How important is "matched" memory for DDR

[HCHTech]

When DDR was first a thing, it was (IMO) pretty important to get identical sticks of RAM. We learned early that it saved a lot of headaches to just buy the "kits" of matched modules. Old habits die hard, so we still do this as a matter of course. Recently, though we've been running into trouble finding matched kits. Latest example: we've got most of the parts for a Ryzen workstation here right now, but had quite a delay finding a matched 16GB kit of DDR4/2400. Ultimately, we ended up ordering one directly from Kingston after none of our regular distributors had anything in stock. Or, you find out that some places list items as "in stock" when they really mean "drop-shipped from the manufacturer", which, surprise surprise, doesn't have any.

I was just about to order four single 4GB sticks from D&H (identical, but unmatched) when my assistant found the right thing by calling Kingston.

I'm sure I read somewhere that chipsets today are more tolerant to slight differences in memory timing, etc., so I'm wondering what other folks do - Do you hold out for matched kits or just use identical but unmatched individual sticks?

 

[sapphirescales]

I always try to match the SPECS of the sticks. Brands? Not so much. So if I have one stick of DDR3 1600 9-9-11 Corsair, I'd be comfortable putting in a Crucial DDR3 1600 9-9-11 alongside it. If I get a computer in that needs a RAM upgrade and I don't have a matching stick, I just replace both of them (or all three of them for triple channel memory).

Modern motherboards are MUCH more forgiving of mis-matched sticks nowadays (unless it's an ASUS board), but I wouldn't want mis-matched sticks in my personal computer so I don't do that to my client's computers either.

 

[jace]

I try to match specs and brand as much as possible

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I havent tried it in a long time but I don't recall any issues as long as you can control the timings. If you are using a motherboard that doesnt support that kind of detail you are depending on the motherboard to make the timing decision and I don't know how good they are about that these days but it certainly wasnt a good idea a while back =P

Edit: be aware that ordering the same exact brand and model memory does not always result in the same exact memory unless its in the same kit. ( example: https://www.technibble.com/forums/threads/g-skill-same-model-completely-different-ram.67462/ )

 

[Blues]

I haven't mixed and match too much since DDR2 but generally the only issue is that your performance is limited to the maximum speeds of the slowest module.

 

[HCHTech]

Edit: be aware that ordering the same exact brand and model memory does not always result in the same exact memory unless its in the same kit.

This is exactly the reason we always tried to get kits. I don't know if it's just that DDR4 is new, but we have had a hard time finding kits in stock anywhere lately. We have been putting up with the delay, but the next time it happens, we'll order single sticks with identical specs and see how it goes. That'll be the acid test, I guess.

 

[Diggs]

I still run into boards that don't accept high density RAM very well. They only go to higher memory counts with low density (sticks populated on both sides with chips) RAM.