When adding RAM, does it have to be from the same manufacturer?

[Teh Suck]

I currently has 512mb (2x256) of DDR PC-3200 RAM and am looking to add
either another 256 or a 512 to the third slot on my motherboard.

I think the memory I currently have is from Kingston (though I built this
rig so many years ago I can't quite remember).

Do I have to buy a Kingston stick of RAM or can I just buy any brand and not
have problems?

Also, I have my 2x256 setup running in dual-channel mode. With the new
stick interfere with that at all?

Thanks.

 

[Paul]

I currently has 512mb (2x256) of DDR PC-3200 RAM and am looking to add
either another 256 or a 512 to the third slot on my motherboard.

I think the memory I currently have is from Kingston (though I built this
rig so many years ago I can't quite remember).

Do I have to buy a Kingston stick of RAM or can I just buy any brand and not
have problems?

Also, I have my 2x256 setup running in dual-channel mode. With the new
stick interfere with that at all?

Thanks.

If you tell us the motherboard, we can give you a better quality
answer.

RAM from different manufacturers can be mixed. From a hardware
perspective, a good deal of mixing is allowed.

What fouls up the works, is poorly written BIOS programs. Some
early Athlon64 motherboard BIOS were just terrible when it comes
to mixing the RAMs. Intel motherboards should be more friendly.

Tell us the motherboard, and we can comment on your dual channel
question.

And in the world of RAM, you can never guarantee a person, that
there will not be trouble with RAM. Despite all possible user
planning, it is still possible to run into trouble. For example,
you could buy all Kingston sticks, and still have trouble when
they are all plugged in.

Paul

 

[Teh Suck]

If you tell us the motherboard, we can give you a better quality
answer.

RAM from different manufacturers can be mixed. From a hardware
perspective, a good deal of mixing is allowed.

What fouls up the works, is poorly written BIOS programs. Some
early Athlon64 motherboard BIOS were just terrible when it comes
to mixing the RAMs. Intel motherboards should be more friendly.

Tell us the motherboard, and we can comment on your dual channel
question.

And in the world of RAM, you can never guarantee a person, that
there will not be trouble with RAM. Despite all possible user
planning, it is still possible to run into trouble. For example,
you could buy all Kingston sticks, and still have trouble when
they are all plugged in.

Paul

Hi, I have a Shuttle AN35N Ultra board with a 2100+ processor.

Using the 1st and 3rd slots gives me dual channel (thus the 2nd/middle slot
is vacant).

Thanks.

 

[Paul]

Hi, I have a Shuttle AN35N Ultra board with a 2100+ processor.

Using the 1st and 3rd slots gives me dual channel (thus the 2nd/middle slot
is vacant).

Thanks.

That is an Nforce2 motherboard. Two slots are on one channel
and one slot on the other channel.

To expand your RAM, buy a new 512MB stick. Place the 2x256MB
DIMMs in slot 1 and 2 (basically the pair of slots that are
"close" to one another). The new 512MB stick goes in the
third "lonely" slot. (Your total RAM will be 1GB.)

Nforce2 has one of the most flexible arrangements for dual
channel. All the user has to do, is balance the total
amount of RAM on each channel. The 2x256MB goes on one
channel, and the 1x512MB goes on the other channel. Both
channels have 512MB total as a result.

With a 2100+, the processor FSB is at 133Mhz. I don't expect
any problems running the RAM at DDR266 speeds, so this should
be a pretty painless upgrade. Running Nforce2 at DDR400 speeds
is when things get more challenging (I had to buy some CAS2
memory to make it work error free at DDR400 on my Nforce2
motherboard).

As for memory speed, the higher speed RAMs are backward
compatible with lower speed applications, as you already know.
Since you own PC3200 already, the new stick might as well be
PC3200 as well. If the RAM has the same CAS speed, then no one
stick holds the other ones back. If you need to sell the memory
later, it will be easier to sell PC3200 memory, than the slower
stuff.

HTH,
Paul