I just bought a prebuilt HP M01 equipped with a 5300G, but it only comes with 8GB of RAM. I have another 8GB stick from a Dell prebuilt that's also DDR4-3200AA. The catch is that one stick is made by SK Hynix, while the other is from Kingston. Will mixing these sticks cause any issues or slow down my performance, or will it work just like having a matched pair? I could get a matching stick if needed, but I'm curious if what I have right now would function correctly.
4 Answers
For DDR4, you can usually mix different sizes and speeds without too many problems — it works about 99.99% of the time. However, there are performance impacts. The brand isn’t as crucial as you might think. I mixed two kits from the same brand, and while they looked identical, they actually had different specs internally and still worked fine together. Just make sure the speeds and CL ratings are similar for the best results.
If you're considering mixing RAM, I’d say to stick with pairs of identical sticks whenever possible. DDR5 can be a total nightmare with mixed kits, but DDR4 is better. Just ensure those specs are closely matched and you should be in good shape. Don't stress too much about brand names, just focus on keeping speeds balanced!
Thanks for all this! Sounds like I might be okay to stick with what I have unless I run into trouble.
It's generally not the best idea to mix RAM sticks, but sometimes it works out fine depending on the situation. It really comes down to luck. Just keep in mind that if your RAM sticks have different speeds or timings, your PC will default to the slower speed, which could impact performance. You might want to aim for sticks that are as similar as possible to avoid any hiccups.
The Kingston stick probably has chips from Hynix too, so they might not be that different after all! But keep an eye on speeds and JEDEC profiles. If the timings are off, that might cause issues. Prebuilts can be picky with specs, leading to RAM not functioning at full speeds, so just be cautious if you decide to mix them.
Got it! I’ll check those specs. Thanks for the insight. It's good to know that brands aren't a huge concern as long as speeds align.