Mixing memory speeds?

[pedxing]

It depends on the mobo/BIOS tolerances. Even brand name may present compability issues. I would definitely run a memory testing program if you decide to mix memory speeds. Sometimes the computer won't show any symptoms until several months down the line. You might get strange memory corruptions, it refuses to boot up correctly, or it shuts down at random.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselzaf This is interesting, I found this on crucial.com. How come it is ok to mix pc2700 ram with pc2100 then? Crucial doesn't carry pc2100 so they recommend pc2700 to be mixed in with my pc2100. Is mixing pc2100 with pc2700 different than pc2100 with pc3200???

It all depends on the modules' SPD programming.

Also, if you use a PC2700 module in your laptop you should remove your existing PC2100 memory, due to the mixed SPD's. Current PC3200 SODIMM's are incompatible with PC2700 and PC2100 laptops due to their SPD's having only a single speed (DDR400) programmed into them. If your laptop's BIOS cannot find any SPD information for your memory's running speed, your laptop will not even POST at all.

The Crucial PC2700 SODIMM's have SPD's programmed for both DDR333 and DDR266 operation.

Also, your existing laptop may have a maximum memory limit. Many PC2100 laptops do not support more than 1GB of total system memory due to the limitations of their BIOSes and memory controllers.

 

[dieselzaf]

Well I just got the ram today. It is 1GB PC3200 DDR with 16 die on the chip. I plugged it in, the BIOS picked it up immediately and it is running absolutely fantastic. It is mixing with the PC2100 just fine. I already notice the much quicker speed. Maybe 1.5 gb is a little overkill, I think 1GB should do, but the more the merrier. Just wanted to let everyone know how things went.

 

[pedxing]

I suggest you run like memtest86 overnight and make sure you don't get any serious errors. In general I run memtest86 after buying new memory.

 

[JaGWiRE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedxing I suggest you run like memtest86 overnight and make sure you don't get any serious errors. In general I run memtest86 after buying new memory.

Any errors at all are bad. Honestly, mixing ram is stupid. Any overclocker will tell you mixing rams is just asking for problems. It'de better to have 1 gigabyte of matched ram then 1.5 gigabytes of mixed ram.

 

[skyline889]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselzaf Well I just got the ram today. It is 1GB PC3200 DDR with 16 die on the chip. I plugged it in, the BIOS picked it up immediately and it is running absolutely fantastic. It is mixing with the PC2100 just fine. I already notice the much quicker speed. Maybe 1.5 gb is a little overkill, I think 1GB should do, but the more the merrier. Just wanted to let everyone know how things went.

Next step, try three gbs, my old computer only had 1.5, then my new computer had two, then right after that I added another dinn, HUGE difference, past that though you're reaching the limits of 32bit.