How important are "matching" pairs of ram? Will two different specs cause issues?

NeilF

NeilF

NeilF

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So I have an old Dell Optiplex 3010 which has a factory fitted 4GB stick of ram in one of its two slots.

I'm considering putting another 4GB in the remaining empty slot, but clearly it will be a different spec to the other one.

Will this cause an issue?
 
99.9% of the time it will be fine.

Most issues with mixing ram are when overclocking or trying to use ram that is faster than a jedec SPD standard.
 
Armageus said:
99.9% of the time it will be fine.

Most issues with mixing ram are when overclocking or trying to use ram that is faster than a jedec SPD standard.
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I won't be doing that... I'll just be plugging it in and running everything on this monster Intel Core I3 8GB machine at stock! :)

So let's assume the stick I buy (which is listed as compatible with that machine) is sligthly higher spec than the stick that was put in this Optiplex X years ago, I assume all that will happen is they will both be run at the same standard settings? ie: If the new stick is slightly higher spec, it'll just be under utilised?
 
NeilFawcett said:
I assume all that will happen is they will both be run at the same standard settings? ie: If the new stick is slightly higher spec, it'll just be under utilised?
Click to expand...

Exactly that. E.g. if your first stick is 1333mhz and your new one is 1600mhz (pc12800) then both will run at 1333mhz.
 
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