2x2gb 1333, ok to add 2x4gb 1600 all DDR3?

[mikeford]

Sorry for the dumb basic question, but I never put in more than min memory in most systems for many years, but I have a week long or more task that more memory looks like it will speed up, so I want to do a cheap bump.

MSI 880GM P51 says it takes 32gb and shows RAM as DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600*(OC). I have 2x2GB of Kingston 1333, so the "best value, cheap bump" looks like adding 2x4gb for a total of 12 GB.

Do I need to match specs to the first channel with the 1333 or can I put 1600 in the second channel with the 8gb?

Fry's has this for $35 in stock locally;

PATRIOT DDR3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1333MHz DUAL G2 Series Memory
Mfr: Patriot Model: PGD38G1333ELK
FRYS.com #6719085 UPC: 815530010982

Extreme Performance PC3-10666 (1333MHz)
Enhanced Latency (9-9-9-24)
Voltage: 1.5V
XMP Ready

 

[dma0991]

The dual channel memory option is not available for 2 non identical sets of memory with different capacities(2x2GB + 2x4GB). There's also no benefit to adding faster RAM to a slower one. The 1600MHz sticks will just step down to 1333MHz speeds to match with the slower ones.

 

[mikeford]

Both are DDR3 1333, but if 2x2gb won't dual channel with 2x4gb added, bummer. Still 8GB is better than 4GB.

I am running Seagate recovery software on 3x 2TB drives and so far its 24 hrs to image and about 30 hrs to deep scan each one, with memory usage showing all of physical and 2.5GB of paged being used. Kinda clunky old software it appears, only uses ONE of my 4 AMD cores, but close to 100% on it.

 

[tweakboy]

Yes you can do it. You just have to underclock the fast 1600 to 1333 ,, so all sticks are running 1333 ,,,,,,,,,,, gl

 

[Blastman]

See my post in this thread … http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2297179

 

[Blastman]

Do I need to match specs to the first channel with the 1333 or can I put 1600 in the second channel with the 8gb?

Basically yes.

You can run both the 1333 and 1600 DDR3 together in dual channel mode. You put the 1333 (2x2GB) in the same colored memory slots -- say white, and then put the 1600 (2x4GB) in the same colored black or blue memory slots (or the other way around with the 1600 in the white and 1333 in other). You will have 12GB running in dual channel mode. The memory controller will default to the slowest ram spec's which is 1333.