I'm looking to upgrade my PC's memory and I currently have an 8GB DDR3 stick from ValueTech (1600MHz). My mom gave it to me. I found another 8GB DDR3 stick from Walram (also 1600MHz), but they're different brands. I couldn't find another ValueTech one online. Should I buy the Walram stick? Will there be any issues if I mix these two brands?
4 Answers
Honestly, DDR3 is pretty forgiving. I tested a mix of eight different DDR3 sticks on my Xeon motherboard, and everything worked without any hitch. Go ahead and give it a try!
You technically can mix them, but it's risky. Sometimes it can lead to boot failures or stability issues, so be cautious.
You should be fine with that. If you do run into any issues after mixing, just try rearranging the sticks in different slots; that might solve it.
Mixing RAM from different brands usually isn't a problem as long as the specs match, like speed, timings, and voltage. In your case, both are DDR3 and 1600MHz, so you’re good there! Just make sure your motherboard supports the total amount of RAM you're planning to have.
Thanks! Just one more thing: I currently have two 4GB sticks—can I swap one out for the new one?