Silly memory question

Belefuu · 06-23-2005, 09:36 PM

I have 512 of PC3200 ram, and am looking to buy another 512. Am I correct in assuming that buying say PC3400 or anything higher would provide no extra benifit, or be incompatible, etc? Ie, what happens if you have 2 sticks of different speed memory?

Thanks

Kilivek · 06-23-2005, 09:57 PM

You can overclock your slower module a smidge, but i wouldn't.

I did this, simply because of a great deal on a higher speed module. I would recommend against it though...i have my faster underclocked for reliability.

Belefuu · 06-23-2005, 10:03 PM

So what happens if for instance you have 1 stick of 3200 and one of 3600? What is your overall memory speed, will it just stay at 3200, be incompatible, or some sort of mixture of the two?

Vorph · 06-23-2005, 10:51 PM

It stays at whatever you have the FSB set to in the bios.

Mixing RAM is just bad mojo. You gain nothing by running a faster stick with a PC3200, but you increase your chances for instability due to mixing brands/types. If at all possible, buy another stick of the exact same kind you currently have.

And when you get the new RAM, make sure you have the two DIMMs in the correct slots for dual-channel if your motherboard supports it. Very often the correct config is not the first two slots.

Belefuu · 06-23-2005, 10:58 PM

That's what I figured.

I have three memory slots, two of which are closer together than the other, so I'm guessing that's the dual channel config. I'll have to check it out though.

Edit: lol, looked it up and I was wrong. Guess the asthetically logical choice isn't abit's bag.

Vorph · 06-23-2005, 11:05 PM

The two next to each other are normally one channel, and the one set off a bit is the other channel (but check your manual to be sure anyway). If you ever fill all three slots, you will want to buy a 1GB DIMM and shift them around so that your channels stay balanced.

06-23-2005, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Belefuu Poster Heavy Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,000 -2 Internets	Silly memory question I have 512 of PC3200 ram, and am looking to buy another 512. Am I correct in assuming that buying say PC3400 or anything higher would provide no extra benifit, or be incompatible, etc? Ie, what happens if you have 2 sticks of different speed memory? Thanks

06-23-2005, 10:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Belefuu Poster Heavy Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,000 -2 Internets	That's what I figured. I have three memory slots, two of which are closer together than the other, so I'm guessing that's the dual channel config. I'll have to check it out though. Edit: lol, looked it up and I was wrong. Guess the asthetically logical choice isn't abit's bag. Last edited by Belefuu : 06-23-2005 at 11:05 PM.

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06-23-2005, 09:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kilivek Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: WVa Posts: 1,078 +0 Internets	You can overclock your slower module a smidge, but i wouldn't. I did this, simply because of a great deal on a higher speed module. I would recommend against it though...i have my faster underclocked for reliability.

06-23-2005, 10:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Belefuu Poster Heavy Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,000 -2 Internets	So what happens if for instance you have 1 stick of 3200 and one of 3600? What is your overall memory speed, will it just stay at 3200, be incompatible, or some sort of mixture of the two?

06-23-2005, 10:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Vorph Never Go Full Retard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 5,880	It stays at whatever you have the FSB set to in the bios. Mixing RAM is just bad mojo. You gain nothing by running a faster stick with a PC3200, but you increase your chances for instability due to mixing brands/types. If at all possible, buy another stick of the exact same kind you currently have. And when you get the new RAM, make sure you have the two DIMMs in the correct slots for dual-channel if your motherboard supports it. Very often the correct config is not the first two slots.

06-23-2005, 11:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vorph Never Go Full Retard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 5,880	The two next to each other are normally one channel, and the one set off a bit is the other channel (but check your manual to be sure anyway). If you ever fill all three slots, you will want to buy a 1GB DIMM and shift them around so that your channels stay balanced.