ram question

[oscaryu1]

I am going to buy a motherboard that has 2 slots for
DDR400 andDDR2 533. I was just wondering if the DDR400 will make the DDR2 run at slower speeds. Thanks! I dont think this will happen, but i need ot make sure.

 

[PC eye]

You are talking about a board with two slots for DDR memory and two for DDR2 533. You can only run one type. DDR2 is 240pin memory there while DDR is 184pin. That's a combo board that allows the use of the older memory and nothing more.

 

[madtownidiot]

if you've already decided to do that there's probably no point in trying to talk you out of it.

 

[PC eye]

Well if you already have the DDR2 533 memory run it! If you only have the DDR400 memory you can that until buying new or a later upgrade where you will then need DDR2 memory there. If you try the two types together the system will do as expected stall at post time and fail to run.

 

[oscaryu1]

But I can try... but will it do hard to the motherboard? I have not ordered yet. I am planning on an Abit motherboard combo

 

[Cromewell]

It doesn't work. The manual tells you not to mix DDR and DDR2 for a reason

 

[PC eye]

With plans to go with a new board why not plan to upgrade to DDR2 memory as well since that will allow you far more options? When upgrading the current build here I will be dumping 2gb of DDR memory into another case to upgrade that from a Socket A board to the current one. The new AM2 board will run DDR2 2gb dimms there.

 

[oscaryu1]

Welp I am but I can only get 1 GIG cause of my budget. Ill spend another $38 bucks later.

 

[PC eye]

If you decide to wait a bit you can go for a pair of 1gb DDR2 dimms in a kit maybe even a matched pair to see the best results. Will this be for a quick upgrade or for running the new board for a few years? On a tighter budget you will want to save a little to make the biggest leap you can to somewhat keep up rather then buying here and there and end up spending more in the long run.

The last build here saw three video cards as well as three cpus until the last one cooked. That was a setback. This is why running your current DDR memory until you have some money saved will allow you to look for a good deal or price reduction on a good brand.