DDR400 RAM?

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BiggusDoggus

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Topic # 12474 19-Mar-2007 13:28

According to the manual for my motherboard (Asus P4S533-MX), it supports PC2700/2100/1600 DDR RAM.

All the stuff I have read says that DDR400 RAM is at least PC3200. Does this mean that if I put DDR400 RAM in (as long as it is backwards compatible with PC2700) that it will only run at 333 max?

So I may as well just buy DDR333? It seems that DDR333 is more expensive than DDR400, though.

Sigh - so many questions, such little brain matter. Again, and advice is greatly appreciated.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

lurker

658 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Subscriber

Reply # 64293 19-Mar-2007 13:52

Yes, 333 is the max your motherboard will support, but as you say, DDR-400 is cheaper and more common. So get some of that, you'll find that nearly all have SPDs for running at DDR-333 so it should be fine. I've performed similar upgrades without any trouble, however I did remove the original memory. If you mix the different speeds of ram then the results may be variable.

BiggusDoggus

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 64297 19-Mar-2007 14:21

thanks for that.

I take it I should only get DDR400 that's both PC2700 and 3200 compatible? If I get just straight PC3200 it will throw a wob?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

lurker

658 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 96

Subscriber

Reply # 64304 19-Mar-2007 15:43

Someone else might want to correct me on this, but I don't think any DDR-400 memory is programmed to run only at PC3200 speeds. It should step down to lower speeds, if you use a utility like CPU-Z you'll usually see the timings programmed into the stick for lower speeds.

For memory questions, I find the Crucial memory selector quite useful as they have a lot of info on various motherboards.

Try this link: http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=P4S533%2DMX

My personal opinion is that you should be fine with any DDR-400, you don't know anyone willing to let you borrow theirs to try this out? I recently purchased some Corsair 2x512MB DDR-400 sticks for $150, so buying a reputable brand isn't too expensive.

BiggusDoggus

336 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 64308 19-Mar-2007 15:50

thank you so much for that lurker - really appreciate the advice.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries