Installing new RAM, question on serial numbers

[FAUguy]

A few weeks ago I built a new system, that I posted about here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2194092
At that time I went with G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3 2133Mhz RAM with 9-11-10-28 2T at 1.680v.

Now today I got in some different Mushkin RAM (model 996997) that is 9-11-10-28 1T at 1.650v.

One thing I've heard in the past is that it's always best to get consecutive serial numbers (if possible).
In the first set of two sticks, the serial number end in "001" and "003".
The 2nd sets has serial numbers that end in "002" and "009".

Is this normal for number "001" and "003" to be in one kit set, while "002" and "009" are in another kit?
I would have thought that one kit should have "001" and "002" together, and the other kit would have "003" and "004" together....but it jumps from 003 to 009?

It also makes me wonder in which order they should be installed in my motherboard...or if that even makes a difference.
Bank A1 and B1 are the first set of duals, and A2 + B2 are the second set of duals.
If I go by the way the memory is packaged together, then bank A1 would get "001", bank B1 would get "003", bank A2 would get "002" and B2 would get "009".
But if I go by sequential serial numbers, then bank A1 would get "001", bank B1 would get "002", bank A2 would get "003", and bank B2 would get "009".
I'm not sure which of those two methods are best, or if it really matters?

 

[paul878]

Who told you all that, salesmen?

It doesn't really matter as long of the spec of the 2 dimm matches.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Mushkin and Gskill have similar serial numbers? Or did I misunderstand your post.

As long as the specs match, you can probably mix RAM brands. But in general, it's not the greatest idea in the world.

 

[FAUguy]

I'm replacing the G.Skill RAM with the Mushkin.
The serial number I listed are for the Mushkin (not the G.Skill).
Kit #1 of the Mushkin has serial numbers ending in "001" and "003"
Kit #2 of the Mushkin has serial numbers ending in "002" and "009".

My question was if it matters which of the four DDR banks I install those in?
There is bank A1 + B1 (red), and bank A2 + B2 (black).

If I go by the way the memory is packaged together, then bank A1 would get "001", bank B1 would get "003", bank A2 would get "002" and B2 would get "009".
But if I go by sequential serial numbers, then bank A1 would get "001", bank B1 would get "002", bank A2 would get "003", and bank B2 would get "009".

 

[Wanescotting]

I'm replacing the G.Skill RAM with the Mushkin.
The serial number I listed are for the Mushkin (not the G.Skill).
Kit #1 of the Mushkin has serial numbers ending in "001" and "003"
Kit #2 of the Mushkin has serial numbers ending in "002" and "009".

My question was if it matters which of the four DDR banks I install those in?
There is bank A1 + B1 (red), and bank A2 + B2 (black).

If I go by the way the memory is packaged together, then bank A1 would get "001", bank B1 would get "003", bank A2 would get "002" and B2 would get "009".
But if I go by sequential serial numbers, then bank A1 would get "001", bank B1 would get "002", bank A2 would get "003", and bank B2 would get "009".

Does not matter.

 

[ViRGE]

Consecutive serial numbers shouldn't matter. As long as it's the same model, it should have perfect compatibility. To that extent, the order you install the sticks won't matter.

 

[FAUguy]

Ok, got the new 16GB (4x4GB) Mushkin 996997 installed.

When I was using the G.Skill, it could run at 2133MHz with 9-11-10-28 timings, 2T command rate, and 1.680v.
Even though the specs say it is 1.650v memory, if I changed it to that, it would not be stable, hence running it at 1.680v
Also, the command rate was spec'd at 2T, so if I changed it to 1T the system would not start.

Now on to the Mushkins....
It's specs are XMP Profile: 2133Mhz, 9-11-10-28, 1T, 1.650v.
When I first set it to Auto (just to make sure the system would boot first), it loaded at 1333Mhz, 9-9-9-24, 1T, 1.650V.
After I made sure Win 7 loaded OK, I went back into the BIOS and selected the XMP profile.
When Win 7 started and I loaded up CPU-Z, it was running at 2133Mhz with 9-11-10-28, but the command rate was 2T, even though the spec is 1T.
Went back into the BIOS and manually changed it to 1T (1N), but the system would not start, so had to change back to 2T command rate.

I also noticed it was running at 1.680v (like the G.Skill was) with the Voltage set to Auto, so manually changed it to 1.650v. Tested it some, and no problems at the 1.650v on the Mushkin, where the G.Skill was a bit unstable using 1.650v (why it was set to Auto 1.680v).

Ran some memory benchmarks, and both the G.Skill and Mushkin (set to 2133, 9-11-10-28 2T) are pulling the same speeds, bandwidth and latency, so no surprise there.
Even though it's nice that I can run the Mushkin at 1.650v, while the G.Skill required 1.680v to be stable, it would be nice if I could get the Mushkin to operate at 1T command rate at the 2133Mhz speed.

On a side note, the "Ridgeback" top heatsink on the Mushkin 996997 comes very close to the bottom fins on my Noctua NH-D14 CPU heatsink, but still not touching, though I did have to move the 120mm fan up a bit so it wasn't sitting on the RAM.