can ddr4 ram be mixed?

In a nutshell, yes, you can.

Well, you can do that, but you might run into issues such as your system not booting at all or random errors in the process. Nonetheless, you do need to match memory generation. For instance, no system can run both DDR3 and DDR4 modules simultaneously.

Starting with the most stable and moving towards potentially unstable, you have:

RAM pairs matched by size. These are usually bundled with matching modules in 2/4/8 stick sets.

RAM sticks of the same model. Imagine buying 8GB of 3200MHz DDR4 from Corsair and buying another stick of the same speed a few months later

There should be multiple RAM sticks of the same speed, size, and timings. Modules are not always made the same, so you may encounter issues here.

– Different speed/timing RAM sticks of the same size.

It is more likely that you may experience instability here, so put the slowest RAM in (calculate timings based on speed rating, then RAM speed rating)

Multi-speed/multi-timing/multi-size RAM sticks. Although this is possible, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800x, chipset, motherboard, and BIOS/UEFI will have to be incompatible with each other, so you may not see the performance boost from dual/quad-channel memory (depending on your CPU, chipset, motherboard, and BIOS).

In general, you can use multiple brands of RAM, but keep in mind that the slowest RAM needs to be installed in the lowest-numbered memory slots and that there may be compatibility issues.

Read more on G.Skill Trident Z Royal Series

Can You Mix Different RAM Brands?

Yes, this is the correct answer.

In theory, you can use RAM of any brand, speed, and size on your system; though it may prove to be problematic.

A change in performance might not even be noticeable, depending on your setup and workload.

RAM modules differ only in memory type, the only characteristic that can cause incompatibility. Memory sticks of different generations can’t be used together – such as DDR3 and DDR4.

In addition to these factors, there are many more that need to be considered in order to achieve satisfactory results, some of which are inherently luck-based.

As a result, building such a setup is not advisable – but it can be done.

Read more on 11 Best quad channel ddr4 ram

ead more on Best ram for ryzen 5 5600x

Why can mixing Brands become an Issue?

Do you now understand the answer to can ddr4 ram be mixed? RAM sticks are developed differently by each manufacturer. A variety of memory controllers, various dies, different materials, different PCBs, and different custom circuits are used by different manufacturers.

All of these variables may prove to be benign in the end, however, there are instances when a conflict between these customizations can cause stuttering, crashes, and even failure to boot.

Can You Use Two Different Brands of RAM

All modules sold in a RAM kit work together synchronously, and they do not work with other brands or models of RAM.

A system upgrade usually involves mixing different RAM kits.

The Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) slot will be utilized more often in this configuration.

In general, inter-brand hardware conflicts are more likely to occur when there are more slots occupied.

Can You Mix RAM Brands?

Using different brands of RAM is possible, but motherboard manufacturers recommend selecting RAM that is compatible with the motherboard’s model type, size, frequency, latency, and manufacturer to get the best stability and performance.

It is still possible to use the RAM together despite the difference in specs. In this case, your system will use the RAM settings of the lowest-performing module regardless of the frequency and latency of the RAM modules.

You will still enjoy a faster PC when you mix RAM (brands) to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and run memory-intensive programs such as Photoshop.

Is it OK to Mix RAM Speeds?

A RAM module can run at different speeds if there are two or more of them. Nevertheless, when mixing brands, you’ll be forced to use the least efficient RAM modules.

As an example, suppose you have 16GB of DDR4 3200 MHz CORSAIR RAM modules with a 16 CAS latency. Another set of RAM modules is a 16GB TEAMGROUP T-Create Classic DDR4 2666 MHz set with a 19 CAS latency.

To work effectively together, both modules must have the same speed and latency, i.e. (2666 MHz) speed and (19 CAS) latency if installed on the same PC.

Can You Mix RAM Sticks of Different Sizes?

Ideally, you should upgrade RAM in pairs, each with equal size, speed, and manufacturer. In addition, make sure to check the manufacturer’s website or the user manual of the motherboard to ensure the RAM is compatible with your PC.

One 16GB DDR4-3200MHz module will only run at 1600MHz, and this is called a single-data rate. Furthermore, if you install more than one RAM module, such as 16GB DDR4-3200 and 8GB DDR4-3200, the dual-channel mode will be disabled, which will severely reduce the performance of your PC.

The extra 8GB on the mid-sized modules will however run in dual channel mode when installed on Intel motherboards supporting Intel Flex mode. Mismatched RAM sizes have a greater impact on AMD motherboards and usually result in instability.

Mixing RAM has another issue: latency. The access time to data in one of the columns in a RAM module is measured in clock cycles (nanoseconds).

If an 8GB RAM module with an 18 CAS latency is installed next to an 8GB module with a 16 CAS latency, the two modules will be operated at the slowest CAS latency. As a result, both modules will run at 18 CAS latencies.

In spite of these methods being tested, there have been reports of PCs with incompatible RAM sizes experiencing BSODs (Blue Screens Of Death) on occasion. The flexible RAM installation feature offered by Intel allows a greater degree of flexibility.

RAM Size Is All That Matters

Your phone or PC probably has a certain amount of RAM. People automatically assume faster computers have more RAM when they say they have more on their PC.

However, this isn’t necessarily the case. RAM size or capacity is not the only thing that matters.

The speed and frequency of RAM determine its performance. RAM also has a clock speed, as does your CPU. With a faster clock speed, it can perform more functions in a second. Typical RAM sticks feature speeds of 2400MHz or 3000MHz, while high-end systems use frequencies of 3200MHz and 3600MHz.

Here, you might run into problems with mismatched RAM speeds, which affect you in two ways.

To begin with, if you have 2000MHz RAM installed, but your motherboard is only capable of 1333MHz RAM, your system will not be able to take advantage of the 700MHz difference.

Furthermore, if you mix RAM modules with different speeds, both sticks will run at the slower module’s speed. Therefore, if you have one stick of RAM that runs at 2400MHz and another that runs at 3600MHz, both sticks will be running at a slower speed, wasting the potential of the faster RAM.

Generally, the average computer user may not notice a significant difference between 8GB and 16GB of RAM. You may be able to get a significant boost if you switch to a faster memory of the same 8GB. If you are considering upgrading your RAM, you should determine the priority of which will be more important for you: faster RAM or more RAM?

Match Your RAM for the Best Performance

Hardware and RAM must match to ensure optimal performance. You should use the same voltage for your RAM, and the motherboard and each RAM controller should be able to operate together optimally. To prevent this, use the same RAM model across all slots.

The fact that you can use different sizes of RAM sticks together does not mean you can’t mix them. You can add an 8GB stick even if your first stick is 4GB. Once the dual-channel mode is enabled (also known as flex mode), the system will perform as two 4GB sticks running side-by-side optimally.

A single channel will be used for the remaining 4GB of the new stick. I would say that it is not as fast as using two sticks of the same size, however, it is still more convenient than the previous method.

Frequency and speed are the same. The default behavior is that your RAM sticks work together at the frequency of your lower stick. Does the frequency have to match? Does the RAM have to be the same brand in every slot? That is not necessary, but it is better.

The Factors to consider when going for RAM to mix

To understand the effects of mixing different types of memory, let’s first understand what exactly makes one type of DRAM different from another.

Generation:

In DRAM, this refers to the chip version. A new generation

Speed:

You can use this to calculate how quickly your computer stores and retrieves data from the memory module. It is generally better to have a faster memory module.

Latency:

Latency is the amount of time it takes for a CPU task to be completed. It takes less time to complete these tasks when your DRAM module has low latency.

Voltage:

In this case, it is the DRAM module’s power consumption.

Brand:

Manufacturers and assemblers of your memory, for example, Crucial.

Mixing RAM Size

In general, most people will agree that mixing RAM modules in your computer is not a good idea. DDR2 shouldn’t be used with DDR3 since the two are incompatible. It isn’t a good idea to mix DDR3 with DDR, and this goes for all types of RAM. The simple reason is that the two types of RAM will not fit together. Unfortunately, this is not all there is to RAM.

In order to perform optimally when mixing RAM sizes, they must share the same voltage. Unless they share the same voltage, you will always choose the lowest value.

As well as being compatible with the motherboard, their controllers should also be compatible. It’s best to use a RAM module of the same size and brand in all the slots.

You should use the same RAM size if you mix memory sizes. If you want, you can use a RAM stick with 3GB and another with 6GB. To optimize performance, the RAM acts like two 3GB sticks of RAM when you are in Flex Mode (or dual-channel mode).

Upon reaching the 3GB level on both sticks, the remaining 3GB will run in single-channel mode. Thus, you’ll experience some slowing, but your computer will still operate faster than it did before.

Mixing Ram Brands

It is okay to mix RAM brands if you are purchasing new RAM. It would be easier for you if you bought the exact same RAM type. The process will not require any new steps, and your machine is less at risk. You should ensure that all sticks have consistent timings, voltage, and CAS latency.

Unless you are an expert, you can tweak these things, and match two sticks that do not match. If you try to do this the first time, you’ll probably fail because it takes a lot of time. You can’t be certain that it will work 100 percent of the time. Putting a lot of effort into something that may not pay off is doing a lot of extra work that shouldn’t be done.

Mixing Ram Speeds

Mixing RAM speeds is possible, however. It is an option that many people take advantage of. There’s no need to worry too much about the timings, voltage, or CAS latency as long as you match those important elements. Your motherboard will automatically underclock the faster RAM so that you are performing at the speed of the slower RAM. You shouldn’t encounter any problems, though.

Whenever you mix, you will always have more problems. It is likely that none of these problems will ever arise. Nevertheless, if anything goes wrong, you may be faced with the Blue Screen of Death. Changing RAM brands, RAM speeds, and RAM sizes are likely to have no adverse effect on your computer.

It would be better to buy a compatible RAM stick if you are going to buy a new RAM stick.

In addition to avoiding problems, this will also improve your performance and help you get the best performance from your computer.

Can you mix ddr4 brands?

So, if you mix the wrong and right types, it will either use the type that works or not at all. It won’t explode though. There is only one type of DDR4 memory because it has better voltage compatibility. It is possible to use two different RAM brands in a PC, but both models must be compatible with your PC.

Is it okay to put 4GB and 8GB together ( 8 gb abd 16 gb)

Even though 8GB and 4GB RAM can be used together, the performance may suffer.

Despite the fact that you’ll have 12GB of RAM, you’ll still run slower than if you used two memory sticks of the same size. The voltage rating of 8GB RAM and 4GB RAM should be the same when used together

Does DDR4 RAM need to match

It’s okay to combine any size and any brand of RAM as long as the DDR is the same. Since the ports of DDR3 and DDR4 are shaped differently, they cannot function together.

Can I mix different speed DDR4

Can RAM speeds be mixed? Of course, there is the possibility of running two or more RAM modules at different speeds. The lowest-performing RAM module will be selected automatically, just like when you mix brands.

Consider, as an example, 16GB CORSAIR DDR4 with a 16 CAS latency and a 3200 MHz clock speed.

CAN YOU mix ram sizes?

It is a commonly held misconception that RAM brands or RAM sizes cannot be mixed. … Mixing and matching RAM sticks, RAM sizes, and RAM speed is possible as well but it won’t be ideal for the performance of your computer.

CAN you mix different ram MHz

If you mix different kinds of RAM, the computer’s speed will be slower. … For optimal performance, the RAM should have the same speed and frequency as the CPU

Can you mix ddr3 and DDR4 ram?

Would you be able to improve performance by installing DDR4 alongside your DDR3? … DDR3 and DDR4 are incompatible. The DRAM of a different generation cannot be installed at all in your system. It is because your motherboard cannot handle the DRAM of a different generation.

Can I use 2x 4GB ad 8GB ram together?

It is possible. You will also get all 16 gigabytes. There is, however, one problem, Games make use of dual-channel memory to read and write data at the same time.

With two 8GB sticks and two 4GB sticks, you cannot run dual-channel games since the games can only communicate with either 8GB or 4GB sticks

Mixing DDR4 ram with a different CAS latency

The CAS latency of RAM can be adjusted slightly. RAM is more important when matched pairs are used – the same size, speed, timing, manufacturer/model as well as CAS latency. Usually, you can mix and match two different pairs of slots on boards with four slots, which is most of them

Final thoughts on can DDR4 RAM be mixed

In conclusion, as long as you are careful, mixing RAM brands is okay. It doesn’t do much harm to your computer or performance, but it isn’t the best thing you can do for it either. As a general rule, you shouldn’t mix RAM brands unless you’re going to save up to buy more RAM of the same brand. Even if you do everything right, the lower-quality RAM will always limit your computer’s performance.

can ddr4 ram be mixed?