Mismatched RAM

[Fryk]

Is it going to harm my computer long term if I run it with 2 different sizes of RAM chips for a couple of weeks?

[Midorikawa]

2 different sizes won't hurt things. I run 2 different sizes in most of my machines at home. The worst that can happen is you get weird issues with your computer saying "what is this crap?!" and crashing when it gets to the second size, but that's generally due to chip incompatibility than it is the different size.

What CAN mess it up is 2 different types, however, most sticks are keyed to prevent that sort of thing.

[Eric the Grey]

Agreed. My old Windows laptop has one 512, and 1 1-gig chip in it and it's never complained, and I've pushed it to the limits a few times.



Eric the Grey

[Hyndis]

Mismatched RAM is a major no-no, but not in the causing damage sense. More as in incompatibility. The more differences between the two memory kits the higher the odds of incompatibility, and you'll find this out right away.

Either the machine will not POST, or it will POST fine but then crash later on. Usually not much later on either.

Also your timings will suck. This means that the memory will be running significantly slower than what you could get with a matched set of memory.

DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 are all physically incompatible. Laptop (SODIMMs) and desktop memory are also a completely different form factor. It is literally impossible to plug one into the other. If you have the wrong type of memory you will know very quickly.

And do not use a hammer to attempt to install it anyways. ...yes I've actually seen people do this.

[lordlundar]

Size? no. Not in the slightest. Might not get optimal performance (just a weird thing with RAM) but it won't hurt it.

Speed? Umm it might if the MB isn't designed for it, but that gets iffy.

Type? If you get it in, I want to meet you and the hammer you used so I can use it on you.

[Midorikawa]

Type? If you get it in, I want to meet you and the hammer you used so I can use it on you.

I've seen it before. Seen one cut a 1GB DDR DIMM down to fit into a laptop, and destroyed the mobo in the process. Oh the things people do to computers.

[Fryk]

Nah, I know better than to try to fit a DDR into a DDR2 slot. Although my wife's cousin tried to do that about 6 months ago. And he used everything short of a hammer to force it in there! :: O

It's just mismatched sizes, a 1 Gb and a 512 Mb. I just wondered because my computer got kinda snipey about the "will not run optimally" deal. I just wanted to make sure "will not run as optimally" wasn't code for "your computer will suffer a psychotic meltdown and eat your brain."

[Midorikawa]

It's just mismatched sizes, a 1 Gb and a 512 Mb. I just wondered because my computer got kinda snipey about the "will not run optimally" deal. I just wanted to make sure "will not run as optimally" wasn't code for "your computer will suffer a psychotic meltdown and eat your brain."

...Well, your computer won't, but I wouldn't put it past Windows...:-P

[Hyndis]

Size? no. Not in the slightest. Might not get optimal performance (just a weird thing with RAM) but it won't hurt it.

Speed? Umm it might if the MB isn't designed for it, but that gets iffy.

Type? If you get it in, I want to meet you and the hammer you used so I can use it on you.

Different memory has different IC's, even if its the same except for the capacity. Still different IC's. And there is a chance that the two may be incompatible.

The further away you get from the same part number the higher the chances of incompatibility, but as the type of IC's used are trade secrets for most companies its almost impossible to predict.

So its just generally a bad idea to tempt fate, otherwise you might end up with two perfectly working memory kits that will not work together.

[Naaman]

It's just mismatched sizes, a 1 Gb and a 512 Mb. I just wondered because my computer got kinda snipey about the "will not run optimally" deal. I just wanted to make sure "will not run as optimally" wasn't code for "your computer will suffer a psychotic meltdown and eat your brain."

DDR2 optimum configuration is to have matched pairs of memory so that it can run in full dual channel mode, you can see the difference in speed if you run a "Thrash your system" benchmark program. This is the sort of thing that number whores jack off to.

In the real world you're unlikely to notice the 23 Millisecond difference when your computer boots