I'm currently running one 16GB XPG Spectrix DDR4-3600 CL18 stick and found a good deal on a 16GB Kingston Fury DDR4-3600 CL16 stick. Would it be safe to combine them to get 32GB in dual-channel mode? I've heard dual-channel memory can help AMD systems, but I'm unsure whether mixing brands and timings could cause problems.
3 Answers
If both modules work together, you should get dual-channel operation with 32GB. Just don’t assume they’ll run at DDR4-3600 CL16; the motherboard may choose slower settings, and you may need to enable or adjust the memory profile manually. Test the finished setup with a memory diagnostic or a few hours of normal workloads and gaming.
You can try it, and DDR4 systems often run mixed kits without any trouble. The memory will generally operate using compatible settings based on the slower or less capable stick, so the Kingston’s CL16 rating may not be used. Ideally, buy a matched 2-stick kit, but this combination is reasonably likely to work.
Mixing RAM can introduce instability, especially if the motherboard has trouble training both modules together. If possible, finding another stick with the same model and specifications would be safer. If the system becomes unstable, try lowering the speed or manually using relaxed timings.
I haven’t been able to find the matching XPG stick at a reasonable price, so I may try the Kingston and return it if the system isn’t stable.
Even sticks with the exact same model number can sometimes use different memory chips. A matched kit is the only option that guarantees they were tested together.