F3-1600c9d-8gao+f3-1600c9d-8gab???

[Scyphe]

I currently have 4x2 G.Skill ARES LP PC12800/1600MHz with Part/model number: F3-1600C9D-8GAO on my Sabertooth P67.

I was looking into getting a second set and fill the slots. However, for some reason the price of the 8GAO have jumped by 20%+. Then I noticed the blue ARES with exact same specs, the only difference being that they have 8GAB in the end of their model name/number.

What are the chances they wouldn't work together? I don't know what the differences are since according to the spec sheet they're identical. The only noticeable difference I could see was (except for the GAB vs GAO at the end of the product number) that the sinks are blue instead of orange. Are they using different RAM chips that can make thing iffy or unstable? I don't overclock the RAM (diminishing return for ARES-series).

The blue ones (GAB) are cheaper by 30%.

/Scyphe

[Tradesman]

No difference I know of between these sets, demand can sway retailer prices...as far as mixing sets, anytime you mix sets it can be problematic. Packaged sets are tested for all sticks to work together and XMP programming is done by the packaged set, so there's a possibility that you might get two sets that just don't want to play together and also a good probability that you may have to manually set one or more of the advanced timings...i.e. a 16GB packaged set may require a tRFC of 208 and a 32GB set may need 278....or say 8GB (2 sticks) needs 120 and 16GB (4 sticks) needs 208...On the other hand, many BIOS's can do a reasonable job of setting advanced timings on their own with 16GB and smaller sets at mid (1600) and lower freqs

[Scyphe]

Forgot to list my system specs in case that would help with compatibility issues between 8GAO and 8GAB on that board.

Model of the motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth P67, 3602 UEFI "BIOS" with latest updated OROM's
Model of the memory: G.Skill ARES F3-1600C9D-8GAO (4x2)
Model of the CPU: Intel Core 5 2500K

[Tradesman]

Think the big thing is just if the sets will play together (and I think they prob will), if you take this route and have any problems, let us know, at 1600 can generally get them to play nice

[Scyphe]

Yeah, I'm running them at stock 1600, 9-9-9-24. I noticed no difference at 1866 11-11-11-28.

[Tradesman]

AT 1866 should be able to run 10-10-10-24 or so (might take a hair more DRAM or MC voltage)