Benifit of Matched Pairs?

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
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Hey

What is the benifit of having a matched pair of RAM sticks? Ive got 2 sticks of Corsair DDR2 PC2 6400C5 and one has died. Im RMAing it to Corsair, but they say its best to send both of a pair to get a pair back. But If i send both im without a PC untill I get it back? If they replace it with the same type of RAM but not a pair, what disadvantages will I get?
 
But in theory they should replace it with an identical stick, meaning they will both be identical ram, just manufactured apart.

From Wiki:

A matching pair needs to match in:

* Capacity (e.g. 1024 MiB). Certain Intel chipsets support different capacity chips in what they call Flex Mode, the capacity that can be matched is run in dual channel the remainder runs single channel.
* Speed (e.g. PC5300). If speed is not the same, the lower speed of the two modules will be used. Likewise, the higher latency of the two modules will be used.
* Number of chips and sides (e.g. 2 sides with 4 chips on each side).
 
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They sell in pairs to facilitate dual channel operation. Corsair wants both of them back because both are part of the same product and they want to deal with it as a whole.
 
BillytheImpaler said:
They sell in pairs to facilitate dual channel operation. Corsair wants both of them back because both are part of the same product and they want to deal with it as a whole.
Click to expand...

Wrong

Corsair provide a lifetime warranty, and therefore arent the slightest bit interested in how many sticks I purchased. They treat each stick as an individual product. They just wanted to know how may sticks I want to send back and have a little recomendation that suggests sending them both of a pair to ensure both come back a pair. As my RAM is still being made and sold I assume that they can replace it with an identical stick. This whole 'Matched Pair' marketing rubbish is just carp. a matched pair just have to have matching statistics, same speed, size and electronics. A replacement stick of the same should (hopefully) be fine.

Anyone replaced a single stick in a pair to provide some evidence?
 
Matched pairs are taken from the same batch and are guaranteed to run together on the same channel. They should also overclock to about the same levels.

Although buying two seperate sticks of the same RAM will almost certainly run together, only the matched pairs are guaranteed to do so.
 
steve258 said:
If you bought both sticks in a dual channel kit you'll need to return the kit with both sticks, simple as.
Click to expand...

Would you like my RMA request, responce, authorisation and postage label to prove you wrong, or will you just accept my word on it and shhhh.
 
They do prefer you to return both sticks as it may have been a bad batch and they may expect the 2nd stick to die too.

On that basis I would personally return both sticks, tho I realise that that can be a pain if you don't have any spare memory.
 
Shipping to California, and have no spare memory. Plus I have a disertation to write so need my PC. God know how long it will take to replace, so im keeping one stick.

The recomend you return both stick so they can ensure they are a pair when replaced. My RAM is still made, and therefore can be replaced, but with a lifetime warranty they may get RMAs of 10 year old ram, which will not be replaced with the same model, so hence then you would send both and get a replacement of newer ram (not sure how happy I would be to have my DDR replaced by uselss DDR2, for example, but i digress).
 
Just get a cheap 512MB stick to keep you going while your dual channel pack is being RMA'd, and then either sell it or keep it if it happens again. Or just get another 2 x 1GB pack, they're that cheap at the moment, and sell the replacement when it comes back.
 
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