Two different speed RAM chips in same mother board?

[lost_in_PC]

I have two RAM chips, one is 512MB 400mhz and the other is 256 333mhz. I was wondering if it will be OK to hook the two of them in my computers mother board? The board has the 512 already and the empty compatible slot for the 256. Can anyone tell me if this possible or would there be any problems? Thanks!

[Bobo]

Yes it is possible, but they will both run at 333 speed.

[lost_in_PC]

So if they will be running at 333, is it worth it to add the memory? or should I just leave it with the 512 chip? Thanks!

[Cromewell]

It's slower, and it's argueable that the extra 256MB wont make enough difference. Plus, if your board supports dual channel, you will no longer be running dual channel.

[lost_in_PC]

GUYS, thanks a lot for all your responses. I want everyone to know that I'm not really an expert in computers so I would appreciate someone to give a straight out answer and not bring any ambiguity to the response.
For example, CROMEWELL mentions dual channel which I don't have a clue about. I just want to know if it would be worth it to add the 256 extra given that the other card is 400 mhz? What is dual channel and how do I know my compu has that?
Thanks a lot I really appreciate the help!

[Cromewell]

Dual channel means you have effectively double the speed to your RAM. Rereading your original post, it doesn't matter anyway. You aren't running in dual channel now if you only have 1 stick of RAM in there. That being the case, I'd say add the extra RAM.

[Dual_Corex2]

Originally Posted by Cromewell

Dual channel means you have effectively double the speed to your RAM.

Sorry but i must correct this, it doubles the bandwidth rather then speed

[Cromewell]

Potato...Potato? That really doesn't work in text form

Your post is all semantics. It's effectively the same thing, you can't increase one without the other increasing. Dual channel DDR400 effectively (it's not 100%) gives you DDR800, or if you would prefer 6.4GB/s bandwidth which is....wait...oh right the bandwidth provided by DDR800

[Dual_Corex2]

Originally Posted by Cromewell

Potato...Potato? That really doesn't work in text form

Your post is all semantics. It's effectively the same thing, you can't increase one without the other increasing. Dual channel DDR400 effectively (it's not 100%) gives you DDR800, or if you would prefer 6.4GB/s bandwidth which is....wait...oh right the bandwidth provided by DDR800

Hmmm, actually the memory bandwidth is labled as, in this case, PC3200 and PC6400 (i dont think there is such a thing, but thats what it would be referred to.) The DDR400 rating is the speed, or freq it operates at. DDR400 would be 200mhz or effectively 400mhz. I dont think any DDR ram can reach DDR800 speeds, 400mhz or effectively 800mhz. The PC3200 refers to the bandwidth, and PC3200 would be 3.2gb/s. Im sorry, but i love pushing the point lol.

Oh, and id say add the extra 256mb. The decrease in performance from running 2T would minimal compared to the increase in performance from having the extra ram. Youd be better off buying a cheap 512 stick to run dual channel, then youd nearly double the performance.

[Cromewell]

The PC3200 refers to the bandwidth, and PC3200 would be 3.2gb/s. Im sorry, but i love pushing the point lol.

Yes it would, but dual channel pc3200 would be equivalent of pc6400 or ddr800 (doesn't exist but ddr2-800 does ). I'm not saying the RAM actually runs faster, I'm saying it looks like it runs faster.