Mixing XMS2 and XMS3

[Spidey1978]

I currently have 3x2gb XMS2 1600 (9-9-9-24) on my Gigabyte ex58a - ud3r board with i7 930.
Could I add an extra 3x4gb XMS3 1600 (9-9-9-24) to make my rig up to 18gb RAM or would I need to remove the XMS2.

If adding XMS3 would be okay what about 3x4gb of Vengeance (again 1600 and 9-9-9-24)?

I did ask this in another forum here but thought probably good Idea to actually ask the Corsair experts for their advice.

Thanks

[jim]

As far as I know, XMS2=DDR2 and XMS3=DDR3, so no.

Hold on, the EX58-UD3R uses DDR3. So how do you have DDR2 memory in it? Are you positive it's XMS2?

[Spidey1978]

Are you positive it's XMS2?

Good point - um no - you are right. It is XMS3 I have at the mo - it's just packaged differently so I assumed it was an older version. So easy to confuse a stupid person like me.

So, in fact, I have 3x2gb of XMS3 1600 9-9-9-24 at 1.65v - Corsair website says XMS3 is still 1.65v but Scan says it is 1.5v - presuming the manufacturer is right.

[jim]

Well, IIRC, when the new Intel boards came out, Intel recommended that they weren't run above the standard voltage of 1.5V. So a lot of DDR3 came pre-overvolted, and then all the manufacturers released RAM that was at the standard 1.5V. It's only a vague recollection, but I think that's roughly right.

Either way, it doesn't really matter. Your board can run 1.65V RAM at 1.5V, and vice-versa, it's just that when running at lower voltages it's harder for it to hit the really high frequencies and ultra-low timings.

[Spidey1978]

Ah okay. That is an interesting bit of back knowledge. Thanks so much for your help. All a lot clearer now and I know what I'm going to get. I now just have to see if I can fit all those sticks in under my heat sink fan. Looks like it could be a squeeze. Eeek.

Thanks again.