RAm Advicefor semi-noob

[Valurei]

I need to buy more RAM as I currently am running on only 128mb of DDR266, laugh away.

I have built a PC or two in the past with adequate results, but ignored some things that would've made em good (as opposed to adequate).

So, I am looking to upgrade twice in the future, this first time being only a quick fix. I am looking for a good quality stick of 256, or 512 depending on price, initially. As I understand it its not good, or pointless, to have RAM that a different frequency than your processor. I have a XP 2000+, so 133mhz, and my mobo supports DDR266 or DDR333.

Is it worthwhile to get DDR333, as in, will I notice it being faster than a stick of DDR266 as the DDR 266 is the same frequency or does the different frequency not matter as the DDR333 is faster?

And any advice is appreciated.
I'm looking primarily at this Corsair XMS if I go DDR333 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-412&depa=1
or
Corsair Value Select if DDR266 is more suited http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-022&depa=1
But I am definately not only looking at those two, nor am I looking only at Corsair.

Also, my friend has Crucial Ballistix RAM as its supposedly the best tested RAM ever but when I go to their site and use their find-RAM-best-suited-to-your-mobo thing its suggests all DDR500 sticks. Is this them just trying to get me to buy RAM even though it make actually not be the best for my mobo?

THX all who reply.

 

[microAmp]

Using DDR 333 won't be any faster than using DDR 266 since the FSB on the Athlon is only using 266. If you use DDR 333 it will run at DDR 266 speeds but if you overclock the processor, then the DDR 333 RAM will be less likely to be the limiting factor of a maximum overclock.

You could also get a higher speed one if you have plans down the road to upgrade the processor or motherboard, but then again DDR-2 is already out and DDR-3 is just starting to come out or in the works. So, depending on when you upgrade it may or may not be a vialble solution for you.

The DDR 333 you have listed has better CAS latency too, something you might want to keep an eye out for too.