New DDR memory / old Motherboard & CPU

[massao]

Hi all,
I'm running an oldish Asus a7a-266 motherboard with an AMD 1.0GHz processor and 1 256MB stick of 266MHz DDR ram.

I know I'm definitely in need of an upgrade, but I can only spend so much at one time, so I'm planning on replacing the memory first, since it's going bad anyway (causing many crashes).

My question is this: If I buy 512-1GB of, say, PC3200 or PC3500 Dual DDR RAM to tide me over until I replace my motherboard and CPU, will the memory simply operate as a 266 MHz stick of ordinary RAM (which would be fine as long as it's stable), or would this memory be completely incompatible with this kind of system (I'm unsure just *how* different the newer DDR Ram is from the older...)?

Any help would be appreciated,
massao

 

[MDE]

It should be fine and just drop the speed down accordingly.

Welcome to the Forums!

 

[labrat25]

should work fine IMHO

 

[trashbox]

You Asus Board can only take 266 Mhz ram (Pc 2100)
Anything higher will not be read it

The Newer ram have more bit 3-2-1-0 for example
the older ram 2.5-1-0 for the 266 Mhz
dew to the high bits it not going to read it.
Is a base on the Bios ,cmos & North & South Bridge was only program the older ram

(Flash the bios will not make any different in this )

 

[Viper96720]

Originally posted by: trashbox
You Asus Board can only take 266 Mhz ram (Pc 2100)
Anything higher will not be read it

The Newer ram have more bit 3-2-1-0 for example
the older ram 2.5-1-0 for the 266 Mhz
dew to the high bits it not going to read it.
Is a base on the Bios ,cmos & North & South Bridge was only program the older ram

(Flash the bios will not make any different in this )

PC3200 will work fine. Have no idea wtf your talking about. Even crucial's memory selector has PC3200 compatible memory.