memory question

[ArmanleeExchange]

Hi I had just ordered some pc 3200 ram to use in a new system but I haven't bought the rest of the system yet so I was wondering if I could use the pc3200 in my with my old mobo and proc which is a xp1800 and some msi mobo which is using pc2100 right now if I just use my ram at pc2100 speeds, the reason for asking this is because I bought 1 gig instead of the 512 that I am using now and my current system seems to be getting really choppy with some of the newer games and I thought it was a memory problem since I have a 9800pro. So I actually have 2 questions can I use my new memory with my old setup and also if lagginess/choppiness is due to the memory or is it some other cause? Ok thanks for your time.

 

[Sparky19692]

Yes it should run fine just slower if you Mobo can only handle 2100 than that is what you new ram will run at all the 3200 means is one channel is rated at 200Mgz and dual channel is rated at 400Mgz.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: Sparky19692
Yes it should run fine just slower if you Mobo can only handle 2100 than that is what you new ram will run at all the 3200 means is one channel is rated at 200Mgz and dual channel is rated at 400Mgz.

No, thats incorrect. PC3200 ram runs at 200mhz, but because its DDR ram, it sends two pieces of data per clock cycle, so its as if it was running at 400mhz. It makes no dif if its in single or dual channel. All that dual channel means is there is a 128 bit path connecting the memory to the memory controller, instead of the 64 bit path found in single channel boards.

Yes, you will be able to run that mem fine on the new system, it will just downclock it. And the laggyness probably isn't caused by the memory but by the CPU .... and xp1800 is OLD, its probably time to upgrade to an A64 if you've got the money. But keep the ram if you do move to an A64, you will want to use it with the new system.

 

[ArmanleeExchange]

thanks for replying guys

haha yeah i know my cpu is old i won it like 3 years ago at that raffle that amd had and haven't needed to upgrade since i really haven't been gaming much until recently, ok another question I was planning to get a a64 winchester in about a month but i wasn't sure whether to get the 3500 or 3200 how much of a difference will i see?

thanks again

 

[CheesePoofs]

Either one is a good choice, but you probably won't see a huge difference between those CPU's, not enough in my opinion to warrant the extra money. Even more so if you don't mind overclocking, the 3200 is the better CPU, and will provide much more power for the money than the 3500.