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View Full Version : Adding extra RAM of a different type

serge1971
10-29-2005, 03:44 PM
I've got 1GB RAM (2 x 512) on my system and want to upgrade this to 2GB. Now, I've got 1 GB (2 x 512) from another PC which I can add, but I'd like to know whether I'm safe here or asking for stability problems.

- My motherboard is a Asus PC-DL Deluxe, so it has 4 DIMM sockets.
- The type of RAM I have is: 2x512MB 400MHz DDR Non-ECC 3-3-3 DIMM Dual Rank.
- The type of RAM I wish to add is: 2x512MB 400MHz DDR Non-ECC CL2.5 DIMM Dual Rank.
- They are all by manufacturer Kingston.

Thanks.
Rabid pitbull
10-29-2005, 04:00 PM
Should be fine they are the same memory type the last set is just a bit faster. I would be sure to make the bios set for the slower ram, or stability could be an issue. The only other possible problem is if themotherboard is dual channel. I am not familiar with the mobo, but if it is most likely the ram will not function in dual channel mode.
serge1971
10-29-2005, 04:16 PM
Thanks for the response. So the only difference is "speed" you say? That's what I needed to know, and whether that could be a problem.

The manual of the motherboard says that it comes with 4 DDR Dual Inline DIMM sockets. It says: "in dual-channel configurations, install only IDENTICAL (the same type and size) DDR DIMM pairs for each channel.
So I guess I'm safe to use different pairs, as long as I put the identical DIMM-pairs in the same channel.
daraeill
10-29-2005, 05:49 PM
that's correct...use the type I in one pair and the type II in the other pair...if you leave the bios set to auto for memory timings the mobo should actually clock the "faster" ram down so as to alleviate any problems (ie it will use the slower ram's latency in place of the faster ram's latency)
deathman20
10-31-2005, 02:46 PM
Well first of all you should have to worry about any ram timings. The timings on your current ram is slower then the stuff you going to buy/get, so it won't affect it at all.

Truely its possible it should work without a hitch. But also if you got the gig of ram a while ago its possible it might not work well with the new ram modules. Usually you want to get ram at the same time so they have the same ram module types because the motherboard can be very picky.

But truely the only way to find out if it will work is to do it, in therory it will work but testing will be the true answer to this all.

BTW It should run dual channel with 4 sticks in it, its using the same chipset I have in my computer and it runs dual channel perfectly with 4 sticks.
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