question about mixing ram

[Nick5538]

I'm looking into buying another 512mb stick of ram for my computer, but it's a different brand than the one i have now. i've read that mixing ram is risky and could cause crashes and booting. i'm on a budget so im thinking about buying this really cheap ram here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211138(once it comes back into stock)
I've already got a 512 stick of kingston ram like this onehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820141424
Would the cheap ram work alright with my kingston ram? The voltages are not exactly the same; the A-data stick is .1 V more. Does that make any difference? The 2 sticks have the same cas latency, but i'm not sure if they have the same timing. Could this too cause problems? I'd appreciate any feedback.

[ktr]

its only risky if you are doing a dual channel setup.

[Frogger]

K take this with a grain of salt
Dude just buy the kingston IT'S like less that $20 buck more I know you said $$$ budget but $20bucks hell go to the mall and pan handle for an hour /run the shell game / read palms/

[JC316]

I mixed ram in my sisters comp without issues. It won't "Hurt" anything, it might throw your timings off though.

[trog100]

it should work but it might not.. it might be better to buy a pair of a-data sticks.. or another stick the same as u have.. but then again it might work okay mixed.. hard to say without actually trying it..

trog

[Aevum]

the real problem is when you mix sticks with different speeds/latencies,

but its usualy resolved by setting latency and speed manualy in the bios to the specs of the slowest stick

[Pinchy]

well put it this way, in my comp (specs on side), one stick is an

Elixir with latiencies of 2.5-3-3-7

and the other

Some different brand with latiencies of 3.0-3-3-8

Both are PC3200....but ive never had any problems with them and never a system crash. It might hurt when you try to OC. I cant OC cus my mobo is crap...but i think if your gonna OC, get the same timings

[Aevum]

Elixir with 2.5-3-3-7 ? at PC3200 ? are you sure those arent PC2700 ?

elixir is usualy crapings from the bottom of the barrel when it comes to ram

[Pinchy]

ohhh crap my bad :S

The elixir is 2.5-4-4-8 @ 200Mhz (PC3200)

The other RAM is 3.0-3-3-8 @ 200Mhz and 2.5-3-3-7 @ 166Mhz.

Thanks a lotfor pointing that out ...i was reading everest wrong, i didnt realise i was on the same module and looking at different speeds

[cdawall]

i have mixed cheapo ddr 400 on my penium d running dual channel so it can work it just depends timings for both are 3.0-3-3-8 though i clocked the samsung based one to 2.5-3-3-7 whenit was the only stick i didnt bother w/ them in dual channel

[Agility]

Its better to get two identical sticks for Timing/Latency and speed issues if you're doing dual channel. Or else you're gonna *toot* your system up or probably get even more lag.

[Aevum]

as shown by several ram chips, latley shown again by samsung UCCD based modules, its better to get a tested 2 module kit then get 2 sticks on their own, different manufacturing series can vary in performance, leading to incresed latency, lag, and even instability,