RAM timings?

grass · 10 Dec 2008 at 11:12

Hello overclockers forums. I am looking to upgrade my system and was going to add one gig of ram but cannot find a stick of the same make, that runs on the same timings.
I currently have: Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C5 TwinX (2x1GB)
with timing 5-5-5-12
The same Ram in the overclockers shop however has
5-5-5-18-T1 or 4-4-4-12
I am unsure as to what timing actually is, so I don't know if mixing these sticks wil cause any conflict or problems with my system.
I also noticed that overclockers make a stick
OcUK 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C5 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
that has the same timings as mine.
So which would be best to sit with the two I already have?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thankyou.

mame · 10 Dec 2008 at 11:22

Mixing RAM should work but it can cause problems. Easiest way to do it would be just buy a 4gig kit and stick the old 2gig kit on an auction site

grass · 10 Dec 2008 at 15:04

Ye I'm kind of reluctant to buy the 4gb because I'm on 32bit vista, would that not just cause problems of its own?

helmutcheese · 10 Dec 2008 at 15:46

grass said:
Ye I'm kind of reluctant to buy the 4gb because I'm on 32bit vista, would that not just cause problems of its own?

No how would it ?

You will get use of between 3GB and 3.50GB of Memory dependant on your GPU's Memory.

I'm guessing your Mobo is modern enough to have Dual Channel so adding another 1GB Module to give you 3GB would ruin this and run in Single Channel.