Mixing RAM w/ different speeds - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Stompy · 08-03-2004, 05:35 AM

Can you do this?

For example, I have a stick of 512 PC-2700 and a stick of 256 PC2100. I was told (from multiple sources) that if I mixed the two, the 512 would operate at the PC2100 speed, but I wasn't sure as to how true that statement was.

Is this true? If so, do you think it's better to have 768 of PC2100 or 512 PC2700? Are the differences minimal?

I plan on buying another 512 of PC2700, but wanted something to put in till it gets here.

bltzkriegmcanon · 08-03-2004, 05:53 AM

You'll have 768 of PC2100. The faster always gets downclocked by the slower. There's a difference, but it's hardly what I'd call "noticeable." But, I have been using pc2100 for some time now, so someone who has a PC chock full of 2700 or has upgraded from 2100 might be better to tell you the difference. PC2100 has a speed of 266Mhz, and PC2700 has a speed of 333 Mhz. The area of real difference comes in OC'ing. Higher RAM speeds, lower CAS latencies, these are the things that come into play when OC'ing. The higher the speed of the RAM, the more increases you can make to your CPU's FSB (stability-wise). A lower CAS latency makes for less "latency" meaning your RAM spends less time sitting on it's ass to respond. Adjusting this also risks stability issues.

Personally, I wouldn't waste my cash on another stick just to "hold over" my system until the good RAM arrived.

Stompy · 08-03-2004, 06:08 AM

I had one layin around

Doesn't the speed of the RAM (2100's 266 Mhz) correlate w/ the FSB of the CPU?

I have an Athlon XP 1800 w/ a 266 Mhz FSB, and if speed only goes as fast as the FSB then it really wouldn't matter if I had 2100 or 2700, right?

(Unless, of course, it doesn't work like that, in which case nevermind

)

bltzkriegmcanon · 08-03-2004, 06:16 AM

You are quite correct stompy. OC'ing stability is directly dependent on a RAM's bus speed. If your RAM has a bus speed of 266Mhz, and your CPU has a bus speed of 266 Mhz, then you won't have a bottleneck when it comes to RAM, but OC'ing stably will be difficult. If you were to install RAM with a higher bus speed, say 333 or even 400 Mhz, your OC'ing capabilities will be much greater. The only delimiters will then be how much heat you can handle, and how high your CPU's voltage can be set (stably).

Stompy · 08-03-2004, 07:17 AM

Sweet!

Another question... very simliar but for CPUs.

The max CPU I can put in my board is an Athlon XP 2600 (Thoroughbred) 266 Mhz FSB. I'm having a hard time finding one (seem to be rare), so I was wondering if I put the 2600 333 Mhz FSB CPU in my mobo, if it would be okay.

I'm assuming it would, but I just wanna make sure before I buy em

Thanks so much for the help!

bltzkriegmcanon · 08-03-2004, 10:42 AM

No. I don't believe that will work at all. If your board supports only up to 266 FSB for the processor, you can't put something higher in it. This is a universal concept, can be applied to any and all hardware. If your mobo doesn't support it, then you can't install it and expect it to work.

theburner · 08-03-2004, 11:50 AM

Depending on the options in his bios, he may be able to. (Eliminating the variable pin out differences.. Not familiar with AMD)
Basically you are overclocking the Mobo.. However, some accept the changes better than others. I have my FSB above stock right now, but I started below stock. Starting over stock just increases the "OH SHIT" factor.

If you did want to try it though, you will have to bump your FSB up to 333 though, and change your VCore to provide the correct amount of juice to power up the new proc. While doing that you will also have to fix your PCI and AGP ratio's to 66/33. If not, your Bios will use the same multiplier you used on your FSB on your AGP and PCI, and POOF. Bye Bye Board. HOWEVER... I would only try this with equipment I was going to scrap anyways.. If it is your gaming system, your parents system, or your main system.. Don't do it.

But.. It should be possible.

bltzkriegmcanon · 08-03-2004, 12:26 PM

Right, I hadn't considered that, hmm. For an AMD system where those 2 are so close together, it'd be possible. For an Intel system? I think not. Maybe 400 to 533, but that's not likely. 533 to 800? Don't even try it.

theburner · 08-03-2004, 01:01 PM

HAHAHA.. NO doubt.. 533 to 800? Better have water cooling!

bltzkriegmcanon · 08-03-2004, 05:33 PM

Yeah really. Hmm, where did I put that Prometia system?

theburner · 08-03-2004, 06:37 PM

It is fun oc'ing newer systems, but I have to start keeping some of the older stuff around. When you don't care about the chip, crank her up!

Lasereth · 08-03-2004, 06:38 PM

I'll answer the questions asked just to reinstate:

Your processor is a 1800+ with a FSB of 266 MHz. You want PC2100 RAM (266 MHz) so it will coincide with the FSB on your processor. PC2700 will work, but it will not give a speed boost on your system.

An Athlon XP 2600+ would be a great choice. Don't buy the 333 MHz FSB version, buy the 266 MHz FSB version. It may or may not work with your motherboard if you get the 333 MHz Barton core. Even if it does work, you won't get a boost from the 333 MHz FSB.

One point of interest: upgrading to a motherboard that supports 333 MHz FSB would be very cheap and very easy. The upgrade from a 266 MHz FSB processor to a 333 MHz FSB processor is huge. A 1.8 GHz 2500+ Barton core is more powerful than a 2.0 GHz 2600+ 266 MHz FSB. FSB increases generate more raw power than clock speed.

People don't like admitting this, but if you had a 333 MHz FSB processor, 768 MB of PC2100 (266 MHz) would make the system run faster than 512 MB of PC2700. Benchmark scores may be lower, but in raw gaming, you'd see an increase with more RAM rather than faster RAM. Don't get me wrong, it's always a good idea to keep the RAM in synch with the FSB of your processor, but in pure gaming, more RAM will help out a bunch. To further the subject, 768 MB of PC2700 would run better than 768 MB of PC2100 in a 333 MHz FSB system. It all depends on what you're doing (benchmarking or playing games) with what ya have.

If I were you, I'd put two 512 MB PC2700 sticks in your PC (if you order the second stick). Then upgrade to a cheap motherboard that supports 333 MHz FSB Athlon XPs and buy an Athlon XP 2500+. That'll run ya about $150 total and you'll get a HUGE increase in power.

-Lasereth

Stompy · 08-06-2004, 12:21 PM

Thanks a ton, Lazereth!

Any recommendations on which board to get?

Also, if I were to get a new mobo & CPU, would it be wise to stick with 333 FSB, or just get a 400?

08-06-2004, 12:29 PM

buy a dell

Stompy · 08-06-2004, 12:45 PM

08-06-2004, 01:04 PM

no seriously..
when i had a crappy 750 athlon. i did all that overclocking stuff. i bought a new heatsink. some arctic silver. oc'd to 950. upgraded my vid card like 3 times. bought more ram. new HD etc. i dont remember how much money i spent. i thought to myself, wow im spending so much money on this when i could just get a whole new computer.

i got a good deal on a dell. 3.0p4e, intel 875p mobo (build in sata, gigabit nic, usb2.0, 5.1 audio), 256 dual channel ram, 9800pro vid card, nec 2100a 8x DVD burner (i flashed firmware to nec 2500), 40 GB hard drive, 17 inch monitor. all that for 750 dollars. then i just put in stuff from my old comp. 80 GB hd. leadtek TV2000 xp tv tuner. logitech z-560 speakers and put in some new stuff. audigy 2 zs +$50. 512 ram +$65. final price = $865. run doom 3 smooth as butter and couldnt be happier.

Lasereth · 08-06-2004, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stompy
Thanks a ton, Lazereth!

Any recommendations on which board to get?

Also, if I were to get a new mobo & CPU, would it be wise to stick with 333 FSB, or just get a 400?

Just about any Athlon XP motherboard will work. I recommend a board with the nForce 2 chipset, but they tend to be a bit more expensive. Make sure the motherboard has support for 400 MHz RAM and a 400 MHz FSB CPU. If you want to spend a bit more money than required, I'd get an Abit NF7-S Revision 2.0. I consider it the best Athlon XP motherboard on the market.

I'd buy an Athlon XP 2500+ to keep costs down. If you want to spend the extra money, then a 400 MHz FSB CPU is fine (Athlon XP 3200+). Either way, upgrading to that setup would kick some ass.

-Lasereth

08-03-2004, 05:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	Mixing RAM w/ different speeds Can you do this? For example, I have a stick of 512 PC-2700 and a stick of 256 PC2100. I was told (from multiple sources) that if I mixed the two, the 512 would operate at the PC2100 speed, but I wasn't sure as to how true that statement was. Is this true? If so, do you think it's better to have 768 of PC2100 or 512 PC2700? Are the differences minimal? I plan on buying another 512 of PC2700, but wanted something to put in till it gets here. __________________ I love lamp.

08-03-2004, 05:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
bltzkriegmcanon Holy Knight of The Alliance Location: Stormwind, The Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth	You'll have 768 of PC2100. The faster always gets downclocked by the slower. There's a difference, but it's hardly what I'd call "noticeable." But, I have been using pc2100 for some time now, so someone who has a PC chock full of 2700 or has upgraded from 2100 might be better to tell you the difference. PC2100 has a speed of 266Mhz, and PC2700 has a speed of 333 Mhz. The area of real difference comes in OC'ing. Higher RAM speeds, lower CAS latencies, these are the things that come into play when OC'ing. The higher the speed of the RAM, the more increases you can make to your CPU's FSB (stability-wise). A lower CAS latency makes for less "latency" meaning your RAM spends less time sitting on it's ass to respond. Adjusting this also risks stability issues. Personally, I wouldn't waste my cash on another stick just to "hold over" my system until the good RAM arrived. __________________ What do you say to one last showdown? - Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 3 The password is "Who are the Patriots?" and "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." Gotcha. - The Colonel and Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3

08-03-2004, 06:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	I had one layin around Doesn't the speed of the RAM (2100's 266 Mhz) correlate w/ the FSB of the CPU? I have an Athlon XP 1800 w/ a 266 Mhz FSB, and if speed only goes as fast as the FSB then it really wouldn't matter if I had 2100 or 2700, right? (Unless, of course, it doesn't work like that, in which case nevermind ) __________________ I love lamp.

08-03-2004, 06:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
bltzkriegmcanon Holy Knight of The Alliance Location: Stormwind, The Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth	You are quite correct stompy. OC'ing stability is directly dependent on a RAM's bus speed. If your RAM has a bus speed of 266Mhz, and your CPU has a bus speed of 266 Mhz, then you won't have a bottleneck when it comes to RAM, but OC'ing stably will be difficult. If you were to install RAM with a higher bus speed, say 333 or even 400 Mhz, your OC'ing capabilities will be much greater. The only delimiters will then be how much heat you can handle, and how high your CPU's voltage can be set (stably). __________________ What do you say to one last showdown? - Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 3 The password is "Who are the Patriots?" and "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." Gotcha. - The Colonel and Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3

08-03-2004, 07:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	Sweet! Another question... very simliar but for CPUs. The max CPU I can put in my board is an Athlon XP 2600 (Thoroughbred) 266 Mhz FSB. I'm having a hard time finding one (seem to be rare), so I was wondering if I put the 2600 333 Mhz FSB CPU in my mobo, if it would be okay. I'm assuming it would, but I just wanna make sure before I buy em Thanks so much for the help! __________________ I love lamp.

08-03-2004, 10:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
bltzkriegmcanon Holy Knight of The Alliance Location: Stormwind, The Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth	No. I don't believe that will work at all. If your board supports only up to 266 FSB for the processor, you can't put something higher in it. This is a universal concept, can be applied to any and all hardware. If your mobo doesn't support it, then you can't install it and expect it to work. __________________ What do you say to one last showdown? - Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 3 The password is "Who are the Patriots?" and "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." Gotcha. - The Colonel and Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3

08-03-2004, 11:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
theburner Canadian Beer Ambassador Location: Cumming, GA	Depending on the options in his bios, he may be able to. (Eliminating the variable pin out differences.. Not familiar with AMD) Basically you are overclocking the Mobo.. However, some accept the changes better than others. I have my FSB above stock right now, but I started below stock. Starting over stock just increases the "OH SHIT" factor. If you did want to try it though, you will have to bump your FSB up to 333 though, and change your VCore to provide the correct amount of juice to power up the new proc. While doing that you will also have to fix your PCI and AGP ratio's to 66/33. If not, your Bios will use the same multiplier you used on your FSB on your AGP and PCI, and POOF. Bye Bye Board. HOWEVER... I would only try this with equipment I was going to scrap anyways.. If it is your gaming system, your parents system, or your main system.. Don't do it. But.. It should be possible. __________________ Take Off Eh! Last edited by theburner; 08-03-2004 at 11:54 AM..

08-03-2004, 12:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
bltzkriegmcanon Holy Knight of The Alliance Location: Stormwind, The Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth	Right, I hadn't considered that, hmm. For an AMD system where those 2 are so close together, it'd be possible. For an Intel system? I think not. Maybe 400 to 533, but that's not likely. 533 to 800? Don't even try it. __________________ What do you say to one last showdown? - Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 3 The password is "Who are the Patriots?" and "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." Gotcha. - The Colonel and Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3

08-03-2004, 01:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
theburner Canadian Beer Ambassador Location: Cumming, GA	HAHAHA.. NO doubt.. 533 to 800? Better have water cooling! __________________ Take Off Eh!

08-03-2004, 05:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
bltzkriegmcanon Holy Knight of The Alliance Location: Stormwind, The Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth	Yeah really. Hmm, where did I put that Prometia system? __________________ What do you say to one last showdown? - Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 3 The password is "Who are the Patriots?" and "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." Gotcha. - The Colonel and Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3

08-03-2004, 06:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
theburner Canadian Beer Ambassador Location: Cumming, GA	It is fun oc'ing newer systems, but I have to start keeping some of the older stuff around. When you don't care about the chip, crank her up! __________________ Take Off Eh!

08-03-2004, 06:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	I'll answer the questions asked just to reinstate: Your processor is a 1800+ with a FSB of 266 MHz. You want PC2100 RAM (266 MHz) so it will coincide with the FSB on your processor. PC2700 will work, but it will not give a speed boost on your system. An Athlon XP 2600+ would be a great choice. Don't buy the 333 MHz FSB version, buy the 266 MHz FSB version. It may or may not work with your motherboard if you get the 333 MHz Barton core. Even if it does work, you won't get a boost from the 333 MHz FSB. One point of interest: upgrading to a motherboard that supports 333 MHz FSB would be very cheap and very easy. The upgrade from a 266 MHz FSB processor to a 333 MHz FSB processor is huge. A 1.8 GHz 2500+ Barton core is more powerful than a 2.0 GHz 2600+ 266 MHz FSB. FSB increases generate more raw power than clock speed. People don't like admitting this, but if you had a 333 MHz FSB processor, 768 MB of PC2100 (266 MHz) would make the system run faster than 512 MB of PC2700. Benchmark scores may be lower, but in raw gaming, you'd see an increase with more RAM rather than faster RAM. Don't get me wrong, it's always a good idea to keep the RAM in synch with the FSB of your processor, but in pure gaming, more RAM will help out a bunch. To further the subject, 768 MB of PC2700 would run better than 768 MB of PC2100 in a 333 MHz FSB system. It all depends on what you're doing (benchmarking or playing games) with what ya have. If I were you, I'd put two 512 MB PC2700 sticks in your PC (if you order the second stick). Then upgrade to a cheap motherboard that supports 333 MHz FSB Athlon XPs and buy an Athlon XP 2500+. That'll run ya about $150 total and you'll get a HUGE increase in power. -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

08-06-2004, 12:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	Thanks a ton, Lazereth! Any recommendations on which board to get? Also, if I were to get a new mobo & CPU, would it be wise to stick with 333 FSB, or just get a 400? __________________ I love lamp. Last edited by Stompy; 08-06-2004 at 12:24 PM..

08-06-2004, 12:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
Xepidemic Guest	buy a dell

08-06-2004, 12:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	__________________ I love lamp.

08-06-2004, 01:04 PM	#16 (permalink)
Xepidemic Guest	no seriously.. when i had a crappy 750 athlon. i did all that overclocking stuff. i bought a new heatsink. some arctic silver. oc'd to 950. upgraded my vid card like 3 times. bought more ram. new HD etc. i dont remember how much money i spent. i thought to myself, wow im spending so much money on this when i could just get a whole new computer. i got a good deal on a dell. 3.0p4e, intel 875p mobo (build in sata, gigabit nic, usb2.0, 5.1 audio), 256 dual channel ram, 9800pro vid card, nec 2100a 8x DVD burner (i flashed firmware to nec 2500), 40 GB hard drive, 17 inch monitor. all that for 750 dollars. then i just put in stuff from my old comp. 80 GB hd. leadtek TV2000 xp tv tuner. logitech z-560 speakers and put in some new stuff. audigy 2 zs +$50. 512 ram +$65. final price = $865. run doom 3 smooth as butter and couldnt be happier.