If a have a RAM pair of one brand, does the second pair have to be the same brand?

Question

Also, what about the same speed and memory amount?

Answer 1

Brand doesn't matter at all. Memory amount doesn't really matter either. Say you have four slots, you could have (as long as your motherboard supports it) a stick of 128, one 256, one 512, and one 1GB.

The important thing is the speed. Say you have PC3200, and you add PC2100, then all of the memory would operate at the slower speed. You don't want to add RAM that's faster than what you already have, because it's a waste of money (usually) because it would only operate at the speed you have installed. That being said, different speeds will work together, just all at the lowest speed.

The type of memory is actually the most important thing to watch. You don't want to mix DDR with DDR2 or SDRAM, although this is usually not possible, since most mobos usually have slots for only one kind, and you would know if you had the wrong kind as soon as you tried to install it.

Answer 2

The size of the memory (as in capacity) doesn't matter for modern computers, and the brand itself doesn't matter. What does matter is the speed and type of the memory. What I would do is use a memory configurator. Crucial (a well known brand among gamers) has two of them. One can scan your system to try and determine what you have installed and the other you select the manufacturer and model of your PC and it will tell you what is compatible.
http://www.crucial.com/
Most other memory companies, as well as BestBuy.com, have memory configurators too.

And if you want a tool that can give you information about the memory you have installed, I recommend CPU-Z. The info on the SPD tab (max bandwidth and module size) would be the most important, though the timing related info on the Memory and SPD tabs might prove useful in getting memory that functions as fast as what you already have. (Getting faster memory then what you have won't help 'cause it'll run as slow as the slowest memory installed.)

Just make sure you get the right type. If you have DDR, get DDR. If you have DDR2, get DDR2. The two are not compatible with each other. (And if you have something older then DDR, use a memory configurator.)

Answer 3

They normally need to be the same speed, the size is not usually a problem (they all say that) but some boards have been known to argue, and brand is not a problem.

Answer 4

Brand doesn't matter, specification does matter. Generally you would buy the same memory for all the slots, some motherboards have 2 slots, some have 3 slots, buying it together ensures compatibility

Answer 5

No. Diff. brands & speeds are usuall ok. The PC will just compensate for the difference. Usually adjusts to the lower performance speed. If referense to amount: they add together.

Answer 6

Identical pairs ensure dual channel mode for the memory. This mode is faster. With mixed pairs, there is the possibility of disabling dual channel and just running single channel.

Answer 7

No, they neither have to be same brand nor size. As long as they fit the specs the manual says they should be. I have 2 separate RAM sticks in my desktop. I've always pieced my systems together.

Answer 8

It shouldn't but, you never know on some old computer it might not. But for a new one definitely no.
And the speed or momory doesn't matter either.

Answer 9

As long as they are all compatible it doesn't matter.