Quick question about different RAM kits

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Sapphireoath wrote on 2012-04-30 03:08

I currently have 6GB (Corsair Vengeance CMZ6GX3M3A1600C8 http://www.corsair.com/vengeance-6gb-triple-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmz6gx3m3a1600c8.html) and I was thinking of upgrading to 12GB using the same kit. Problem is, I can't find the exact same kit in any store/online store near me.

I did however find a 6GB (both kits are triple-channel) Corsair kit with same specs. (Dominator CMP6GX3M3A1600C8 http://www.corsair.com/cmp6gx3m3a1600c8.html).

My question is, would there be any negative effects of mixing the two? I'm guessing yes, but it doesn't hurt to check D:

(Fyi: I could only find the same RAM kit on Corsair's site, cheapest shipping cost is $39 =/ Also found it on an online store sort of near me (as in, a state apart) but apparently its no longer available...)

Edit: Noticed one difference, first one is "Tested Voltage 1.5 - SPD Voltage 1.5" while the second is "Tested Voltage
1.65 - SPD Voltage 1.5". From what I've read, not a good idea to have RAM with different voltage.
Then again, I've read a lot that mixing RAM in general isn't really recommended, but I thought that was if they had different latency/timing etc o-o

Edit2: I find RAM really confusing D: Sorry...
Yoorah wrote on 2012-04-30 03:24

Basically, one of the kits can run at 1.65V, while the other cannot (or at least wasn't tested at that voltage--so I wouldn't risk it). Set both to 1.5V and you should be fine. But note that the 2nd kit might not be able to hit 1600MHz and the CL9 timings without the boost to 1.65V (or some other value between 1.5 and 1.65?)
So you'd probably have to run both kits at 1333Mhz at CL9, instead.
Sapphireoath wrote on 2012-04-30 04:02

How much of an impact on speed will it have, if I have to run both at 1333Mhz?

Also, SPD is the base voltage right? Does that mean the Tested Voltage is what is required to run at the full specs? Nothing to do with my main question, just curious (and so I understand it)

Edit: Uh, whats the difference between these 2?
Dominator: http://www.corsair.com/cmp6gx3m3a1600c8.html
XMS3: http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/xms-classic/cmx6gx3m3a1600c9.html
Reason I'm asking is because the Dominator is at least twice the price (or more, depending where I look)
Yet the only difference I found was the Tested Latency.

Edit: One thing I didn't mention: i7 950 CPU and Sabertooth X58 mobo
Invalid wrote on 2012-04-30 14:02

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMZ6GX3M3A1600C8-SDRAM-Memory-Module/dp/B004U7TH3U
Sapphireoath wrote on 2012-04-30 23:17

Quote from Invalid;852132:
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CMZ6GX3M3A1600C8-SDRAM-Memory-Module/dp/B004U7TH3U

Amazon shipping costs are ridiculous for me :( Probably no better than buying it direct from Corsair, ~$30 shipping just from them is the cheapest (up to like $90 o_O)
Yoorah wrote on 2012-04-30 23:44

Quote from Sapphireoath;851847:
How much of an impact on speed will it have, if I have to run both at 1333Mhz?

Also, SPD is the base voltage right? Does that mean the Tested Voltage is what is required to run at the full specs? Nothing to do with my main question, just curious (and so I understand it)

Edit: Uh, whats the difference between these 2?
Dominator: http://www.corsair.com/cmp6gx3m3a1600c8.html
XMS3: http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/xms-classic/cmx6gx3m3a1600c9.html
Reason I'm asking is because the Dominator is at least twice the price (or more, depending where I look)
Yet the only difference I found was the Tested Latency.

Edit: One thing I didn't mention: i7 950 CPU and Sabertooth X58 mobo

You won't notice a degradation in performance going down to 1333 MHz. Maybe a couple FPS at most?

Dunno what SPD stands for in their specs, but it seems to me like it means the base value or spec. For example, the kits are built as 9-9-9-24, but because they are of high enough quality, they were able to successfully tune them to 8-8-8-24 timings. Same with the 1333 MHz base spec vs 1600 MHz factory overclock test. Not all chips come out the same. Some can't hit 1600, for example, so they'd be sold as marked 1333.

And yes, the tested voltage is probably what they used to hit their overclocked specs. Generally speaking, more voltage = better transistor switching performance = more headroom for overclocking. But over-volting chips isn't good for their longevity. Some are designed to run on higher voltages for better performance, while others run on slightly lower voltages for lower power usage, or something. And over-volting RAM beyond the manufacturer specs is a bad idea (compared to CPU and GPU overclocking adventures, where it's common practice..)

And the dominator costs more because it was tested on CL8 timings, rather than the typical C9. The difference between timings when it comes to performance is almost non-existent.