Mixing and Matching RAM

T

THX1138

New Member
Hi everyone. I know mixing and matching RAM can lead to backclocking or a slower system overall, but I'd like to know what you all think. In my PowerSpec 8922, I have 512MB of RAM (two sticks of 256MB). I want to buy a stick of 1GB and add it to the 512MB already in there, totaling in 1.5GB (~1536MB) of RAM. (The system can be expanded to 4GB.) Would this speed up or slow down my system? Should I just stop being a cheapskate and give up the cash for a 1GB kit?

Here are my motherboard's specs:
http://www.powerspec.com/systems/archives/system_components.phtml?component=804&selection=8922

Thanks!
 
The speed will be the speed of your slowest stick of RAM. Rule of thumb is that the slowest stick should be closest to you CPU, I find that, that technique work most of the time.
 
The speed will be the speed of your slowest stick of RAM. Rule of thumb is that the slowest stick should be closest to you CPU, I find that, that technique work most of the time.
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Are you saying I should put the two 256MBs in the A1 and B1 slots and the 1GB in the A2 or B2 slot? Or do you mean I should stick the two 256MBs in the slots that are physically closest to my CPU???

And I think I'm getting confused with speed and memory here. What if I put in a 1GB stick that is the same speed as the two 256MB sticks; or is that not possible? :confused: Also, I read the sticky, "RAM 101" and stuff on Wikipedia.org before posting, and I think I'm even more confused now. What do the denotations "PC3200, PC2700, etc." originate from??? Why are they needed? Wasn't "DDR400, DDR200, etc." already confusing enough?

If I just scrap the two 256MB sticks, should I buy a 1GB kit, which I hear is just a marketing gimmick, or should I buy two sticks of 512MB?

Thanks.
 
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PC3200=DDR400 PC2700=DDR333
First of all you have to find out if your motherboard even supports a 1GB stick. If it does, then I suggest you stick the slower RAM in the slots PHYSICALLY closest to the CPU, and the faster and higher capacity RAM furthest from it. It has always worked with me, if I do it the other way, I always get these memory error, I suspect because the motherboard is trying to run ALL the RAM at the faster RAM speed and the slower RAM sticks can't keep up.
 
Do this. Have the 2X256 sticks in dual channel (every other slot) and then get a 2X512 set and put them in the other slots, so that you have
CPU> [256][512][256][512]. You want two of the same stick, so get the "kit" that you were talking about. They are better than a stick by itself.
 
All right, I'm hearing what both of you are saying now. I'll most likely buy the kit and have the "CPU>[256][512][256][512]" setup. Are there any downsides of having all four sticks in there/all four slots full?

PC3200=DDR400 PC2700=DDR333
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I know what PC3200 and PC2700 refer to but I'd like to know where those labels come from?
 
THX1138 said:
All right, I'm hearing what both of you are saying now. I'll most likely buy the kit and have the "CPU>[256][512][256][512]" setup. Are there any downsides of having all four sticks in there/all four slots full?


I know what PC3200 and PC2700 refer to but I'd like to know where those labels come from?
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There is only a slight advantage, as the motherboard doesnt have to skip a slot and therefore takes like a nanosecond less. PC-XXXX names are derived from teh speeds. I dont know why we dont just use the DDR400 and whatnot.
 
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