Mixing RAM

I know it's a no-no, but here's my situation.
Very shortly after buying this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

...I see this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

Both 44.99. So I have 4 gigs of that 800, and I want another set of 4 gigs. Will it be ok under those circumstances (same brand, same size, different clocks) to mix the two? I regret so much buying that first set. I could have a straight 8 gigs of 1000 mhz for the same price of a straight 8 gigs of the 800 mhz!

Ask yourself first why you would want 8gb of memory? Rather then mixing you could easily replace the 800 memory with the other and 4gb which is usually over what most will need anyways. Or you could simply run the 800 since the difference with the faster memory isn't that much and save money for the eventual new case with a newer type if not DDR3 then.

Here I just upgraded from 2gb to 4gb of 800 memory since I will likely be getting into 3D graphics and animation at some point as well as 64bit OSs. Those along with testing other things in various configurations was the reason for the increase.

If you have no plans to run anything "memory hungry" like CAD which I am still looking here having had Delta CAD on at one point then there would a need to add any large amount of memory in. Otherwise you will simply see a large amount of memory going to waste since nothing else will need anything near that amount to start with.

Like Pc eye says, if you are not running a x64 bit OS, 4gb is enough. 32 bit OS will not use it all, especially if it is windows xp 32 bit. It only sees 3.25gb.

get the faster memory

the pc2-8000 (1000mhz) memory will give you more headroom for future upgrades. the pc2-8000 will downclock to pc2-6400 in your configuration. so if they are the same price then go for the pc2-8000.


but dont plan on overclocking your system if you populate all 4 memory sockets, the chipset wont like it if it has to operate 4 dimms + a higher frequency

360freak said:

I know it's a no-no, but here's my situation.
Very shortly after buying this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

...I see this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

Both 44.99. So I have 4 gigs of that 800, and I want another set of 4 gigs. Will it be ok under those circumstances (same brand, same size, different clocks) to mix the two? I regret so much buying that first set. I could have a straight 8 gigs of 1000 mhz for the same price of a straight 8 gigs of the 800 mhz!

Click to expand...

I've used both. The 500/1000 will back clock to 400/800. At 400/800 it even defaults to the same voltage and timming as the 400/800. So it will run fine together. But 8 gbs is overkill.

AlienMenace said:

Like Pc eye says, if you are not running a x64 bit OS, 4gb is enough. 32 bit OS will not use it all, especially if it is windows xp 32 bit. It only sees 3.25gb.

Click to expand...

There's some here on the forum running the 64bit version of Vista Ultimate with 2gb installed. The 32bit edition of Home Premium sees about 300mb more then XP reporting a steady 3.581gb with the beta release of SP2 now on in the task manager.

Performance wise however the move up from 2gb to 4gb hasn't seen much there. Until you start seeing some larger 64bit games and apps coming out the actual need for over 2-3gb on any system just isn't there to begin with.