Help! I want DDR 400

[Dimension7]

I have an old Kingston HyperX 1GB (2x512MB) DDR 400 (PC3200) RAM installed on my old PC. After 5 years, I decided it needed more memory, so I purchased another DDR 400 RAM, a Corsair 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 kit.

However, after installing the new RAM, after I boot my PC, BIOS shows DDR 333 only. How is that possible if both of them are DDR 400s? Also, system indicates I only have a total of 2.75GB of RAM (but BIOS indicates 2.88GB).

Please help. I need answer.

BTW, my motherboard is a Chaintech VNF4.

 

[LCTSI]

If all of the memory slots are full, the board and IMC can only drive DDR333.

 

[Dimension7]

Thanks for the response.

Yes, the memory slots are full. I only have 4 slots.

Here's a dumb question...
Which is better, a 2GB RAM running at 400mghz or a 2.75GB running at 333mghz?

Also, should my RAM totals to 3GB?

 

[LCTSI]

Your ram should show 3GB inside the BIOS. Inside the OS it will report less because of memory remapping.

If you have a BIOS screen where you can see all of the RAM slots, please make sure that all of them report correctly.

It's hard to say definitively which is better, because it depends on your workload and how much you can benefit from disk caching.
Personally I'd go for the 2.75 at 333. If you run any Virtual Machines or anything then the 2.75@333 would be worth it.

 

[Dimension7]

Finally, it is now running at DDR 400 mgHz. In the BIOS, I changed cas latency from 2.5 to 3 and when it booted, it indicates 400 mghz. I'm happy now!!

 

[Stayfr0sty]

YOu might be forced to run in single channel mode after that upgrade.

I think they all need to be equal for dual channel.