this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2023
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Mixing non-ECC RAM speeds in NAS with software RAID (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago by world_hopper@lemmy.ml to c/homelab@lemmy.ml
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I have a NAS with a 3rd gen i7 and 8 GB (2x 4GB DDR3 1600 MHz) of non-ECC RAM which has a RAID 5 mdadm array. I don't have any memory issues but I could as I add more services. I have two other 4 GB sticks 1333 MHz DDR3 which I have no other use for. I don't care about the minor speed decrease. I know mixing is generally a bad idea.

But, all of the posts I've seen about this are in regard to playing games or in production environments with server-grade hardware (ECC RAM, maybe hardware RAID). Not in a consumer hardware-focused homelab-type environment

What do you all think? Has anyone else done something similar? Am I asking for trouble here?

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[โ€“] RetroEvolute@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Should be fine. All the memory will just need to run at the speed of the slower kit. Make sure you put the sticks in the correct channels for dual channel support. But yeah, maybe only do so when you actually need the memory.

[โ€“] pound_heap@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Mixing RAM is OK. I've been running consumer PCs with mixed memory for years.

Better not put different sticks on the same channel, though. Depending on your MB you may need to set frequency manually to 1333, but most likely it will work without that.