512MB PC2100 vs. 256MB PC2700 for my new Averatec 3200H laptop??

[anorexicwallet]

So i just bought a new Averatec 3200 Series laptop, the $750 bestbuy deal. It comes with 256MB PC2700, but to my horror, there is only one RAM slot in it. My older laptop has a 512MB stick of PC2100 RAM and I'm not sure if I should put that stick in to replace the 256MB PC2700 stick, or if I should just keep the PC2700 stick. I don't want to buy a new stick of 512MB RAM PC2700 for the laptop because right now the prices are just too high.

Would the performance be that much slower with PC2100 RAM? Which one would be more useful? Having more RAM at slower speed, or less RAM at faster speed? I mainly run apps, do some music and video stuff, and sometimes very light gaming on the laptop. Please fill me in with your expertise! :beer:

 

[Markfw]

If you end up ever needing any more than 256 (which I do quite often) having 512 meg will work much better, even if it is slow ram. The question is will it work ? Does the bios auto-change the divider to make it work ? If it works, use the 512, or buy a new 2700. The first time you go over 256, it will slow to a crawl................

 

[The Green Bean]

If you have WinXP, then 512 will be better. Also if u game or do any graphic stuff.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

More is better.

512MB.

 

[JBT]

More is better def go with the 512 for now.

 

[anorexicwallet]

Thanks y'all .... I know this is hardware discussion, but do you know when PC2700 SODIMM (or pc3200 for that matter) will drop in price? It seems you can't get it anywhere for less than like $110 or so.

 

[Bulldog13]

512

 

[Pauli]

Just because the RAM is rated at PC2100 does not mean that it will be slower than the PC2700 that you have. At the same timings, PC2100 will run be the same speed as the PC2700 in your system. The RAM itself does not determine what speed the memory bus is running at, the system clock does. That said, the FSB speed for the Athlon XP2000+ M in your system is 133Mhz, the speed at which PC2100 is rated. So, theoretically, you will not lose any RAM performance by installing the PC2100 stick - as long as it can run with the same timings that the PC2700 stick does.

 

[kyparrish]

512