixing and matching. The modules in a kit are from the same manufacturer, same factory, and come from the same manufacturing batch. So they're most likely to work with each other. I've only had a RAM upgrade fail to work a few times out of more than a hundred upgrades I've done. I keep old RAM sticks from client systems which were upgraded past the motherboard's capacity, and try those sticks first when another client requests a RAM upgrade.

Nearly all stores allow free returns of RAM which fails to work. So unless the store you're buying from charges you a restock fee or makes you pay return shipping, I'd just try adding more identical-spec RAM first. It's less hassle than trying to sell your old RAM.

If the specs match and returns are free and you have time, it's worth a shot. You must log in or register to reply here. Memory 1 Feb 1, Aspire ES Question Mismatched ram stick failure, faulty stick or bad user? Or faster to have less RAM but the same speed? It's not clear just looking at that sentence whether you mean that more ram "trumps" the extra speed, in the sense that more ram is better and gets more overall speed.

Or more ram "trumps" the extra speed in the sense that you lose the extra speed. Very unclear sentence there. Yes, I meant "trumps". It was not an obvious typo to a non-native speaker. I'll fix the typo and try to expand that at the same time. Extremely nice extra edits! I love this explanation, I now have an edited copy of it that's dumbed down for my not-as-techy customers to understand pre-loaded in my text expanding program for easy paste haha. It all comes down to the hardware really.

Lawrence Lawrence 4, 13 13 silver badges 21 21 bronze badges. As if as long as the RAM fits then it's fine, but I don't think this is so. RAM can come in different voltages. As for speeds, you talk of two RAM sticks of different speeds and both running full speed, though i'm aware of two ram sticks both running at the speed of the lower one, and what i'm aware of may be far more common.. I admit, I didn't take voltages into account.

However you can have different speeds of ram and both can run at full speed if they are in different channels. But again this depends on the hardware. You write " some will just run them in single channel mode, some will still work at full speed with mismatched sticks of RAM".

When you write a sentence that says "some And when you wrote the second half of that line, "some will still.. Vladimir Despotovic Vladimir Despotovic 1 1 gold badge 2 2 silver badges 11 11 bronze badges. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. Sign up using Email and Password. Post as a guest Name. Email Required, but never shown. The Overflow Blog.

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