Swapping out PC2700 for some PC3200 (RAM)
 

I have 2x256 PC2700 memory in my computer now, it's what the computer came with, can i use 2x512 PC3200 Ram in its place? Or should I just go ahead and stay with 1 gig of PC2700 speed?

What processor do you have? Be specific! Increased your RAM speed will only help if your processor supports it.

-Lasereth

I'm at work now or else I would have thrown in some spec's, I'll throw in more details is a few hours, but off the top of my head, It's a AMD 2600+ I think.

That doesn't help much... we need the speeds supported by the processor and the motherboard. If I recall correctly, however, most P4 less than about 2.5 only support up through 2700. I could be mistaken on that, though, so certainly look into it.

The processor is a
AMD Athlon 2600+
Core speed 2079.6
Mulitplier x 12.5
FSB 166.4
Bus Speed 332.7

The motherboard is an ASUSTek A7N8X-LA

Your processor is 333 MHz FSB. PC2700 is 333 MHz! PC3200 is 400 MHz. In other words, buying PC3200 would be useless because the FSB on your processor can't even support it. Just upgrade to 1 GB of PC2700.

-Lasereth

awesome, that's what i needed to know

That's if he stays at stock clock. If overclocking is an option, the faster memory WILL be useful. If not, then you are correct.

whats the price diff between 2700 and 3200? Last time I checked they were within a few dollars. No reason to not go to the 3200. It will downclock itself to 2700 and who knows maybe you will upgrade later on, and require the ddr400

actually the 3200 is a few dollars cheaper on new egg, from crucial.

Running RAM faster than your CPU can support has actually shown to decrease performance in some cases, with or without the RAM/CPU ratios set properly. I wouldn't buy faster RAM unless you plan on upgrading in the near future.

-Lasereth

True, but that depends on his motherboard and the type of RAM he's buying. I'm guessing by his questions that he's not planning on overclocking. Overclocking would require a motherboard that allowed front side bus and multiplier controls as well as an unlocked CPU (probably is since his CPU is a Thoroughbred B-Core Athlon XP) on top of really, really nice RAM.

He also mentioned the decision of buying 512 MB of PC3200 as a replacement or 512 MB of PC2700 extra. 1 GB of PC2700 is gonna outperform 512 MB of PC3200 with an OC'ed CPU any day of the week.

-Lasereth