ram compatibility advice

hobib_ali · 13 Oct 2011 at 21:59

Hello

I bought 6GB OCZ Gold XTC DDR3 1600MHz Triple Channel Kit RAM Memory
OCZ3G1600LV6GK
[email protected]

What I would like is to add another 6gb or ram which will be compatible with the ram i already have, I have a i7 920 on a x58 mobo

can anyone recomend me or advise me another 6gb of ram that would work in my pc, so the total would be 12 gb altogether.

i heard that if you add 2 different brands then there will be instability issues?

any advice or guidance appreciated.

cheers.

Surveyor · 13 Oct 2011 at 22:47

Your issue is to match the timings, speed and voltage of the 2 sets of RAM.

The Corsair Vengeance is the same speed and timings but is designed to run at 1.5V so you'd have to overvolt it or undervolt your existing RAM.

The Corsair XMS3 is the same speed and voltage but has slightly loose timings so you might have to loosen the timings on your existing RAM.

What you could do rather than spend £54 or £60 on the above is to buy the Crucial Ballistix Sport 12GB kit for £68 and sell your existing RAM. The timings are a touch slower but it doesn't make that much real world difference and it would make for a cheaper upgrade to 12GB after you'd sold your old RAM.

hobib_ali · 14 Oct 2011 at 01:26

oh cheers, so if i went for the "Crucial Ballistix Sport 12GB kit" would I notice a difference or improvment in speed/peformance? on gaming or everyday computing?

I think to my self theres gotta be a differnce if I change from 6gb to 12 gb?

Cheers

Surveyor · 14 Oct 2011 at 08:14

hobib_ali said:
oh cheers, so if i went for the "Crucial Ballistix Sport 12GB kit" would I notice a difference or improvment in speed/peformance? on gaming or everyday computing?

I think to my self theres gotta be a differnce if I change from 6gb to 12 gb?

Cheers

As I said the timings are slightly looser on the Crucial Ballistix Sport 12GB kit so there would be a tiny reduction in overall performance.

You're probably not going to notice much difference going fron 6GB to 12GB.

You'd have to clarify what "everyday computing" means in your case but for most people 6GB is enough.

Likewise with games. Most aren't designed to use more than 4GB so 6GB would be enough.