Upgrading Memory to 16GB

[Phaetos]

I currently have 8GB in my system and am looking to upgrade to 16GB. I currently have DDR3-2133 with a CAS Latency of 11 and timings of 11-11-11-31 and a voltage of 1.65. For my new RAM, do I need to match that timing and voltage or does it matter? Mobo is a GIGABYTE GA-F2A55M-HD2 FM2 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) .

 

[lopri]

Officially: You should not mix different voltage DIMMs. You can mix DIMMs with different timings and frequencies, but the CPU/board will use the lowest common denominator.

Unofficially: You can try mixing different voltage DIMMs as well. You just have to remember that they are differently rated, and assume the risk of potentially quicker aging of lower voltage DIMMs. As long as you are trying to overclock hard - which does not appear the case - there is no harm in trying it. You can also see if your current sticks can work with lower voltages, e.g. 1.50V, and if it does, you already have low-voltage memory.

 

[Phaetos]

I wouldn't be mixing DIMMs. I only have 2 slots on my board for RAM.

 

[lopri]

Then the safest way to go about it is to check the motherboard's manual. There is likely a list of tested memory sticks by the board manufacturer. (QVL, or Qualified Vendor List) Getting sticks in that list is usually a sure-fire way of ensuring compatibility.

But realistically you can buy any regular sticks from a reputable vendor. They and the motherboard manufacturers all follow JEDEC standard, meaning they are presumed to work. Of course there is always a chance of incompatibility, but that chance is exceedingly small.

 

[UsandThem]

Then the safest way to go about it is to check the motherboard's manual. There is likely a list of tested memory sticks by the board manufacturer. (QVL, or Qualified Vendor List) Getting sticks in that list is usually a sure-fire way of ensuring compatibility.

But realistically you can buy any regular sticks from a reputable vendor. They and the motherboard manufacturers all follow JEDEC standard, meaning they are presumed to work. Of course there is always a chance of incompatibility, but that chance is exceedingly small.

+1 the RAM manufacturers also maintain of compatible RAM for your motherboard on their individual websites. Since motherboard manufacturers only test a small portion of the RAM out there, you would have more to choose from:

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/memory-find

http://www.gskill.com/en/configurator

https://www.kingston.com/us/memory/search/options

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/advisor

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Not much more I can add to this. I have mixed RAM kits of different speeds and even sizes [i.e., a 2x4 kit with a 2x2 kit in the appropriate paired slots.]

So the first and best option: get the same model RAM kit that you have.
Second best: get perhaps a faster kit from the same maker in the same model line that will run at the same voltage and timings as the first (downclocking the second kit automatically)

Beyond that, you would indeed need to be careful, and I would recommend simply replacing the existing RAM with a 2x8GB kit that works in that motherboard.