I'm looking to upgrade my PC's RAM, and I currently have two 8GB sticks of Thermaltake Toughram running at 4000MHz. I'm interested in adding two more sticks, but I've noticed that the same model is quite pricey. Would it be okay to mix in some 8GB or 16GB RAM sticks from a different brand with different speeds?
3 Answers
Mixing RAM can work, but compatibility really depends on your CPU and motherboard. With some systems, especially AM5, it's often better to stick with just two sticks for optimal performance. If you lower the speed of the new sticks to match the slower ones, things should work out fine!
You can mix RAM modules, but keep in mind that all of your RAM will operate at the speed of the slowest stick. So if you buy slower RAM, like 3200MHz, everything will run at that slower speed. Just something to think about!
It really depends on what you mean by "fine." If you’re not worried about using XMP profiles, it should be okay. Just remember that different brands may not support the same overclocking capabilities, which could cause some instability. If your main goal is to get more memory and speed is less critical, it might be worth buying a new 32GB or 64GB kit instead.
So if the only downside is that the speed bottlenecks to the lowest, that's manageable for me!