Do I need new RAM with new MOBO

A

Aaron1100us

New Member
I'm still new to building PC's and I've been trying to learn as much as I can from this great site. I had a friend that built my past computers but he moved away and I'm trying this on my own now. This last system he built had an ECS L4VXA2 mobo (recently died), celeron 2.7ghz cpu, 2X256mb Samgsung DDR 400 RAM. I just ordered an ASUS P4P800 SE mobo and was wondering if the RAM that I have will work? I've discovered that all RAM isn't the same as it seems that they have different timings. I have no idea what timing the Samsung that I currently have is. Any way to tell? I hope to upgrade to a pair of 512mb corsair sometime in the future but I'll need to hopfully stick with what I have now. If the timing of the Samsung is not right for the mobo that I'm getting, can I change the timing in the BIOs? Just trying to make sure I don't have any problems when I go to put this together. Thanks
 
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Ok, thanks. So I don't need to adjust the timing at all? Is there a difference in performance with various timings? I guess I don't understand what the timing is all about. I've read about it in the RAM 101 but it doesn't make any sense. What is there to be timed? On a car, the camshaft has to be timed to the crank shaft in order for the engine to run. Is it kinda the same with with RAM and the mobo? Just trying to learn. Thanks
 
i never really worried about timings on my computers, i just first worried about the clock speed. Your new mobo supports ddr400 (pc3200), and thats what your say your current ram is. Im pretty sure most Mobo's support a great variety of timings for Ram, so id be confident that your old ram would work with your new motherboard.

i dont know much about timing, all i know is that the lower the numbers, is usually the better.

mine runs at 3-3-3-8 i think. I've heard people like 2.5-3-3-7 or something. The better quality ram u buy, usually provides better timings. Mine works fine, so i dont know what any better timing would do for my machine. Might make it a few milliseconds faster for most applications, but i dont worry about it. The extra money for slightly better ram wasnt worth it in my opinoin.

hopefully you got a new processsor. It's widely know in the comptuer world that these celerons are pretty bad.

and last:

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/roundupmobo/asus-p4p800-se-i865pe.html
 
Thanks for the reply. I won't worry about the RAM then. Hehe, I thought that was pretty funny about the celeron:) Yeah, the celeron is pretty crappy from what I've heard. Plan on getting a 3.0ghz P4 Prescott from Newegg sometime soon. I got the celeron fee from a friend and thought it was cool at the time(back in january 06). Upgraded from a 475 Mhz K6 that I used since 1999. Hopfully the celeron will run untill I get the p4.
 
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