Memory speed (400MHz & 533MHz)

[Prince]

Hello,


I got 2x512 DDR2 RAM with 533MHz Memory speed.

A friend of mine brings 2x256 DDR2 RAM with 400MHz speed. I put them on my PC like this

DIMM1: 512 DDR2 RAM(533MHz)
DIMM2: 256 DDR2 RAM(400MHz)
DIMM3: 512 DDR2 RAM(533MHz)
DIMM4: 256 DDR2 RAM(400MHz)

As I heard that it will not work because the differnce in speed. BUT it worked My setup can read 1512 MB RAM and windows xp also can read them.

but only one differnce that my SETUP said that memory speed is 400MHz.

So, now I have 1512 MB RAM or my system read 1024 only but that value is dummy one?

Do I have to remove the 2x256 RAM ?

[rcvalencia9]

That's ok. If you install two different RAMS with differrent speeds the higher RAM will downclock itself to the lower one thats why its only 400 MHz now.

[Prince]

Originally Posted by rcvalencia9 That's ok. If you install two different RAMS with differrent speeds the higher RAM will downclock itself to the lower one thats why its only 400 MHz now.

Thanks!

so the 533MHz RAM will downclock itself to 400MHz. Good!.

But really is there a big differnce between having 533MHz or 400MHz?

can you feel it or it is the same somhow?

in other way... what is better? removing the 2x256 to make my RAM works with 533MHz speed or leave it 1512 amount of RAM is better than increasing the speed.?

[rcvalencia9]

Its 133 MHz. You increased your RAM by 50%. So I think its better to have additional 512 MB. But you will not notice any difference from 1024 to 1536. There's only a slight increased in performance when you have 1024MB instead of 512 MB. That upgrade will ony show an increase in performance in video editing and stuffs like that

[Prince]

Originally Posted by rcvalencia9 Its 133 MHz.

what do you mean by 133MHz?

[rcvalencia9]

The difference of 533 and 400 MHz. But I think you just keep the 2 X 256 MB RAMS for troubleshooting purposes when maybe your 2 X 512 goes. Thats just me.. Maybe some will comment on it soon.

[discodanman45]

1 GB of faster RAM will outperform 1.5 GB of slower RAM in almost every single application besides video editing and other tasks that need high amount of memory. I would stick to the one GB of 533 MHz RAM and keep the other two sticks if you need to do video editing one day.

[blinker9797]

If you really wanted to try something you could trade in the 2 256MB 400MHz sticks and try to get yourself the equivelant running at 533MHz. I think then you would see a decent improvement in performance from what you have running now. So you'd have 1.5GB of 533MHz RAM total. Good luck!!

~brad