3 Things to Know About Mixing RAM Sticks

Your motherboard will run both sticks, but it slows both to match the slower stick’s timings. If timings are close, you may not notice a difference.

The real risk is mismatched memory chips from different batches or brands. They may work fine for years or refuse to boot at all.

If you already have the stick, test it under heavy use for a few days. If stable, keep it; if not, return it and buy an identical match or a kit.