256 MB @ PC133 or 384 MB @ PC100?

[Inayat]

Question:

I have a 256 MB stick of PC133 RAM and a 128 MB stick of PC100 RAM. Should I have both installed for a total of 384 MB of RAM running at the lower clock speed of 100 Mhz or should I just install the 256 MB PC133 and take advantage of the higher clock speed but only with 256 MB of RAM?


Background Information:

I am running Windows XP Pro on a Pentium 2 400 Mhz machine with a GeForce 2 MX graphics card.

I don't do any gaming on this computer.

I do some scanning though not at obscene resolutions (usually images that occupy 30 - 70 Megabytes of RAM). This, incidentally, is the main reason for the update as 128 MB is insufficient for this task.

The rest of the time it is productivity apps, IE, WAV and compressed Audio.


What would you do in this situation? 384 MB @100 mhz or 256 MB @133mhz?

Thanks for your help.

 

[SiLEighTy]

i would rather have more physical ram then less physical ram but clocked faster.

 

[AndyHui]

If your system is running a Pentium II 400MHz, your FSB is running at 100MHz, which means you will not be able to take any immediate advantage of speed offered by PC133 SDRAM.

For the moment, simply purchase 256MB and run the whole lot at 100MHz (unless you have a VIA chipset motherboard, then you can run it at 133MHz).

I suggest you read this: RAM considerations: mixing PC100 and PC133.

 

[ShawnReeves]

Since your not gaming go with the 384mb. Theres not any visable differance from pc100-pc133 unless your running a benchmark to see a game run 2-3fps faster.

 

[Inayat]

Thanks for all your help!

384 MB @ 100 Mhz it is.


AndyHui: You were right, my motherboard has an FSB running at 100MHz and hence doesn't support the 133 Mhz clock speed anyway. I didn't realize this before.

Thanks again everyone!