Dell E521 memory speed question? Is PC2-3200 fast enough?

msi1337

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2003
7,817
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have a Dell E521 on order. Got it scratch and dent from Dell..and although I normally would not buy this pc..it was $170 so I couldn't pass it up.

he is the question. It has an AM2 X2 3600+ processor and on Dell's website it says that it required 533 DDR2 memory

if I have PC2-3200 memory laying around will it work? Does it have to be 533 memory?

If I upgraded to DDR2 800 would it make any performance differance?

thanks in advance!
 

JustaGeek

Platinum Member
Jan 27, 2007
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You can try to install the old memory, and I believe that in the worst case scenario it will just not boot.

But if I were to add RAM, it would be 533MHz to match the existing.

DDR2 800 would not make the performance difference - it would be slowed down to the speed of the slower 533 RAM.
 

ELopes580

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
3,891
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Hey bud, I wouldnt mix and match since the speeds will be downgraded to 400MHz mem from original spec of 533MHz, if it would even boot at all as JustaGeek stated as well.

I do not know much of the the A64 mem:fsb ratios, but I found this chart that might be helpful if you are able to figure it out. On newegg.com the x2 3600+ has two models clock at ether 1.9GHz or 2.0GHz so you might have to wait to see which one you have in the actual machine to see which chart would apply to you.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=105798

The URL should help give you the info you might need to look at. If not maybe someone on here or cpu/mobo section who has dealth with AMDs can be more knowledgable than I am.


P.S. This is why it is much easier to deal with Intel. ;)

PM me if you have anymore Qs or if you need clarification.