DDR2 memory upgrade question

[E.T.]

Is it possible to mix two different DDR 2 dual channel memory sticks
if both have different CL's? My original sticks are CL-3. Ive recently
seen some real cheap mems at compusa for 4gigs @99 bucks, however Ive
noticed that its rated at CL-4. Im assuming its possible and that
faster mems will slow down to the slowest installed mem.....gotta make
absolutely sure.

Ed

 

[Dave]

Is it possible to mix two different DDR 2 dual channel memory sticks
if both have different CL's? My original sticks are CL-3. Ive recently
seen some real cheap mems at compusa for 4gigs @99 bucks, however Ive
noticed that its rated at CL-4. Im assuming its possible and that
faster mems will slow down to the slowest installed mem.....gotta make
absolutely sure.

Ed

Yeah, it's possible. But what the **** are you running that uses more than
4 Gigs? Vista maxes out performance wise at 1.5Gig. (I didn't pull that
number out of my ass . . . Vista says so.) Vista is easily the most
resource-hogging version of the most resource-hogging OS ever created.

Anyway, if you need it, at worst you might have to tweak the mainboard BIOS
to run the RAM at CL-4. Oh, and I hope your OS can address that much
memory. (you'd better confirm that) -Dave

 

[E.T.]

Yeah, it's possible. But what the **** are you running that uses more than
4 Gigs? Vista maxes out performance wise at 1.5Gig. (I didn't pull that
number out of my ass . . . Vista says so.) Vista is easily the most
resource-hogging version of the most resource-hogging OS ever created.

Anyway, if you need it, at worst you might have to tweak the mainboard BIOS
to run the RAM at CL-4. Oh, and I hope your OS can address that much
memory. (you'd better confirm that) -Dave

Whoa....didnt know that. Thought maybe more mem would mean faster
loading time for games or something. Just exactly what would happen if
I had such memory? Would only 1.5 be used and the rest just idle away?

Ed

 

[peter]

Depends what you are running.....Vista can see and use all 4gb of Ram

XP needs a little help to see and use 4gb,s of RAM....it most likely will
only see 3gb
If you do a google you will find many an article on the subject
peter

 

[Dave]

Whoa....didnt know that. Thought maybe more mem would mean faster
loading time for games or something. Just exactly what would happen if
I had such memory? Would only 1.5 be used and the rest just idle away?

Ed

Vista has a built-in performance testing application, the name of which
escapes me at the moment. If you run it, your computer will be graded with
a numerical performance index. The number is based on the LOWEST of several
numbers, such as RAM performance, hard drive performance, video adapter
performance, etc. You can't score higher by adding RAM beyond 1.5GB.
But, -less- than 1.5GB will score -lower-. So basically, Vista performs as
well as it CAN perform, with -exactly- 1.5GB of RAM installed. This is
according to VISTA.

Now, would more mem mean faster loading time? Not for any game written for
windows, it wouldn't. There are some specific applications that are made to
use more than 1.5GB of physical RAM. But if you don't know what they are,
you don't have them.

Just to be clear, there is no harm in adding 2GB of RAM or 4GB of RAM or
even MORE to a computer system. But unless you have a very specific
application in mind, you aren't going to improve system performance by
upgrading past 1.5GB. But then, I've got 2GB in this system, just because I
got a really great deal on a matched pair of 1GB sticks. It would have been
kind of silly to spend the same amount of money on a mis-matched pair, just
to limit myself to exactly 1.5GB that Vista wanted.

You can improve performance of games by buying faster RAM, faster video
card, faster CPU, etc. But throwing more RAM at the problem won't help,
unless you have less than 1.5GB currently. -Dave

 

[peter]

I don't want to start a war here but the Vista Performance Index is a
marketing ploy........it is there to let people see where the slowest part
of their system is and then spend $$$$ to "upgrade" that part.
If you had a system where the Video Card was a low perfomer and all else
being equal it would not affect the speed of your Office
Application........but if you were into Picture/Video manipulation it would
slow you down.

Other than that the scores are meaningless.
peter

 

[Dave]

I don't want to start a war here but the Vista Performance Index is a
marketing ploy........it is there to let people see where the slowest part
of their system is and then spend $$$$ to "upgrade" that part.

Really? I don't remember any video cards built by Microsoft. For that
matter, I don't remember ever seeing any RAM or mainboards that are
Microsoft branded. Does Microsoft make CPUs now? I believe I've seen some
Microsoft branded keyboards and mice, but these aren't tested by Vista.
Hmmmmmmm.... some conspiracy, nobody benefits from it. -Dave

 

[Conor]

I don't want to start a war here but the Vista Performance Index is a
marketing ploy........it is there to let people see where the slowest part
of their system is and then spend $$$$ to "upgrade" that part.
If you had a system where the Video Card was a low perfomer and all else
being equal it would not affect the speed of your Office
Application........but if you were into Picture/Video manipulation it would
slow you down.

Why would a modern video card, even integrated, have an effect on
picture manipulation?


--
Conor

As a Brit I'd like to thank the Americans for their help in the war
against terror because if they'd not funded the IRA for 30 years, we
wouldn't know how to deal with terrorists.

 

[peter]

I did not say a conspiracy...........I am not American where I see a
conspiracy everywhere.
peter

 

[Ed Cregger]

I did not say a conspiracy...........I am not American
where I see a conspiracy everywhere.
peter

------------


Ever heard the saying, "Just because you are paranoid it
doesn't mean that folks are not out to get you."?

Folks get involved in conspiracies for either power or
money. Where do you live that has neither of these things?

Yep, we nasty, dirty, unworthy Americans are the evil of the
world. Of course, any other nationality that occupied the
position of global top dog would also be considered the evil
of the world too. It just goes with the job.

Wait until the Chinese get the number one spot on the
planet - and they just might. You will want we Americans
back again - I guarantee it.

Their (Chinese) value of human life and their definition of
"citizen's rights" are quite different from those of western
countries. But why am I explaining this? You will find out
for yourselves. Me, I'll be just so much crematory ash
spread across our backyard. But you can bet I'll be smiling
while listening to the wails of the American knockers.


Ed Cregger

 

[John Doe]

Really? I don't remember any video cards built by Microsoft. For
that matter, I don't remember ever seeing any RAM or mainboards
that are Microsoft branded. Does Microsoft make CPUs now?

I agree peter's argument sounds a little silly, but Microsoft does
get paid for Windows hardware certification stuff like the Windows
logo and WHQL hardware drivers.

I believe I've seen some Microsoft branded keyboards and mice,

Definitely, if you've been to a retail store in the United States.