Is it true same brand RAMs run faster?
By zweeb82
@zweeb82 (5653)
Malaysia
April 24, 2008 5:04am CST
Is it true that same brand RAMs run faster? For example a PC/laptop with a pair of Corsair versus one with a piece of corsair + a piece of say, Kingston. I know if one is a DDR400 & another say a DDR333, of course it'll be running at a lower speed. But assuming that both are same RAM type & capacity. What do you think? My current PC has a 2 pieces of 512MB DDR400 RAM - 1 is Twinmos & another is Corsair. Would putting 2pcs of 512MB DDR400 Corsairs make it run faster? Theoretically I always thought it would be so - anyone has any article on this?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@smacksman (6053)
•
24 Apr 08
It is better to have a matched pair of chips, but it is essential to have a matched pair if you wish to make use of Dual Channel Memory technology if it is supported by your mobo. This is only relevent to DDR2 memory.
My Asrock mobo has 4 slots with 2Gb chips in each, giving 8Gb of DDR2 RAM with Dual Channel Memory.
There will be a speed difference with the same spec chips from different manufacturers but it will be so small you won't notice it.
What you will notice is more RAM. It is very cheap at the moment and the easiest way to boost performance.
@smacksman (6053)
•
24 Apr 08
It shows as 8Gb.
Don't ask me how Dual Channel Memory actually works. haha No idea, only that it is supposed to be better at sharing the load.
1 person likes this
@zweeb82 (5653)
• Malaysia
25 Apr 08
I'm not too sure abt how it works already - maybe it's like instead of the conventional way after using up the memory of one RAM it will go to the next RAM, I think this 1 shares its load - as in both RAMs working a the same time but with less load because they are sharing the work. I guess kinda like dual cores huh?
@ferdzNK (3211)
• Philippines
24 Apr 08
I would assume also that 2 memory modules of equal size, speed and brand would run a bit faster if not more stable. This greatly reduces the incompatibility due to manufacturing process, parts/components and technology.
This is the principles I guest with Dual Channel Memory Modules(DCMM). This modules are specially manufactured in exact match and quality, the reason they are sold in pairs.
Is it ok to use DCMM on a non dual channel aware controller or all motherboards support dual channeling?
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
24 Apr 08
The mobo has to be designed for DCMM or it won't work in that mode, just in ordinary mode, ie 2 by 2Mb DDR2 modules will still give you 4Mb RAM.
I have only seen it available on DDR2 and DDR3 boards not on DDR mobos.
The RAM slots are usually colour coded and the DIMMs need to be fitted in the same colour pairs, both in orange slots or both in yellow slots for instance.
If one DIMM or three DIMMs are fitted then they will still work ok, just that the mobo will be unable to activate DCM technology.
You cannot fit DDR memory into DDR2 or 3 mobo slots as it will damage the chips and maybe the mobo.
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@zweeb82 (5653)
• Malaysia
25 Apr 08
Ahaha, I totally forgot about Dual Channels. I think it came out with the Hyper Threading technology or slightly before/after, can't really remember already. I've seen DDR boards with dual channel. Yeah, the DDR, DDR2 & 3 RAMs don't go together, that 1 is very obvious. It'll only spoil the slots. Yup, & I agree with the compatibility issue part. Thanks guys for ya responses, appreciate it.
1 person likes this
@Esoteric1 (863)
• Canada
24 Apr 08
I'm no expert in ram, as I have always felt as long as the ram works ... who cares. I think that it possibly could reduce the overall speed (I honestly don't see why it would if they are both the same speed) but I know for sure that some mother boards are very picky and will not run properly with mismatched ram types ie 2 corsair and 2 ozc or whatever. Some mother boards won't run properly if all the ram slots are filled. As long as you have 2 that work in dual channel mode, I don't think it would be very noticeable if any different at all in the speed.
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@zweeb82 (5653)
• Malaysia
25 Apr 08
Yeah, I guess on the speed part we won't really notice the slight difference. I guess it's more so on the picky motherboard parts which you did mention because of different chip sets. I think this is the more reason why people recommend the same brand as I faced the same problem in my earlier days - some how Apacer RAMs don't really work well with other RAMs.
