Dumb memory question

[slackerinabox]

My thinkpad x100e needs a ram upgrade and, shockingly, there are actually 2 slots. My question is about which speed memory to get:

1. It comes with 1gb ddr2-533mhz ram stock and 1 vacant slot
2. I want to add 1 gb more - does speed matter? In the old days I remember it was best to not mix speeds, but 667mhz ram is the same price as 533mhz.

Does mixing memory speeds matter? Should I just get the 533mhz ram or get the 667?

 

[mfenn]

All of the memory must run at the same speed. In theory, the 667 memory will be clocked down to 533. If they're the same price, you might as well just get the 533 though.

 

[slackerinabox]

All of the memory must run at the same speed. In theory, the 667 memory will be clocked down to 533. If they're the same price, you might as well just get the 533 though.

Much appreciated - last question: will there be a performance deficit of 533 and 667 (downclocked to 533) vs 533/533? I only ask because I could see myself replacing my old chip with 2gb in the future.

 

[mfenn]

Much appreciated - last question: will there be a performance deficit of 533 and 667 (downclocked to 533) vs 533/533? I only ask because I could see myself replacing my old chip with 2gb in the future.

The two configurations will perform exactly the same.

Of course, if you end up replacing the 533 stick with a 667 stick, a 667 stick bought today would have chance to clock up to 667 (assuming the motherboard supports it).

 

[slackerinabox]

The two configurations will perform exactly the same.

Of course, if you end up replacing the 533 stick with a 667 stick, a 667 stick bought today would have chance to clock up to 667 (assuming the motherboard supports it).

PERFECT! Thanks so much for the help.

 

[mfenn]

PERFECT! Thanks so much for the help.

No problem.

 

[MisterDonut]

Make sure it's "Windows 7-ready" RAM! Sorry, I just had to after seeing the one about OCZ in the last post I read . Of course, running XP on such RAM would be equivalent to dividing by zero.