Does SDRAM have to be identical?

[authenticate]

I have a single piece of 256 Mb IBM pc100 cas 2 ram and I want to buy another piece of 256 Mb. Does the new piece have to match the one I already have?

 

[datalink7]

depends on the ram and the motherboard. It is better to match it just to make sure.

 

[bevancoleman]

Dson't have to be the same, but there is less chance on a conflict if it is.

Use a memmory tester like MemTest86 to check after installed to see it everything is happy

 

[Elledan]

It's not necessary. I think most people are mixing SDRAM (where else would all those people with 384 MB come from? ), so it should be fine.

Of course, RDRAM needs to be matched, but SDRAM does not have this limitation.

 

[authenticate]

Elledan, the question was do the brand and specs. have to be the same.

 

[whom2be]

Not an end-all-answer ...

no. they don't usually have to be the same.
But Read your MoBo manul. some are finiky.
Many computers require module installation in banks of equal-capacity modules.
With newer MoBos, SDRAM will run as fast as the slowest module.


Just make sure your motherboard can support it.

 

[cofg4me]

If you're going to stay at CL2 make sure your new module is at least PC100 CL2. I've built several systems and have never had a problem mixing different brands. I've even mixed modules (CL2 &3) and they worked fine with the BIOS set at CL 3 on memory upgrades with no problems. I have mixed PC133 and PC100 with no problems as long as the FSB was clocked at 100mhz. However, there's always a first time for everything.