two different memory speeds can cause lag?

Question

i read on a forum that using two different memory speeds can cause "lag spikes"
i have a 512mb kingston value(pc3200) and a 512mb kingston hyper(pc3200)
could this be causing the lag i am experiencing in some games?
i have a spare 256mb pc3200 module(kinston value),would the drop in memory be worth the sacrifice just to cure the lag in games
any ideas?
cheers guys !

Answer 1

No it shouldnt i have a 1gig Kingston pc3200 and i still have my old 512 kingston in the other slot and there is no lag what so ever.

Answer 2

If you have 2 different speeds of memory than both chips will run at the speed on the slowest chip.

But both chips you listed are PC3200 - The Same speed.

If you want to use a 512 and a 256 then the 512 will need to be in dimm1 and the 256 in dimm2. If these are the other way around you will have issues. The larger chip always needs to do in first.

Answer 3

Even if the memory have different timing at the same speed, the faster memory chip will default to the slower memory chip's timings; as an example, I have 2 512MB sticks of RAM in my Mac with 2-2-2 timing, and 1 256MB stick of RAM with 3-2-2 timing; System Profile reports all RAM with the 3-2-2 timing. And no "lag".

There may be something else in you system causing the lag time, probably with software. Check for viruses and malware, and also scandisk and defrag your hard drive.

Answer 4

The problem with running two different memory speeds is that it will generally disable dual channel mode, which essentially makes the the RAM work twice as fast, and that can definately slow down overall performance. Now for this to be an issue at all, your motherboard has to support dual channel mode in the first place.

I assume that the RAMs you are talking about have different latency timings, since they have the same Mhz speed listed. Having different latencies will also disable dual channel. Adding the 256 stick will not help, as you also need the same size sticks for dual channel to work.

Answer 5

To ballancing of memory "cards" in your PC important is only same size of each one (you got it) and same FSB frequency. Manufacturer isn't important because speed of working of the memory cards is defined by speed of FSB and it is defined by speed of the installed chipset onto MB (means and speed of installed slots for the memory cards). If everything is ballanced problems can not occur even at the playing of games. Veradisca & Best Regards, Neven.

Answer 6

Ram this is rated quicker than the computing device spec would fail. often this is uncommon in computers yet uncomplicated in laptops. the failure is seen as a extreme shutdown, you get a blue demonstrate screen with white lettering on it. If its no longer doing this then dont problem to plenty. This extreme shutdown would take some hours till now it occurs.