I'm looking to upgrade my low-budget workstation with some additional RAM. I know it's generally advised not to mix RAM sticks, but in my situation, I'm not using different brands, speeds, timings, voltages, or sizes—everything is matching in those aspects. The only difference is that the part number on the RAM sticks I'm considering buying on eBay is one letter off from the one that's currently listed in my system. I interpret that as a slight refresh of the same part.
I'm trying to avoid buying a full 64GB kit (4x16GB) since my setup won't support six sticks and I'd prefer not to waste the old ones. The savings would go towards upgrading to a 16-core Threadripper 1950X, which is important for my workflow as I need to run multiple heavy applications like Blender and Unity alongside other tasks. My current system is still decent with a good GPU and plenty of storage, but I want to ensure that the RAM upgrade goes smoothly. Also, I've got some side tasks to manage such as cleaning my GPU and CPU heatsinks and improving case fan setups.
3 Answers
If you’re really worried about compatibility, consider just going for a 2x32GB or 4x16GB kit instead. You could always sell your old RAM on platforms like hardware swap to offset costs.
In your case, you should be alright! As long as all the critical specs match, it’s usually okay to mix RAM sticks, even with that one letter difference in the part number. Just keep an eye out for any instability once you upgrade.
Exactly! Most important specs line up, and plus, you’ve got Threadripper which can handle the extra load better than most setups. Just give it a try!
Great news on your parts! Sounds like you know what you’re doing. And yeah, just a thorough cleaning of the heatsinks should be sufficient for now.
What manufacturer and part numbers are we talking about? That one letter difference could indicate variations in memory type or configurations. Since using Threadripper, make sure you're checking if the sticks are ECC vs. non-ECC, as that could affect compatibility.
I did think about that, but with my budget constraints, I’d rather handle everything in one go next week instead of piecemealing the upgrade.