DDR/General Memory FAQ (2003)

[pam123]

Originally Posted by FlyerFanatic08 so it looks like my mobo has failed me..i am looking to upgrade...and was wondering which quad core board to get...i recently bought ram as well, so i was wondering if any quad cores take DDR PC3200 400MHz type ram..or is that not even possible? any help is appreciated

Ouch!
No you can't use that ram with a quad core; sell it on Ebay if it's too late to return it.

As for the board, check out the reviews for the P35/45 series of motherboards.

[pradeep]

I have a mobo with FSB speed of 533/400Mhz and a 1.7Ghz Intel Celron processor.

with memory support
1) Two 184-pin, 2.5V DDR DIMM sockets with a total capacity of 2 GB system memory.
2) Supports DDR 200/266MHz memory bus.

There is a jumper setting on my mobo to choose between cpu clock frequencies of 100 & 133 Mhz

can someone suggest the best mem module for this pc?

what is cpu/mem ratio?

[Floppyman]

What brand and model is the motherboard?

HTH

[pradeep]

This is what it says in the mobo manual

KOB P4M266a NDMx
VIA P4M266A Northbridge and VT8235 Southbridge chipsets

[pam123]

Download and run Belarc : http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Post the hardware list here.

[pradeep]

Cant do that.

I'm posting through my new PC on this forum.

i dont have any mem module to boot the old PC and the one's that are on my new PC are DDR2 which is not supported by the old PC.

On top of the mobo it says: "M925 v7.3 (KOB P4M266a NDMx)"

thanks for the reply though.

[pradeep]

Here's the link to my mobo's website http://www.mercury-pc.com/product-sp...?productid=333

[pam123]

OK, here's a full review for that processor :http://techreport.com/articles.x/3939/1
PC 2100 ram used.

[pradeep]

Thanks for the reply.

[SmurfWAStick]

Quick question: is there a difference between having more sticks with less memory each or less sticks with more memory each?

[pam123]

Originally Posted by SmurfWAStick Quick question: is there a difference between having more sticks with less memory each or less sticks with more memory each?

Performance-wise?
Nothing you'll notice in the real world.

Price-wise ?
If you ever want to upgrade by increasing the ram you have you'll have to discard/sell some of the sticks and begin again.

Your question really concerns ram and motherboards a few years ago when the amount of ram a board could support was tighter as well as whether or not you could use double sided or single sided ram in all the slots.
This left you juggling single channel vs dual channel set ups and finding out that ram amounts of varying types were needed. So you got things like 2 512mb sticks or only 1 1 Gb stick but 4 256 mb sticks and so on.
If you used rambus ram with the need for dummy sticks it got even worse.

Unless you're refurbishing an antique, in which case you really need the manual, it's no longer applicable.

[SmurfWAStick]

Thanks for the in-depth reply. So all I need to know is that it doesn't matter except for future upgrades in which case it is better to have more memory on each stick?

[pam123]

Originally Posted by SmurfWAStick Thanks for the in-depth reply. So all I need to know is that it doesn't matter except for future upgrades in which case it is better to have more memory on each stick?

More memory on each stick.

[seohadczy]

pc4000 DDR ram is starting to become available:

pc4000 = 250mhz DDR (500mhz)

[rjfvillarosa]

seohadczy.
I have edited out the link in your signature,. Advertising is against the forum rules, please read rule number 6.

~rjfvillarosa - moderator~

[ynehl06]

Mixing memory is always risky, quite often they just don't work together. Newer mobos and memory is closing the gap pretty good, though. So, many mis-matches that wouldn't run just a year or three ago seem to run together OK now.As for as mixing them up on DualDDR, I don't recall seeing anybody benching a mis-match. I would still recommend at least buying the same brand an part number to be safe.

[james21v]

well this is great informative post... i liked it... i was suprised to see the first post.. it was really nice... keep posting...

(link removed from signature by moderator - see forum rules)

[christ11]

I have install DDR RAM in my computer.first chip is 1GB and second chip is 512 mb.
I want to replace them wuth the DDR -3.How it is possible?IS it good or not?
What is the difference between DDR and DDR-3 RAM?

[glc]

No, it is not possible. You can only use standard DDR. DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 all have their own unique slots.

[dafnisteew]

What's the maximum bus speed of DDR ?

[pam123]

Right now, for the desktop, it's DDR3 2400 RAM at $225 for 4GB.

That's twice the usual price.

[spraynpray]

Can anybody help me with a quick answer to this question please?

My new PC uses DDR3 RAM and is supplied with 2Gb upgradeable to 4Gb. I am surprised to see only one chip of 2Gb - I thought it should have 2 x 1Gb for 2Gb then to upgrade you change both for 2 x 2Gb. I guess my question is, if it is good practice to have just the one 2Gb chip in there, can I upgrade by buying another single chip of 2Gb or do I have to have a 'match' of manufacturer or even batch?

Thanks for any help.

[pam123]

You don't tell us the manufacturer but buy another 2Gb stick of the same type (what ever the computer builder used) for the job.
Yes it must be the same manufacturer, so if it's Corsair Extreme ( or whatever) you must buy another stick of the same type.


It's true that, in these days of dual channel, ram sticks are sold in pairs but it's not strictly necessary.
Just make sure the new stick matches the old one.

[Kidd]

If a mobo only supports DDR2-667, and I put DDR2-800, the memory will underclock to 667, right?

On the flip side, if a mobo only supports DDR2-800, will DDR2-667 work at all?

[glc]

It all depends on the motherboard and memory and the FSB you are running at. I have an Asus P5L-MX that only supports up to 667. I have 800 in it and it's running at 667 with an 800 FSB Core 2 Duo.

[Kidd]

Originally Posted by glc It all depends on the motherboard and memory and the FSB you are running at. I have an Asus P5L-MX that only supports up to 667. I have 800 in it and it's running at 667 with an 800 FSB Core 2 Duo.

Right, the everything-depends-on-everything factor. Even specified memory may not work, as some motherboards are picky, and for guaranteed compatibility, stick to the QVL. But I'm still unsure about this.

Your above set up is slowed to 667 by the motherboard. What if the memory was the slow part (667), and the motherboard specifies 800? Would this not work at all, or just depends on the specific set up?

This is sort of a backwards compatibility question. If I had 4 sticks of DDR2-800 and a DDR2-667 motherboard, IF they worked together, I'd assume the memory would only run at 667.

But I have 4 sticks of DDR2-667, would they (possibly) work in a DDR2-800 motherboard?