New RAM

[kadean]

So I'm going to be upgrading the RAM on my PC and I have a few questions. I currently have 2GB of http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145098 that and I am hoping to get 2 more for running Vista and all that jazz. Anyways, should I get more of the same RAM or spend a bit more money to get some newer and better RAM? Would keeping my old 2GB installed and getting 2 more of a different kind work well or would i need to get 4GB of the new kind or just get 2 more of what I already have?

Thanks for any help, I am a bit of a newb.

 

[DSF]

It's usually helpful to know what the rest of the system is in a situation like this. At the very least, what processor and motherboard are you using?

 

[kadean]

Whoops. Just got back from coachella and remembered my post I had on here. Heres my specs:

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16813127014
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13 GHZ
GPU: Nvidia 7950GT 512MB
HDD: WD 250GB 7200RPM
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16817194003

 

[DSF]

If you're not overclocking, then getting two more GB of that stuff should be fine.

 

[kadean]

Do you mean overclocking my RAM or overclocking my CPU?

 

[DSF]

I meant the CPU. Your CPU runs on a frontside bus of 266 MHz at stock settings. The RAM you currently have can be run on a frontside bus up to 333 MHz without needing to overclock the memory.

 

[kadean]

So how much could I overclock my CPU without overclocking the memory?

 

[DSF]

Well, your CPU has a multiplier of 8. This means that it will run itself at 8 times the clock speed of the frontside bus (FSB). With your chip at stock settings, that results in 8x266 MHz = 2.13 GHz for the CPU. If you increase the FSB to 333 to match the maximum advertised speed of your RAM, your CPU will be running at 8x333 MHz = 2.67 GHz.

If you want to go past that speed you'll either have to try overclocking your RAM, or buying faster RAM like DDR2-800. With DDR2-800 you could run your CPU as high as 3.2 GHz without overclocking your RAM, assuming that your CPU and motherboard can handle it. That may or may not be the case.

 

[kadean]

Alright thanks for all of your help.

Much appreciated.