Mismatching computer parts brands

[MohtasaUnique]

Is it unhealthy to mismatch part brands? I have some decent RAM sticks and a good graphics card at my mothers house, but I was wondering if it'd be bad for the computer to use them if they don't match the brands of the parts I already have installed.

 

[Laptop65]

No, I have an ASUS motherboard with Corsair RAM in it. So long as they're compatible then the brand really does not matter.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

Read the thread. I said mismatching ram stick brands. For example, using both Kingston AND G.Skill brand on the same machine. Or using two different brands of video cards.

 

[Laptop65]

Read the thread. I said mismatching ram stick brands. For example, using both Kingston AND G.Skill brand on the same machine. Or using two different brands of video cards.

You didn't state in the OP that the RAM sticks were each different brands.

If mixing RAM sticks then they should be okay. If one RAM has a different BUS speed than the other, then your PC will use the lowest BUS speed your RAM sticks have (so if one stick is 1333Mhz and the other is 1600Mhz, your PC will work at the lower speed for them. You may also need to manually configure your BIOS in order for them to work properly. There aren't usually any problems with mixing different RAM stick brands together, but it is much easier to just two matching ones together.

For GPUs you can use two of any kind provided they are the same model and memory. For example you could have an ASUS GTX 770 1GB and an EVGA GTX 770 1GB, these would work together as they are the same model and specs. Brand doesn't really matter here, provided the specs are the same. If you use different specs together than it can cause problems and you're be unlikely to be able to use them together as an SLI.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

You didn't state in the OP that the RAM sticks were each different brands.

If mixing RAM sticks then they should be okay. If one RAM has a different BUS speed than the other, then your PC will use the lowest BUS speed your RAM sticks have (so if one stick is 1333Mhz and the other is 1600Mhz, your PC will work at the lower speed for them. You may also need to manually configure your BIOS in order for them to work properly. There aren't usually any problems with mixing different RAM stick brands together, but it is much easier to just two matching ones together.

For GPUs you can use two of any kind provided they are the same model and memory. For example you could have an ASUS GTX 770 1GB and an EVGA GTX 770 1GB, these would work together as they are the same model and specs. Brand doesn't really matter here, provided the specs are the same. If you use different specs together than it can cause problems and you're be unlikely to be able to use them together as an SLI.

I figured it'd be obvious since a lot of memory brands don't make motherboards, it's common sense that one can mix and match board brands with memory brands

Anyway thanks for the info

 

[Swan]

I've mixed and matched DDR2 RAM sticks before. I don't see why DDR3 would be any different. As long as the motherboard is compatible with the TYPE of hardware being used, it should work.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

Lovely! 16 gigs of RAM it is, then. Even though I probably will never even need it

 

[szskateman22]

I actually think there is some incorrect information being provided here Moh.

RAM is safe so long as the voltages of the chips are the same or very similar... If they are not you could potentially fry the RAM - you may have to adjust it in BIOS. They are correct with the rest though. It will force your ram to the lowest DDR chip you have (so if you have DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 the motherboard will choose the DDR3-1333).

However, if the DDR3-1600 requires 1.2V per chip and the DDR3-1333 requires 0.8V per chip you could actually suffer since the 1600 is not getting the proper amount of voltage. You also have to make sure that the chips are in corresponding slots - if you see two different colors for the RAM slots on your motherboard then do NOT put the same chips next to each other. Match the same chips to the corresponding colors - the reason they are colored that way is because they are corresponding DDR channels (you will be less likely to have issues in the long run).

As for GPUs you can actually use two different cards on the same motherboard... The only thing about that is that you won't SLI/Crossfire the cards. Keep in mind the main reason you may want to do this is if you have a second monitor and want to use that for other purposes while gaming.

The other thing you could also do with the GPUs - they must be from the same GPU designer (either both NVIDIA or both AMD) - is offload the second, less powerful card as a dedicated PhysX card. This -may- increase your performance in game on the main monitor (if you are using only one monitor). However, I might recommend having the cards very similar to each other... as in within 1 or 2 years from each other - any further you may experience bottlenecking. I do say it may for a reason as well... The simplest answer is that it's worth a try, and if it doesn't work just remove it!

Keep in mind with more items in the computer, there will be an increase in heat that's generated

 

[SASRT8]

The other thing you could also do with the GPUs - they must be from the same GPU designer (either both NVIDIA or both AMD) - is offload the second, less powerful card as a dedicated PhysX card. This -may- increase your performance in game on the main monitor

Wrong.

I am running an AMD/NVIDIA combo in my rig with modded drivers. Not too difficult to do, and allows me to utilize AMD's features such as the Mantle API or TressFX and so on, while using my NVIDIA card as a dedicated PhysX card. Its the best of both worlds, and IMO it's the best setup I've ever had. It allows the R9 to really shine in any situation you can throw at it.

The minimum I would recommend as a Dedicated PhysX is a GT440, preferably a little better if possible. I picked up a 560 on the cheap, and it works wonderful.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

I actually think there is some incorrect information being provided here Moh.

RAM is safe so long as the voltages of the chips are the same or very similar... If they are not you could potentially fry the RAM - you may have to adjust it in BIOS. They are correct with the rest though. It will force your ram to the lowest DDR chip you have (so if you have DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 the motherboard will choose the DDR3-1333).

However, if the DDR3-1600 requires 1.2V per chip and the DDR3-1333 requires 0.8V per chip you could actually suffer since the 1600 is not getting the proper amount of voltage. You also have to make sure that the chips are in corresponding slots - if you see two different colors for the RAM slots on your motherboard then do NOT put the same chips next to each other. Match the same chips to the corresponding colors - the reason they are colored that way is because they are corresponding DDR channels (you will be less likely to have issues in the long run).

As for GPUs you can actually use two different cards on the same motherboard... The only thing about that is that you won't SLI/Crossfire the cards. Keep in mind the main reason you may want to do this is if you have a second monitor and want to use that for other purposes while gaming.

The other thing you could also do with the GPUs - they must be from the same GPU designer (either both NVIDIA or both AMD) - is offload the second, less powerful card as a dedicated PhysX card. This -may- increase your performance in game on the main monitor (if you are using only one monitor). However, I might recommend having the cards very similar to each other... as in within 1 or 2 years from each other - any further you may experience bottlenecking. I do say it may for a reason as well... The simplest answer is that it's worth a try, and if it doesn't work just remove it!

Keep in mind with more items in the computer, there will be an increase in heat that's generated

Good information, thanks.
I've checked and my RAM voltage is all the same: DDR3-1600. I'm not sure about the voltage chip you're talking about, but I'll look into it when I get my hands on the other RAM sticks that I own from my mother's house. I left them in my project build there, so I'll peel them out when I go home for my Styx concert.
I don't think I'm going to try and get a second GPU card. I don't do extreme hardcore gaming anyway, so I probably won't need any more graphics power for now. And when I need to upgrade, I'll just buy a better card and sell this old one.
My case has 4 fans, one giant one on top, I think it should be able to stay fairly cool c:

 

[szskateman22]

Wrong.

I am running an AMD/NVIDIA combo in my rig with modded drivers. Not too difficult to do, and allows me to utilize AMD's features such as the Mantle API or TressFX and so on, while using my NVIDIA card as a dedicated PhysX card. Its the best of both worlds, and IMO it's the best setup I've ever had. It allows the R9 to really shine in any situation you can throw at it.

The minimum I would recommend as a Dedicated PhysX is a GT440, preferably a little better if possible. I picked up a 560 on the cheap, and it works wonderful.

I know you can do a combination of AMD/NVIDIA it's just generally not recommended - because the drivers can conflict with each other and make a mess of the computer if you're not careful.

@Moh - this is what I'm referring to.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

If you look at the voltages they are slightly different. I don't remember how much of a difference it makes, but I think the computer may flip out if you don't set them up in dual channels/it forces it to follow one or another. - This may give you a blue screen and then you have to actually calibrate the chips in your BIOS.

 

[SASRT8]

Exactly why I mentioned Modded/hybrid drivers. I've never had a lick of problems. Yeah, you'll have problems if you just throw the two cards in there and install WHQL certified drivers on there. In that case, you'd have trouble on your hands. But if the person keeps their head out of their ass and does it right, they'll have no problems. I wouldn't hesistate to recommend it to anybody. Choosing between one high-end AMD card with a half-ass PhysX card, vs two decent Nvidia cards or two decent AMD cards...I'll take the first option anyday while keeping myself in the same price spectrum. You don't have to deal with microstuttering and lack of support for SLI/CF, and you'll get top notch framerates with ALL the latest features, not just limited to the ones supported by just AMD or Nvidia.