Obviously, you’re free to use different brands of memory on your system.
But dont take it as a definitive answer.
Numerous aspects make this question a bewildering subject.
This article will provide you with the nitty-gritty of mismatching RAMs from different brands and manufacturers.
So without further delay, lets give it a fleeting glance, shall we?
AlthoughDDRtechnology has come a long way over the years, it can still pose formidable issues.
Note: I ran all the tests on theRyzen 5 5600XandRTX 3080test bench.
As a baseline, I paired2x8GB3200mhz CL-16kits.
Check out our separate post onWindows memory Diagnostic Vs. Memtest.
Heres the truth Faster RAM has no problem clocking down and matching the lower-clocked memory at all.
But it does not always take a performance hit.
Let me clear it up a bit.
Lets say you have two RAMs running at2666and3200Mhz, respectively.
Your PC will go up to 2666Mhz at max on each memory module.
Taking things up a notch, I paired a4000Mhzkit with a 2666Mhz.
And myPC failed to boot.
We ran the same tests again.And this time, the numbers are all over the place.
The performance hit is too great to ignore.
Its over10%and sometimes goes beyond15%.
That makes the claims on the internet about mismatching memory speed true, doesnt it?
you’re able to tell the same thing for mixing different brand memories with mismatched primary timing.
When it happens, all kits tune their timing to the lowest number.
Storage
Mixing different memory buffer RAMs from different brands is another factor to consider.
It creates asynchronous operations with minimal performance deviation.
But the speed and primary timing must be the same.
Its a bit different than the standard Dual Channel.
So, I ran a test on my test rig with the same rated RAM except for the capacity.
And it delivered the exact performance as our reference system.
Chances for this jot down of circumstance are slim if you are a casual gamer or office worker.
When you combine different brand memories, Dual channel mode takes a hit and handicaps the system performance.
So, how much does it matter?
The good news is; it depends on the punch in of hardware you have.
And I see up to40-50%performance hit.Now, I tried a few things on my reference system.
First, I ran a test onSingle ChannelvsDual Channelmode.
Got better results on the latter mode as expected.
Then I populated theA1,A2,andB1slots on the mainboard with3200mhz memory modules.
The system ran fine with Dual Channel enabled onA1andB1slots but Single Channel mode onB2.
This is called theFlexmode.
And I got the expected maximum performance.
But once I clocked down the faster memory to 2666Mhz, the test rig worked like a charm.
Memory Chips
Whether your system should produce memory-related issues depends highly on the manufacturer.
Oh no, Im not talking about the brand of your RAM; its the actual chip makers.
To illustrate, I paired aG-Skill 8GB 3200Mhzkit with aThermaltake Toughram 8GB 3200Mhz.
Both had similar primary timings.
The first one hadSamsung B Die, and the latter hadHynix CJR.
But this wont be the same for everyone.
Just a vulnerability is introduced for the future to cause numerous issues out of nowhere.
Voltage
StandardDDR4memories use1.2V, whereas slightly overclocked kits may come with1.35to1.4V.
Voltage can vary from one brand to another.
As a result, your system will not reach the peak performance level.
Lets understand this with a simple analogy.
Imagine two workers carrying bricks to a building.
While the first person can climb up and down the stairs10 times/hr,and the second goes7 times/hr.
But they have to go back and forth together.
So, the first worker taps out when exhausted after climbing the stairs as per his energy limit.
RAMs with lower rated voltage hold back a high voltage memory, just like this.
Should You Mix Different Brands of RAM?
Its when you upgrade the computer down the road.
Playing around in the BIOS and tweaking some values may help.
So far, Ive shown you all these possible circumstances you’re free to come across.
Now the big question remains; Should you mix different brands of memories?
No, you should not unless you are out of options.
But is there anything that you’ve got the option to do to improve the odds?
First of all, make a run at sell the old memory sticks oneBayor other online marketplaces.
Buy a new pair of kits from the same batch.
That will remove the point of unpredictability and provide you with a great user experience.
FAQs
Can I use 2 16GB And 2 8GB Ram Together?
Yes, you could use 2 16GB and 2 8GB RAMs together.
Install them in Dual Channel mode, and it will work asynchronously.
Can I Use Different Bus Speed RAM?
Yes, you’re able to use different bus speed RAM on your machine.
But all installed memory will run at the lowest maximum available speed.
Can You Mix Different RAM Voltages?
Yes, you could mix different RAM voltages and get your system up and running.
However, your system may become inconsistent in terms of stability and overall performance.
Can You Mix DDR3 and DDR4 RAM?
No, you cannot mix DDR3 and DDR4 memories together.
They have different dimension and the slots are different.
Always attempt to buy RAMs from a single batch.
When you buy a memory from a different company check that speed,timing & voltage match each other.
Hope this article enlightened you why these factors matter.
Comment down below if you have any questions.
