DDR memory chips

[Papa]

There are several different speed DDR memory chips being offered, and I have
been told that a PC3200 chip will provide significantly better overall
performance than, say, a PC2100, all other factors being equal.

Right now I am running a computer that has Windows XP Pro installed, with
384 MB of PC133 DIMM memory, an AMD Duron 1300 MHZ CPU, and a 60 MB hard
drive. Performance is quite adequate, even for most of the games my
grandkids play.

Now I am building up a new system that will include an AMD Athlon 1800 MHZ
CPU, an 80 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of RAM.

My question is: Will the lower priced PC2100 memory chips allow this system
to perform at least as well as my existing system, or should I go with the
faster PC3200 chips? Thanks.

 

[S.Heenan]

There are several different speed DDR memory chips being offered, and
I have been told that a PC3200 chip will provide significantly better
overall performance than, say, a PC2100, all other factors being
equal.
Right now I am running a computer that has Windows XP Pro installed,
with 384 MB of PC133 DIMM memory, an AMD Duron 1300 MHZ CPU, and a 60
MB hard drive. Performance is quite adequate, even for most of the
games my grandkids play.

Now I am building up a new system that will include an AMD Athlon
1800 MHZ CPU, an 80 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of RAM.

My question is: Will the lower priced PC2100 memory chips allow this
system to perform at least as well as my existing system, or should I
go with the faster PC3200 chips? Thanks.

PC3200 runs at 200MHz, PC2100 at 133MHz. On a 512MB module the price
difference is $7US. To me, it's a "no brainer".
http://www.crucial.com/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT6464Z40B&cat=RAM

Other brands may be slightly less expensive, though $93US is pretty darn
cheap.

 

[Alvin Brown]

Hello

Pc3200 and 2700 will work just fine howeevr the pc2100
which runs a little slower so the higher memory or faster
would be your best option

Alvin

 

[Nathan McNulty]

Hey Papa, I am going to make a few suggestions for you on this new
computer. First, change the CPU to a 2400+ or 2500+ with a Barton Core.
This will be a little more expensive, but much much better than the
1800+ you are looking at. I am almost positive you are going to end up
with a Palamino core on that one which runs hot and is very weak.

Second, the Palamino cores only support 266 on the Front Side Bus. This
means with PC3200 memory running at 200 MHz x 2, you will be running a
FSB of 266 MHz with memory running at 400 MHz. You may run into
bottlenecks. If you are going for a budget PC here, then stick with the
PC2100 which you can pick up for really cheap. Not sure where the
prices were that others posted, but check this out:
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=18&threadid=355809

If you haven't built this computer yet, I bet you can't beat the price
on this:
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/358047/

 

[Rube]

A Dell server with no OS? What's an inexperienced user gonna do with that?
Dell probably won't support it after he puts an OEM or Retail copy of XP on
it. . .

 

[S.Heenan]

Hey Papa, I am going to make a few suggestions for you on this new
computer. First, change the CPU to a 2400+ or 2500+ with a Barton
Core. This will be a little more expensive, but much much better
than the 1800+ you are looking at. I am almost positive you are
going to end up with a Palamino core on that one which runs hot and
is very weak.

Good advice regarding the Bartons.
It's near impossible to find a new retail or OEM Palamino core. The T-Bred B
will soon be hard to find with the release of the Semperons.

Second, the Palamino cores only support 266 on the Front Side Bus. This
means with PC3200 memory running at 200 MHz x 2, you will be
running a FSB of 266 MHz with memory running at 400 MHz. You may run
into bottlenecks.

133MHz FSB PC3200 runs at 200MHz, DDR400 if you insist.

 

[Papa]

Hi Nathan:

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I am building this computer up, as
much as possible, with parts on hand - and that includes an AMD Athlon 1800
MHZ CPU that I already have. It is slow when compared to the one you
suggested, but will perform a lot better than anything I now have (an AMD
Duron 1300 MHZ CPU).

I'll check out those URLs you mentioned.

Thanks again,

Papa

 

[Papa]

PC3200 runs at 200MHz, PC2100 at 133MHz. On a 512MB module the price
difference is $7US. To me, it's a "no brainer".
http://www.crucial.com/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT6464Z40B&cat=RAM

Other brands may be slightly less expensive, though $93US is pretty darn
cheap.

Thanks very much. I'll check it out.

 

[Papa]

Thanks, Alvin.

Hello

Pc3200 and 2700 will work just fine howeevr the pc2100
which runs a little slower so the higher memory or faster
would be your best option

Alvin

 

[S.Heenan]

Thanks very much. I'll check it out.

Anytime.

 

[Nathan McNulty]

Since you already have the CPU, I would just check out the first link
for the memory. The Dell deal is good if you don't already have stuff.
If you need any help putting it together, come on back and ask

 

[Nathan McNulty]

I got jipped with a Palamino core, so I warn everyone I can

As for the FSB, it is 133 MHz, but 266 MHz effective. PC3200 is 200
MHz, but 400 MHz effective. The T-Bred B's are excellent, but the
Barton's are just insane. AMD is definetly the way to go right now as
they provide the best bang for the buck

 

[Nathan McNulty]

My grandparents just got a computer and I bought them an OEM copy of XP.
They figured out how to install it and they've only had a computer for
a week. It is pretty straight forward and instructions on how to
install usually come with it.

The computer is not much of a server though. It is built off the i875
chipset and has SATA and AGP. It is a very nice desktop which supports
ECC memory. Here is a great source of info on this computer:
http://www.aaltonen.us/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8

 

[Frank]

There are several different speed DDR memory chips being offered,
and I have been told that a PC3200 chip will provide significantly
better overall performance than, say, a PC2100, all other factors
being equal.

Right now I am running a computer that has Windows XP Pro installed,
with 384 MB of PC133 DIMM memory, an AMD Duron 1300 MHZ CPU, and a
60 MB hard drive. Performance is quite adequate, even for most of
the games my grandkids play.

Now I am building up a new system that will include an AMD Athlon
1800 MHZ CPU, an 80 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of RAM.

My question is: Will the lower priced PC2100 memory chips allow this
system to perform at least as well as my existing system, or should
I go with the faster PC3200 chips? Thanks.

This choice would depend entirely on the FSB capabilities
of your mainboard along with the integration of your
components. For pertinent memory information try
www.crucial.com