How important is it to get matched memory?

[greebler]

How much stability and or preformance gain, would you achieve by having memory that was waffer matched? (twins) Like the CORSAIR Series XMS "kits".

 

[Bobthelost]

Minimal. Top of the line to cheapest value stuff is only a difference of 10% for AMD chips (look, an assumption!). If you've got the cash and everything else in your computer is top of the line then by all means splash out on it, otherwise just get value ram and a faster CPU.

As for matched sets vs. two sticks at random. I don't think stability is compromised or improved for either of them. However two random sticks probalby won't overclock as well or be as reliable when overclocked.

 

[Kaido]

I can't speak for performance, but I've never noticed a stability problem. Just run memtest86+ overnight whenever you install new ram chips.

 

[KoolDrew]

Those "kits" are more of a marketing thing then anything else. If it is cheaper to buy both sticks seperately then it would be wise to do so.