Newbie memory question....

[Ohaya]

Assuming everything is DDR ram, can you mix and match memory? Can you mix
PC2700 with PC3200? Can you mix 256mg chip with 512 meg chip? Thanks

Hi,

You can probably mix speeds, but most don't recommend this, because access
will slow down to the speed of the slowest memory.

Mixing sizes should be ok.

 

[Harry]

Assuming everything is DDR ram, can you mix and match memory? Can you mix
PC2700 with PC3200? Can you mix 256mg chip with 512 meg chip? Thanks

Yes you can mix 256 and 512

Speed should be fine as it will default to the slowest speed 2700

Harry

 

[Leythos]

Assuming everything is DDR ram, can you mix and match memory? Can you mix
PC2700 with PC3200? Can you mix 256mg chip with 512 meg chip? Thanks

General rule is that you don't mix speeds, but mixing sizes is no
problem.

The issue with mixing speeds is that not all chipsets handle the
differences well. In a lot of cases the system will clock at the lowest
memory speed, but in others it won't even post...

If you try it and it works, try it with the LONG MEMORY test in the
BIOS, if it passes then use it.

 

[Kyle Brant]

| In article <Si_3c.15130$oP.1374@lakeread03>, (e-mail address removed)
| says...
| > Assuming everything is DDR ram, can you mix and match memory? Can
you mix
| > PC2700 with PC3200? Can you mix 256mg chip with 512 meg chip?
Thanks
|
| General rule is that you don't mix speeds, but mixing sizes is no
| problem.
|
| The issue with mixing speeds is that not all chipsets handle the
| differences well. In a lot of cases the system will clock at the
lowest
| memory speed, but in others it won't even post...
|
| If you try it and it works, try it with the LONG MEMORY test in the
| BIOS, if it passes then use it.
|

The basic BIOS memory test falls far short of being a thorough test,
if you desire a strong level of comfort, go to www.memtest86.com and
d/l the free program that creates a boot floppy for memory testing.
Very good stuff.

 

[Ralph Dellinger]

Assuming everything is DDR ram, can you mix and match memory? Can you mix
PC2700 with PC3200? Can you mix 256mg chip with 512 meg chip? Thanks

 

[Leythos]

| If you try it and it works, try it with the LONG MEMORY test in the
| BIOS, if it passes then use it.
|

The basic BIOS memory test falls far short of being a thorough test,
if you desire a strong level of comfort, go to www.memtest86.com and
d/l the free program that creates a boot floppy for memory testing.
Very good stuff.

I agree, but if it won't post there is little point in going further.

 

[Noomie]

How can it slow to 2700?
2700 is not the speed, 166MHz is.

 

[Noomie]

Mix 200MHz with 166MHz...........
not a good idea.

 

[Ralph Dellinger]

Thanks for the replies. As always, greatly appreciated

 

[FairMan]

Please' if you want to save money, don't do it on memory or cpu. This MB is
a master of a piece. Don't let it down. If you are an ower of a
Strandivarius should you use nothing but the best. Probebly not. Don't mix
anything. Use a HT-processer together with two sticks of Superior Memory.
You wan't regret it.

Regards

FairMan

 

[Ben Pope]

Assuming everything is DDR ram, can you mix and match memory? Can you mix
PC2700 with PC3200? Can you mix 256mg chip with 512 meg chip? Thanks

The answer is yes to both questions.

There is no problem with running PC3200 (or greater) at 166 or even 133MHz.
The ratings are for maximum speed (or more to the point, the minimum time
required to ensure the signals propagate) and thus can be operated at a
slower speed.

The problems to which people refer are likely to do with gathering the
information from the SPD on the memory and not coping with the differences
very well... unless you have a very cheap motherboard, you should be able to
set the memory timings manually (I always do this in my own system anyway) -
to a setting that is agreeable for all memory.

Let us know your motherboard / chipset in case anybody knows different, but
the general rule is: Don't worry about it.

Ben

 

[Harry]

How can it slow to 2700?
2700 is not the speed, 166MHz is.

Yes, yes, I know what your saying....

The 3200 RAM will assume the same MHz speed as the 2700 RAM

Basically the 3200 RAM will operate is if it was 2700 RAM

/