The Moog Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Hi there, I have just bought a new Asus Sabertooth X58 motherboard and a single 4GB stick of CMX4GX3M1A1600C7 memory to go in it. This setup currently works perfectly but in time (and as funds allow) I would like to upgrade this to 8GB, and then 12GB using more sticks of the same memory. I just wanted to know if this memory would work in triple channel mode at the rated speed and timings, or if I would need to get rid of this brand new stick and buy a specific 'matched' triple channel kit to do this? I don't intend to overclock or run anything out of stock specifications so I don't see why this shouldn't be fine, but I wanted to check before purchasing more of the same. Many thanks, The Moog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wired Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Yes and no. Yes, it's possible, no way to guarantee it since they haven't been tested together. Keep in mind there's usually 9 versions of each part number out there at any given time, each using different ICs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 ...and even two identical kits are not guaranteed to work together, but on rare occasion they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Thanks for the quick replies guys, I am a little confused though. I can understand if you are trying to overclock modules or push their performance that it is important to use identical matched sets to get the best out of them. Surely though if they are being run at stock, then at the bare minimum that should be required of them is to hit their advertised specification and therefore interoperate with other sticks at also at that same advertised specification (isn't this why we have standards in the first place)? Does this mean that if I want to add any more memory to my system I need to get rid of the memory that I currently have, and start again each time? If I eventually want to put 12GB on my board, that the only way that I can achieve this is to buy it all in one go? Sorry for my ignorance but I had just assumed that I could upgrade in the future by dropping in more sticks of the same memory (I'm sure that used to be the case in the old days), not having to re-purchase more 'matched' memory each time! Thanks for the help, The Moog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 With the current frequencies that CPU/PC systems run at it's important to purchase ONE tested, matched RAM kit to eliminate operational issues. The JEDEC memory standards are for one module but PCs use multi-channel/multi-RAM module systems and thus there are many potential conflicts when you're asking CPUs/RAM to operate at higher and higher frequencies. With one tested, matched kit, you know they will function properly. Anything else is a crap shoot because of the variables involved including the mobo/CPU. As Wired pointed out Corsair uses (9) diffferent ICs and they are all different and can vary minutely batch to batch even of the same brand/model. As far as RAM upgrades go, yes you are best to buy what you need in one tested, matched kit. You may get lucky and have two RAM kits that work without problems but that is the exception and not the rule. http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87341 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wired Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Don't forget that you can have memory from the same silicon batch not like to play with each other. Trust me, they test them for a reason :) Having said that, yes, you can definitely mix and match memory with some success, but there's no easy guide or anything, just lots of dumb luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbmaryland Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Just as a follow up to this thread... I purchased 6 of these modules for use in a Gigabyte X58A-UD5 motherboard, with an i7-980x. While they were not tested together for triple channel use, I'm not having any problems at all. Now, that being said, I did notice some issues when I tried to get really agressive with the RAM timings. However, if I use the timings that Corsair provides in the SPDs, which is still faster then most RAM, it works without issue. Only the XMS timings, which also include over clocking the RAM (in reality) cause any issues. ...and this rig is anything but slow with 24GB of RAM coupled with the 6 core CPU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbmaryland Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Follow-up: Interestingly, I just looked an the boxes for the RAM I have of this type. ALL of the modules, except for one of them, are from the same LOT. Soooo... that may explain why I'm not experiencing any issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marilith Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Hi There, If you wanna mix several memory kits together to improve the available memory it's best to chose higher better memories (higher speed, better timings) than expected, and make them working with softer settings by slightly reducing working speed and doing the same by increasing timings a bit until you found a good compromise. For example, mixing two 6Gb kits of DDR3-1866 modules works fine together @1600 with sames timings, works @1866 with slower timings or maybe works at full specs, I made a 12 Gb system 1,5 years ago using 2 kits of 6Gb 1866-CL7 Dominator GT running @1600, and got no troubles keeping the original timings (CL7). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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