Compatibility of SO-DIMMs and SSDs

In case the title is misleading, I am not trying to compare the two. I wanted to know whether it is

1) Advisable to get two RAM modules from two different manufacturers. I know two different speeds are not advisable but what about the same speed and different manufacturers? I have Samsung and they don't seem to be manufacturing a single 8GB module. So my expansion is limited to 16GB (which is more than enough, yes - I was just curious) or having to get rid of the two Samsung modules and get new ones if the time comes to upgrade to more than 8GB. BTW if someone finds 8GB Samsung modules being sold, please let me know.

2) Is it advisable to have two SSDs that are using different controllers? I know getting two from different places is okay but what if they have different controllers?

Thank you.

 

1) In theory there should be no problems, but in practice there's a slight chance the 2 DIMMs are incompatible. Just make sure you buy from a place with a good return policy so you can return it and try another brand/model if that happens.

2) There's no problem having 2 SSDs with different controllers in your machine at the same time, unless if you're planning to RAID them together.

 

1.- I've never had a single problem, and none of my computers I've worked on has ever had matched-manufacturer RAM (4 laptops, 4 desktops, and perhaps some older ones too). You'll be fine.

2.- Yep, unless you're planning to use RAID, there's no problem.

 

Alright thank you both for your help.

 

1) I have the factory-stock Samsung 4GB DIMM and two aftermarket Mushkin 4GB DIMMs in my W520. Absolutely no issues after installing them in June 2011. If you want to be 100% certain, run a Memtest on the two sets of RAM (all installed in the laptop at once), but I never bothered to Memtest my RAM at all.

2) It's fine. I plan on having both my Intel 330 (Sandforce SF-2281) and Intel 320 (Intel PC29AS21AA0) in my W520 once I get around to it. Having different SSDs with different controllers will do nothing to your computer; the controller only affects operations with the SSD. It'll be like saying that you couldn't use Seagate and WD mechanical drives in the same computer (obviously, you can if you wanted).

 

Just out of curiosity, if the IVBs and SBs could not utilize 1866 memory, why is it available? Or is it only for the desktop processors which would mean their controllers allow 1866 speeds?

 

Sandy Bridge can in fact use 1866 memory, it's just that you won't see any improvement over 1600 memory (1333 gives you a *very* minor performance hit); same for anything above 1866.

Higher memory clocks are for people who love to brag about numbers. Sort of like that computer equivalent of lifted pickup trucks or sports cars.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3/8

 

LOL hmm I see.

But he used a desktop to do those tests. Did SB laptop mobos have >1600 controllers?

 

I think that the mobile chips are more than capable of over-1600MHz memory, if the desktop versions are any indication (the maximum supported speed, according to Intel, is 1600MHz for the higher-end processors, and 1333MHz for most). Here are some comments from that article I linked:

Intel says that only the lower-end stuff is supported (which doesn't surprise me, since they want to upsell us on everything). I think that maybe the CPU will downclock higher-speed RAM to 1600MHz(?).

 

I see. Well thanks for the information!

 

What Intel says is and is not supported for a particular CPU is just a recommendation - the motherboard (specifically the BIOS) plays a far bigger role in determining whether or not memory will actually work. The CPU will take pretty much anything you throw at it. Some people have even gotten ECC server memory to work with a Core i3.

Nonetheless, I would say Intel chose well when they picked DDR3-1333 for SNB and DDR3-1600 for IVB. If they really wanted to make their memory partners happy at the expense of consumers, they would've said DDR3-2400.