When should I upgrade My PC2100 to PC3200 RAM?

[cuttergallery]

I recently upgraded my PC from an Abit KG7-R/ XP 2100+ Palo to a Shuttle AN35N Ultra 400/ XP 2700+TBred. I do not currently OC.

I am still using the 1 GB of Crucial PC2100 (dual channel mode) that I had in the KG7-R. My new CPU's FSB is 333Mhz & I should use PC2700 RAM. However, I am waiting for the XP 3200+ CPU's to get under $100 before I get one.

My question:
Should I buy 1 GB of PC3200 RAM now, or wait until I upgrade to a 400Mhz FSB CPU.

Would I notice the difference now? If so, how noticeable would it be?

 

[jpeyton]

Does your PC2100 run at PC2700 speeds? Maybe with a little increase in RAM voltage?

If yes, keep the 2100 for now. If not, get some cheap 3200 (Corsair Value Select or Mushkin Green, at Newegg).

 

[simms]

I would OC the 2100 and see how far I can get it. 333mhz=pc2700, so you would want your ram to run at pc2700 to get max performance. I would go for the 512 Corsair PC3200 at Newegg for $80 free shipping.

 

[Delorian]

Buy a good HSF & OC that board/cpu to 400FSB. My TT12+ does the job fine. Buy two of these this ram and you will notice a giant jump from 133FSB and a pretty decent one from 166FSB. The 2700+ should hit 200FSB just fine, esp. if it's multiplier locked and you can set the cpu multiplier down a bit.

Else if you don't OC at all, then just try to set the CPU/RAM ratio to a 5/4 or 6/5 or something. Should give a pretty good increase in speed, PC2100 OCs pretty well. Mine went up to somewhere real close to 200 and was still stable. Make sure your FSB is at least 333, regardless of your rams speed.

 

[simms]

Hey, that was the ram I was going to get. But it's cheaper now by $5!

 

[Blain]

OT...

Is PC3200 @ CAS 2 about the same thing as PC3500 @ CAS 2.5?