Can I add this RAM to my older system?

[TailsNZ]

Hi,

I'm looking to put some more RAM into my computer to keep it going before I get a new one next year. The large images I edit in Photoshop these days just gobble it up like crazy.

Using System Information I see this is what's installed...

2 x 1gb Corsair CMX1024-4000 Sticks of DDR PC4000.

PC4000 DDR is extremely expensive here but PC3200 can be hard quite cheaply. I've checked and my Asus A8N-SLI Premium board has 2 spare slots and I'm running Vista 64bit so I was thinking I'd add another 2gb.

I was wondering if I put some PC3200 in should it just sort it out automatically? The faster RAM will slow down to match the slower RAM I assume?

Thanks!

 

[n7]

It should run at the lower speed, yes.

Setting the timings/voltages to the lower/lesser of the two kits would be safest.

With an older board like that, i believe when you populate all four DIMM slots, the default RAM speed (unless you OC) will drop to DDR333 usually, which is fine, as the benefit of more RAM far outweighs the slight loss of performance

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: TailsNZ
2 x 1gb Corsair CMX1024-4000 Sticks of DDR PC4000.

FWIW, there was never any PC4000 memory. PC4000 is just overclocked/overvolted PC3200/DDR400 chips.

 

[TailsNZ]

Thanks, I'll go with that. I assume it'll set the timings and voltages to the lower automatically or do I need to change those?

Interesting that the stuff in there at the moment is just overclocked PC3200. I'm really surprised by how expensive it is here, perhaps it's just the lack of demand.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: TailsNZ
2 x 1gb Corsair CMX1024-4000 Sticks of DDR PC4000.

FWIW, there was never any PC4000 memory. PC4000 is just overclocked/overvolted PC3200/DDR400 chips.

Eh, i don't fully agree.

If you want to term things by JEDEC standards only, maybe.

But the problem with what you are saying is that ICs aren't really manufacturered to run at one speed only.

Well, perhaps a maximum speed or ideal operational frequency.
But what final speed they are rated for is determined thru binning, etc.

We see this for CPUs, video cards, RAM, etc.

My DDR2-1150 Platinums are 1.8v.
So how to do want to explain them?

Overclocked what? They don't need more than JEDEC vDIMM.
Sure, they are obviously binned higher than most RAM, but i have to nitpack with people calling higher than JEDEC "overclocked/overvolted" only.

I'm pretty sure RAM manafacturers who put all the work into binning & testing would disagree also

 

[taltamir]

if you put it in, and it does NOT boot up, freezes on boot, get stuck in a booting cycle, etc... unplug the power cord (this is important, it needs to be unplugged!) and remove the battery... wait a FULL MINUTE. this will clear the CMOS and reset the bios settings. Meaning it will force redetection of ramspeed. It is pretty common for that to occur when adding new ram slower than your current ram.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: taltamir
if you put it in, and it does NOT boot up, freezes on boot, get stuck in a booting cycle, etc... unplug the power cord (this is important, it needs to be unplugged!) and remove the battery... wait a FULL MINUTE. this will clear the CMOS and reset the bios settings. Meaning it will force redetection of ramspeed. It is pretty common for that to occur when adding new ram slower than your current ram.

Or, just manually set the RAM speed and timings to the lower kits specs before putting the newer, lower speced kit in. Would be much easier than than clearing CMOS, etc.

 

[FAS284]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: taltamir
if you put it in, and it does NOT boot up, freezes on boot, get stuck in a booting cycle, etc... unplug the power cord (this is important, it needs to be unplugged!) and remove the battery... wait a FULL MINUTE. this will clear the CMOS and reset the bios settings. Meaning it will force redetection of ramspeed. It is pretty common for that to occur when adding new ram slower than your current ram.

Or, just manually set the RAM speed and timings to the lower kits specs before putting the newer, lower speced kit in. Would be much easier than than clearing CMOS, etc.

Good post - I have an ECS Nforce 3-A which uses ddr400 pc3200 memory and is not listed on Crucial's compatibility list for their Ballistix memory. Is it possible to take a pc4000 ddr500 stick (which also runs at pc3200 and lower) and adjust it to force it to work in the mobo?