PC133 memory in PC100 motherboard

[DarkKnight]

can a motherboard that only supports PC100 use PC133 memory? I always that that in this situation, the PC133 ram would slow down to PC100 speeds. Am I correct in this assumption or will the ram not work at all?

 

[tk149]

It should work fine at the stock 100MHz speed. The memory probably will even work well at overclocked speeds (between 100 and 133).

 

[Ryukumu]

Sounds like it'll work to me. From what I understand, problems come up when you put in RAM that is slower than the motherboard speed (ie: 100mhz RAM on a 133 motherboard). Correct me if I'm wrong. ^_^;;;

 

[TheCorm]

All correct there....I have even put PC133 ram into a system with a 66mhz bus so it seems it's fully backwards compatible

Did you know that Cas3 PC133 will be Cas3 when at 133mhz and Cas2 when at 100mhz so it might actually run almost as well as when in a 133mhz environment.

Corm

 

[shathal]

The correct answer is "Yes, it should be fine, as long as the memory is any good."

Normally, PC133 memory DOES clock down to PC100 or PC66. So, in theory, no problem.

However, in real life, you have to be aware of the following. "El cheapo" memory might not always do that propperly and just not work. I've seen it myself, and it's one of the reasons why I steer clear from "no name" memory.

So - in general, yes it should work. If it doesn't, you know you should get better memory next time round .

Hope this helps.

- Shathal.

 

[zepper00]

As another said, you might be able to get faster CAS timings with the 133 and it should work fine with a 100 system. However, I have had to update the BIOS on several systems to get them to recognize the faster RAM. It seems that if the BIOS can't recognize the RAM type, it will just ignore it or fail to work altogether. Hope this helps.
.bh.

 

[DarkKnight]

The reason I'm asking this is because I recently bought a 128 meg stick of Muskin PC133 ram and it did not work. My motherboard only supports PC100 memory, so I was wondering whether I should replace the PC133 stick with a PC 100 stick. I would be willing to do this but the PC100 memory costs almost twice as much as the PC133 memory. So, what should i do? Should I just get a new stick of PC133 memory or get the PC100 memory?

 

[pcman2002b]

I've never even heard of that name, Muskin.
My advice, is purchase a stick of RAM with a common name, maybe Muskin is fine and dandy at 133 but isn't truly backwards compatible with lower clocks.

Check the sites to see if they mention backward compatibility, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't even if it is.

A website that costs a little more but pays attention to details like that is Dalco Electronics

Have had nothing but good experience with them and their memory. Have used 133 in slower before. Try Kingston, Crucial, etc.

 

[amdskip]

Muskin is high quality ram and is on par with crucial memory and no where near generic. The memory should work fine otherwise it could be a bad stick which doesn't happen very often or else the motherboard just plain doesn't like it. Try different configurations like switching where the memory is with the other stick, etc.