Ram 'Mix' Question

[Fingolfin269]

Hey guys I currently have an Abit NF7-S (1.2 I believe) and a stick of 512 PC3000 HyperX. I'm considering 2 sticks of 512 meg Corsair Value Ram rated at PC3200 and am wondering what problems I might run into if I have the three sticks in the mobo. I may up the fsb a bit (166ish) but doubt I will do much else. Can I simply set the ratio to 1:1 and force all of the ram to run at 333 or will I need to do something else?

 

[Fingolfin269]

A 'my question must suck' bump.

 

[Fike]

I am also wondering what kind of troubles mixing RAM can give. I am using some PC2100 and 2700. I am getting some PC 3200 to replace the 2100. Can this cause any significant errors or slowdowns?

 

[ShadowBlade]

again, also wondering the same thing...can i use PC2100 with PC4000

 

[Fingolfin269]

We have successfully stumped the uber hardware gurus of Anandtech!

😛

 

[quakefiend420]

run the ram in sync with the cpu fsb...you'll get better performance with the athlon xp that way...as long as you dont try to run the mixed ram out of spec it should be fine...notice i say should be...you may run into some strange hardware issues though...motherboards can be picky about ram sometimes

just make sure to run it at the speeds of your slowest stick

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I didn't have any problem mixing and matching Corsair and Mushkin.

As long as it's the same speed (i.e. PC3200) and the same timings (say 2.5-3-3-6) you should be fine.

If you have 512MB of PC3200 and you add a 512MB stick of PC2100 though, you might experience a slow down 😛

That should also answer ShadowBlade's question.

Yes, you can. but remember this, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Everything would run at PC2100 speed.

 

[yhelothar]

No problems.
Just use manual mode, and set everything to what the slowest ram is capable of.