I currently have one 16GB DDR5-5200 memory stick and want to add another 16GB stick so I can reach 32GB for newer games. Buying a matched 2x16GB kit is more expensive right now, and I can't find an identical single stick for sale. Would a different brand work as long as it's DDR5-5200, or do the speed, CAS latency, timings, voltage, and other specifications need to match? I'm trying to avoid compatibility problems while keeping the cost down.
3 Answers
Mixing brands is usually fine. The important things are that both sticks are DDR5 and that their speed, timings, and voltage are as similar as possible. The system generally has to run both sticks using settings the slower or less capable module can handle, so a faster stick won’t make the existing DDR5-5200 module run faster. Check the new stick’s return policy in case your motherboard doesn’t like the combination.
It can work, but a matched 2x16GB kit is still the most reliable option because the modules were tested together. That said, mixed memory is common in prebuilt systems and plenty of PCs run it without trouble. If money is tight, another DDR5-5200 stick with matching capacity and reasonably similar timings and voltage is a sensible gamble—just buy from somewhere that accepts returns.
The closer the specifications match, the better. Speed is only one part of it—CAS latency and the other timing numbers matter too. If one stick is CL38 and the other is CL42, for example, the system may use the slower timings. Motherboards often configure mixed memory automatically, but they can sometimes fall back to a lower speed or fail to boot until the settings are adjusted.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload