Which memory upgrade ?

[GoldHawk]

I have an ASRock K7VT2 Motherboard:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=K7VT2

There are 4 available memory slots. The motherboard specification says that
it will support both DDR and SDRAM memory, with a maximum capacity 2GB DDR
or 2GB SDRAM, thus:

- DDR x 2, DDR266/200 non-ECC, un-buffered memory
- SDRAM x 2, PC133/100 non-ECC, un-buffered memory

It also says this:
.. 168-pin DIMM Banking: 2 (2 banks of 1)
.. 184-pin DIMM Banking: 2 (2 banks of 1)
.. Chipset: VIA Apollo KT266A
.. Error Detection Support: Non-ECC only
.. Graphics Support: AGP 4X
.. Max Component Density: 512Mb
.. Max Unbuffered DDR SDRAM: 2048MB
.. Max Unbuffered SDR SDRAM: 2048MB
.. Module Types Supported: Unbuffered only
.. SDR SDRAM Frequencies: PC100 and PC133
.. Supported DRAM Types: SDR SDRAM and DDR SDRAM
.. USB Support: 2.x Compliant

I presently have fitted 2 x 512MB DDR PC2100. I therefore have 2 x available
slots free.

Running a Crucial memory scan it is reported that each memory slot can hold
DDR PC3200, DDR PC2700, SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 1GB per slot. I am
aware that Windows will only utilise up to 3GB - 3.5GB of memory.

My CPU is AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+. I am running WinXP Pro.

I am interested in increasing overall memory to 2GB in the hope that this
will increase performance of what I guess is by now a fairly dated hardware
system. However, I'm rather unclear about what memory I should get and would
welcome any expert guidance.

For example, is SDRAM "better" than DDR ? Is DDR PC3200 "better / faster"
than PC2700 or the PC2100 I presently have fitted ? Should I fit matching
modules (say, 512MB each) in the 2 spare slots or can I fit a 1GB module in
one of the spare slots leaving the other one empty? Can I fit DDR PC3200, or
DDR PC2700, or even SDRAM in the spare slots, or do all 4 slots have to be
the same (PC2100)? Should I be fitting 168 or 184-pin DIMM ?

The empty slots I have appear to have 2 posts which would correspond with
the double notch of the 256MB module which I replaced some years ago. From
what I have read this appears to be a 164-pin rather than a 184-pin slot.
However, I still have the original packaging of the 512MB DDR PC2100
module(s) which is now fitted and this clearly says this is 184-pin DIMM.

The old 256MB module is labelled with 133MHz. I seem to recall that the 512
MB modules now fitted were the same (133MHz).

The empty slots also appear to have the figure 84 stamped at one end. I don't
know if this is significant indicating they are 184-pin slots.

This is all a bit of a minefield. Any steer would be much appreciated.

 

[DL]

Since you used the Crucial memory scan, why not also see what memory config
it suggests for your specific mobo?

Your are unlikely to see much noticible increase in performance with 2 gb,
over 1gb, unless you are using memory hungry apps, eg photo editing software
& the like, and with standard Office apps probably no performance increas at
all, other than apps may load a little faster.

You would probably be better off leaving as it is, or if you must spend,
buying 2 * 1gb PC2700 or PC3200 to replace your 2 * 512mb - at least that
what crucial shows for your mobo

Also in todays terms you are using a slow cpu and old mobo which will
reflect on performance

 

[JS]

1) You can't run both SDRAM and DDR at the same time.
2) DDR is faster than SDRAM
3) The 1GB DDR you current have is sufficient for most XP apps
4) Buying PC PC3200 will not run any faster than PC2700 if do
decide to go to 2 GB purchase two 1GB memory sticks.
5) Most likely the only two slots you can use for any additional
DDR memory you buy will need the same two slots that are
currently in use.
6) You can test to see if your existing DDR memory fits in
the free slots buy shutting down Windows and then turning the
power supply switch in the back of the PC to the off position.
Then remove one of the sticks and see if it fits in a free slot.

 

[peter]

like JS said...DDR is faster.
and as your specs say..2 slots for DoubleDR or 2 slots for SingleDR...not
interchangeable.

If you have your heart set on a memory upgrade you will need 2x1gb of
DDR...3200/2700/2100
your choice...you wont see much of a difference between moving from 2100 to
3200 but then there wont be much of a price difference either

peter

 

[JS]

Your correct and sometimes the older PC2100
memory could cost more as there is less demand.

More important to make certain that any new memory
you buy matches the voltage specification for your
motherboard.

 

[Paul]

I have an ASRock K7VT2 Motherboard:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=K7VT2

There are 4 available memory slots. The motherboard specification says
that it will support both DDR and SDRAM memory, with a maximum capacity
2GB DDR or 2GB SDRAM, thus:

- DDR x 2, DDR266/200 non-ECC, un-buffered memory
- SDRAM x 2, PC133/100 non-ECC, un-buffered memory

It also says this:
. 168-pin DIMM Banking: 2 (2 banks of 1)
. 184-pin DIMM Banking: 2 (2 banks of 1)
. Chipset: VIA Apollo KT266A
. Error Detection Support: Non-ECC only
. Graphics Support: AGP 4X
. Max Component Density: 512Mb
. Max Unbuffered DDR SDRAM: 2048MB
. Max Unbuffered SDR SDRAM: 2048MB
. Module Types Supported: Unbuffered only
. SDR SDRAM Frequencies: PC100 and PC133
. Supported DRAM Types: SDR SDRAM and DDR SDRAM
. USB Support: 2.x Compliant

I presently have fitted 2 x 512MB DDR PC2100. I therefore have 2 x
available slots free.

Running a Crucial memory scan it is reported that each memory slot can
hold DDR PC3200, DDR PC2700, SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 1GB per
slot. I am aware that Windows will only utilise up to 3GB - 3.5GB of
memory.

My CPU is AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+. I am running WinXP Pro.

I am interested in increasing overall memory to 2GB in the hope that
this will increase performance of what I guess is by now a fairly dated
hardware system. However, I'm rather unclear about what memory I should
get and would welcome any expert guidance.

For example, is SDRAM "better" than DDR ? Is DDR PC3200 "better /
faster" than PC2700 or the PC2100 I presently have fitted ? Should I fit
matching modules (say, 512MB each) in the 2 spare slots or can I fit a
1GB module in one of the spare slots leaving the other one empty? Can I
fit DDR PC3200, or DDR PC2700, or even SDRAM in the spare slots, or do
all 4 slots have to be the same (PC2100)? Should I be fitting 168 or
184-pin DIMM ?

The empty slots I have appear to have 2 posts which would correspond
with the double notch of the 256MB module which I replaced some years
ago. From what I have read this appears to be a 164-pin rather than a
184-pin slot. However, I still have the original packaging of the 512MB
DDR PC2100 module(s) which is now fitted and this clearly says this is
184-pin DIMM.

The old 256MB module is labelled with 133MHz. I seem to recall that the
512 MB modules now fitted were the same (133MHz).

The empty slots also appear to have the figure 84 stamped at one end. I
don't know if this is significant indicating they are 184-pin slots.

This is all a bit of a minefield. Any steer would be much appreciated.

From the bottom of page 9
http://download.asrock.com/manual/K7VT2.pdf

"Please do not insert both 168-pin SDRAM DIMM and 184-pin DDR
DIMM at the same time. Only use one single type of DIMMs at one
time."

That means you have four slots, but can only use two of them at
a time, of matching memory type. You can use two DDR sticks. Or
you can use two SDRAM sticks. But not mix the types. So at
most, you can fill two (identical type) slots. Two slots will
remain empty.

One reason for this, is DDR and SDRAM need different voltages.
Only one voltage supply is available, so it cannot run both
memory types properly at the same time.

According to the manual, the board runs the DDR slots
at "PC1600/ PC2100". You can purchase any memory of
that speed, or even faster memory. You can purchase
PC3200 1GB modules if you want, but the board
will actually run them at the lower speeds listed
in the manual. Faster memory products are backward
compatible with lower speed operation, so the PC3200
stick will be perfectly happy running at PC2100 (DDR266).

As for a source of 1GB DDR modules, I do not recommend
buying those from Ebay. The Ebay sellers try to sell
"high density" RAM. Even if your chipset is listed as
"compatible" with that RAM, the less of that RAM that
is in circulation, the better. "High density" RAM is
not interchangeable. It may fail to work if you
plug it into another motherboard in the future.

If you instead buy a branded RAM (Crucial, Micron,
Kingston, OCZ, Geil, Patroit, Corsair and so on),
the odds are better that proper x8 width chips
will be used. And then the RAM, when you're finished
with it, can be resold to someone else, with
the assurance that it will work.

Paul