I currently have 16GB of Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 running at 3600MHz as a 2x8GB kit, and I'm considering adding another identical-looking 16GB kit. The specifications match, but my existing modules are marked version 3.34 while the ones I found are version 4.32. Do these version numbers indicate different memory chips, and is mixing them likely to work reliably at the advertised speed?
2 Answers
The extra kit should be compatible at a basic level as long as the motherboard supports the capacity and DDR4 speed, but there’s no way to promise identical behavior from the version numbers alone. After installing it, test with both sticks from each kit installed and run a memory stress test. If you get crashes or boot loops, try disabling XMP or reducing the RAM to 3200MHz or lower. Buying the exact same version or a single 32GB matched kit avoids most of that uncertainty.
They may work together, but it isn’t guaranteed. Corsair can use different memory chips under the same product name, and the version number identifies that internal revision. The system might boot normally, but you could need to lower the speed or loosen the timings if the combined kits aren’t stable. A matched 32GB kit is the safest option, especially if you want to use XMP at 3600MHz.
Different versions don’t automatically mean they’ll fail. Plenty of mixed kits work fine, but stability testing is important because the advertised settings are only guaranteed for each individual kit.
The revision can correspond to different memory ICs, so simply matching the model name and rated speed isn’t the same as having a matched kit. It can work, but I’d only buy the second-hand set if I were comfortable troubleshooting or returning it.