I ordered a dual-channel RAM kit online. However they arrived in two separate packaging, checked the labels and infos and it seems they are of the same kind. Is this normal to ship the kit this way?
Moreover, the seal was too loose, so much that you can literally reach in, take out, and put back the RAMs. Is this OK?
Asking before I put everything together :> thanks PCMR!
16 Comments
yes. Idk why this is even a question
That’s fine, they appear to have the same lot codes and everything. Might just be the way those sticks are packaged for some reason.
In modern PC’s any ram of the same type can be used together, with the caveat that they will be limited to the speed/latency of the slowest stick. My PC has like 3 different models making up 4 sticks of ddr4 ram.
Of course, you wouldn’t mix ecc/non-ecc ram
They are definitely not dual channel kit as dual channel kits don’t come in seperate packaging, you can just Google the serial number and find out, also serial number usually gives away if they are kit or not as most of them say either have a 2 or 1 mentioned in the serial number if they are dual or single.
But that doesn’t mean it will not work in dual channel, as they will still work as they are same sticks but may still be of same batch of manufacturing but are not matched and selected like dual channel kits. No point in returning those amd you can still use them, if you face issues running them in dual channel then you can try to return them saying they are not dual channel kits.
Where did you order from? Usually a dual channel kit is in packaging where they can’t be separated, but this is a mistake that would be typical of Amazon.
I had Amazon send me desktop DDR4 when I ordered laptop DDR4.
I wouldn’t care if it’s OK. It’s not what I ordered, it’s going back and I’m annoyed.
They are identical sticks so they will work in dual channel just fine, but it’s up to you if you wanna send them back
my sister got that exact rams and yes they come separated too, works fine in dual channel at 3200mhz
Hmmm… suspicious, I ordered the same kit, and they even said they were XMP ready and the package was a one-piece thing instead of two. Almost guaranteed that will bring up issues, if they aren’t counterfeits. Return them and look for a new kit that ensures it works with XMP. and are a single thing… At least that’s what I would do.
Unless youre paying extra, for really fast RAM, then they arent binned together. RAM is close enough these days that you can mix and match seperate packed kits, of the same spec, and they’ll just work.
marry them
dual channel kit should come in single package with the same dram chip manufacturer, if either one uses different dram chip they will not play nice together when you try to overclock it. if both uses the same chip you should consider yourself lucky. i got two stick of fury beast which had different chip that doesn’t want to boot with xmp 3200 unless i loosen some timings.
I’ve done some mixing and matching for my latest two builds (ie two sticks 8GB black heatsink and two sticks white heatsink 16GB). Check the labels on each RAM Stick. As long as the timing spec and die source of both RAM are the same they should be fine. Otherwise return them.
Quit the pearl clutching and install the damn things.
What was the speed of the ram you bought? That ram will only work at 1688 as it’s not a dual channel kit.
serial numbers are off by only 4 so probably fine, if they run in xmp then it’s whatever. if they don’t then you got scammed basically, dual channel sticks are matched by the factory–perform the same at the same timings, there’s dozens of timings many aren’t even in the bios for you to touch, the memory controller has to synchronize all of these across two different sticks to get them to run in concert, when you get sticks in separate packages like this they were not tested together at the factory so it’s a roll of the dice if they’ll handle dual channel correctly