help with memory

[danny_galaga]

no, i still remember where i left the car keys! its my computer memory i need help with. seems this is what i have now, two of these spec ram:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1-x-DDR-256MB-RAM-PC2700-DDR333-333Mhz-PC-Memory-Module_W0QQitemZ180100777792QQcategoryZ44937QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

what id like is something bigger as it seems 512 is a bit minimal for xp and my pc does go a bit slow sometimes. now if i get something like 2 x 512mb, does the 333 in the above mean bus speed? is this what i need to look for? if there was a 512mb with 400mhz, would that work or no?

[Samstag]

Yes, 333 is the bus speed.  And yes, you can use 400MHz ram, even if your processor/motherboard can't take advantage of the extra speed.  If your system can handle the 400, just keep in mind that if you install the 400 and the 333 at the same time, you'll only get 333.

[tommy]

Like he said but in other words, using one faster speed memory with a slower speed will bring the faster down to the slowest speed stick. You probably should go with 2 new 400 sticks.

[ChadTower]

OTOH, that speed difference will be so negligible that you'll never perceive it.  People put too much stock in raw specs that make zero difference in 99% of circumstances.

[tommy]

That's true, but at some point having all the fastest parts working together will help things a bit.

[Tiger-Heli]

OTOH, that speed difference will be so negligible that you'll never perceive it.  People put too much stock in raw specs that make zero difference in 99% of circumstances.

OTOOH, speaking from experience, often you buy the 333 Mhz memory b/c it's cheaper, then you update the processor and motherboard to 400 Mhz, but you know you have the same type of memory available, so you dump the 333 memory in the 400 motherboard and wonder why you start getting memory errors after 6 months or so.

[Harry Potter]

not so the 333 being cheaper.

I went to buy some 266 RAM a while back.

512Mb new was $99AUS, 333 was $75 and 400 was $52.

Supply and demand and the demand is greater for 400.

Danny, get the 400 sticks. You should be able to pick up a 512Mb for $55-60 if you look around a bit.

[ChadTower]

I have always mixed and matched my ram as to whatever I could get least expensively at that moment and actually functioned.  This is over a decade on many machines.  Not once have I ever had a RAM error or DIMM/SIMM failure.  I tend to run my machines 24/7 for years at a time.  I don't even look at speed.  I look at size, "will it work with this motherboard", and price.

[danny_galaga]

cool, so the upshot of it is as long as its ddr ram, then the speed isnt critical and if i mix and match then the slowest ram is the speed it will run at. its off to ebay for a couple of 512s then (",)

[Tiger-Heli]

cool, so the upshot of it is as long as its ddr ram, then the speed isnt critical and if i mix and match then the slowest ram is the speed it will run at. its off to ebay for a couple of 512s then (",)

Not exactly - if it's 400 and your motherboard is set for 333, then it will run at 333.  If it's 333 and your motherboard only supports 400, it will run at 400 (for a while . . .).

[DrewKaree]

denny....dunny....deeny....YOU THERE!  It doesn't matter what you're gonna do.  Your puter is gonna asplode.

Love,
Teh innernets

[danny_galaga]

cool, so the upshot of it is as long as its ddr ram, then the speed isnt critical and if i mix and match then the slowest ram is the speed it will run at. its off to ebay for a couple of 512s then (",)

Not exactly - if it's 400 and your motherboard is set for 333, then it will run at 333.  If it's 333 and your motherboard only supports 400, it will run at 400 (for a while . . .).

yeah, i realise that. all i want is to upgrade the size of the memory. all that seems to be available (easily) to do that are 512mb at 400mhz. so i understand it will only run at 333...

drew. ive got a line for hecklers like you:

"hey...you! shh, shut up!" 

[DrewKaree]

drew. ive got a line for hecklers like you:

"hey...you! shh, shut up!" 

Been talkin' to KoolMoeCraig again, I see

[FrizzleFried]

Hell,  I haven't run a CPU or memory stick at stock speeds in over 10 years...so I am NOT the guy to talk to.  Overclocking = your friend.

[ChadTower]

I've always been more surprised so few people overclock processors going into MAME cabs.  It seems like such a tiny effort in the grand scheme of a full build.

[danny_galaga]

just want my pc to run a bit more smoothly. the only time i had a go at overclocking, i ran my 400mhz cpu to 600mhz before it froze and that was the end of that! i didnt improve cooling or anything of course. but other than that experiment (i wanted to get raiden running full speed on my old computer) i have no need of overclocking...