RAM compatibility Question

[Caveman]

1) Aside from "wasting" the capability of the newer (fast) RAM, is there anything wrong with using it in a mobo designed for PC2100 (such as the Epox 8KHa+)???

2) If answer to 1 is no problem, then is it ok to "mix" PC2100 with PC3200 on the same mobo?

3) If RAM has to match the mobo and be the "right" speed, can one use different brands of RAM (ie. qty 2, 256MB sticks of Buffalo PC2100 and qty 2, 256MB sticks of Crucial PC2100)

???

 

[stevty2889]

1. It will be backwards compatible so it will work fine.

2. You can mix them, they will all run at the speed and timings of the slowest sticks

4. You can use differant brands. For dual channel, best to have the pairs match. For example on my gigabyte 8IK1100, which has 6 slots for ram, I had 2x256mb of Crucial PC2100, 2x256mb of Centon PC2100, and 2x256mb of Kingmax PC3500, and they all worked together in dual channel, running at PC2100 speeds.

 

[Caveman]

Thanks!

Was "dual channel" even around 3 years ago when PC2100 was standard?

My object is to configure my Epox 8KHa+ mobo (4 slots I think) with the most RAM for the smallest price.

There are currently 2 Corsair PC2100 256MB sticks in place leaving the other 2 slots unoccupied (I think).

I think I'll add 2 more sticks 512 MB Dual channel PC3200 to the remaining 2 slots (which can be rolled to a newer computer later), for a total of 1.5 GB... Do you see anything wrong with this strategy?

 

[Steve]

nForce2 did dual channel with PC2100.