Motherboard question

Spud5437 · 10-19-2007, 12:37 PM

Are there MB’s out there that will only let you use to sticks of ram if they are identical? This isn’t anything to-do with my system just a question really as its something I heard the other day for the first time.

Thanks for any reply’s – I like to learn :-P

b1gapl · 10-19-2007, 01:04 PM

It's ok to mix brand types, as long as the specs, such as the speed and timings are identical. I guess it's ok to mix different specs too, but the sticks will run at the speed of the slowest stick. For example:

...you have a DDR 400 and a DDR 500 stick. When you put them together in the same motherboard, the DDR 500 will be forced to downclock to DDR400 speeds, to match it.

10-19-2007, 12:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spud5437 Super Techie Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 266	Motherboard question Are there MB’s out there that will only let you use to sticks of ram if they are identical? This isn’t anything to-do with my system just a question really as its something I heard the other day for the first time. Thanks for any reply’s – I like to learn :-P __________________ PC Specs: POCESSOR: AMD Athlon 64bit 3500 Socket-939 Processor MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-K8NSNXP-939 Athlon64/64 FX Socket-939 RAM: 2GB DDR400MHz PC3200 VIDEO CARD: Inno3D 7600GS 256MB DDR2 DVI VGA TV Out AGP HARD DRIVE: Seagate 120GB 7200RPM with 8MB Buffer + Western digital 200GB 7200RPM with 8MB buffer 5.1 Surround Sound 500W PSU Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium x64Bit Spud

10-19-2007, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
b1gapl Commander SMod Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 11,804	Re: Motherboard question It's ok to mix brand types, as long as the specs, such as the speed and timings are identical. I guess it's ok to mix different specs too, but the sticks will run at the speed of the slowest stick. For example: ...you have a DDR 400 and a DDR 500 stick. When you put them together in the same motherboard, the DDR 500 will be forced to downclock to DDR400 speeds, to match it. __________________ Recommended PC Components Guide Potentially the longest thread in history!! Tech-Forums Official 3DMark06/05/03 Top List

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