RAM 3

[pechenegs]

Hi, my sis has just got an old rig with Xp pro on it. She has 256 ddr sdram pc2100.Aida says it's 133 mhz, but the stick itself reports 266! She has a MSI MS6724 mobo. It appears she can also use PC 2700 and PC 3200 is this correct?

thx

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[soccercook44]

Yes those should be compatable with her board.

 

[pechenegs]

cheers soccer, the discrepancy between what Aida32 reports and what's on the stick is important, as 266 is a lot faster than 133 mhz?

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[soccercook44]

different reports show different numbers from what I know... so it is probably not a big deal.

 

[tf1]

Your motherboard will support up to 2GB (2 x 1GB modules) of PC2100/PC2700/PC3200 unbuffered, non-ECC memory. Don't worry about the current module saying 133MHz: the memory chips are only 133MHz but because of its design, it allows two banks of chips to read or write every clock cycle so effectively the module run at 266MHz.

It does not support dual channel, so the slots may be populated with different size and speed memory but the computer memory will run at the lowest speed installed.

The best solution is to buy two PC3200 unbuffered non-ECC memory modules such as Crucial CT12864Z40B modules.

This is 200MHz memory which effectively runs at 400MHz. So with 8 times the installed memory running at 1.5 times the speed it should make a huge difference in the computer's performance.



Regards: Terry

 

[pechenegs]

cheers Terry for that! Due to financial restrictions and only 25 GBPs, I was thinking of buying 512 mb at 512Mb DDR400 PC3200 (64Mx8) 184-pin or 512Mb DDR333 PC2700 (64Mx8) 184-ppin.

However, as you have stated it will default to the lower 256 pc2100 at 266 mhz. I would be better taking the pc2100 out and throwing it away and just using the pc2700 or the 3200 and I should still see a big improvement over pc2100 at 256 ram. Note it has an onboard graphics card which takes 32 mb away from the RAM.

What do you think and can you check the link below of what's available, note it's not my rig and my sis doesn't have a clue about computers.

I remember when I upgraded from ME to XP with 256 RAM my rig was slow but I throw another 256 at it and it was a lot faster!

http://www.pless.co.uk/home.php?cat=121

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[pechenegs]

Or what about the easyram at the same link 1 gb, might be ok, guess I'll just have to have a chat with them see if that RAM is ok!

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[BadBigBen]

Pechenegs, hi long time no see...

but you should be fine with that RAM module, as stated the mainboard does not support Dual Channel...

and remember that the sweet-spot of XP is 1GB...

PS: unfortunately, shipping costs are too high or I would have send you a stick or two...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[pechenegs]

what does dual channel mean you need to have two sticks at the same speed, like 400mhz and same size like two at 512 mb?

Do you think 512 RAM at 200mhz will be enough for Xp? As far as I can remember 512 is ok but as BadBigBen said obviously 1 gb is a lot better!

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[BadBigBen]

yes, dual channel means that you should have two stick that are the same size... (with more recent boards even that was not true anymore, on one board (Intel) I had installed a 512MB and a 1GB module in Dual Channel mode, what it did was Dual Channel only 512MB of the 1GB module)...

speed wise, the faster stick will operate at the same speed as the slower RAM module...

if 512MB will be enough? - Yes it would suffice...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[pechenegs]

Cheers BadBigBen , Guess what, I just had a little look in my computer drawer and viola I have two sticks at 512mb RAM, one is pc2700 DDR and the other looks like DDR 333 512mb RAM, I guess they will do? Can one suggest how they will run, dual channel and all that lol!

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[tf1]

Dual channel is a function of the motherboard where two memory modules are connected to a single bus that runs at double speed. So dual PC3200 modules effectively run at double speed (2 x 400), that's 800MHz.

Unfortunately, your 2 x 333MHz modules will still only run at 333MHz on your motherboard. (Note that PC2700 and 333MHz are the same memory.)


Regards: Terry

 

[tf1]

If you look on eBay, you should be able to pick up 2GB (2 x 1GB) of PC3200 memory for around £30. You could partially finance this by selling your surplus PC2700 modules.

Just make sure that the memory modules are unregistered, non-EEC PC3200 (DDR400) modules.


Regards: Terry

 

[paparazi]

Yes the two 512 sticks you have (PC2700 & 333MHz) are the same speed...
But I think all of the previous posters are forgetting that by physically setting the memory to run at the higher speed you maybe infact be heavily overclocking your processor!

If the system has PC2100 fitted then the CPU may well be an older Athlon or Duron with 100/133fsb (front side bus)
All I am saying is: fit the 2 X 512mb modules but do not touch the FSB jumpers/switches.
The memory then will effectively run underclocked (depending on the jumper settings and CPU fitted)
There will be no gain in memory frequency performance other than the improvement from having plenty of ram to service XP and general apps (so no writing to the hard drive when memory resources run low).

Perhaps you could post back with the CPU that is fitted and we could recommend a syncronous memory solution.(one that works correctly with the CPU's front side bus)

For example Barton core Athlons with 333fsb (XP2500/some XP2600's/XP2800/XP3000) need to have PC2700 memory or higher. The top dog XP3200 (400fsb) needs PC3200 fitting.


Martin

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my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[BadBigBen]

@Pechenegs,

those two sticks should work fine, the PC will run a bit faster, provided the RAM is in working order...

@Martin - good point about the FSB speed setting... though that board (650GLMD) only supports PC2100/DDR200 and PC2700/DDR266 RAM modules and uses an Intel CPU...

MSI MS6724 (650GLMD) Motherboard Specs:

    * 184-pin DIMM Banking: 2 (2 banks of 1)
    * Chipset: SiS 650GL
    * DDR SDRAM Frequencies: PC2100 and PC2700
    * Error Detection Support: Non-ECC only
    * Graphics Support: AGP 4X
    * Max Unbuffered DDR SDRAM: 2048MB
    * Module Types Supported: Unbuffered only
    * Supported DRAM Types: DDR SDRAM only

source: Barebones PC

CPU Info:

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-MSI/650GLMD_(MS-6724).html

Mainboard Info:

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/650GLMD.html#/?div=Detail

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[pechenegs]

The processor is a pentuim 1.7 ghz, I think that should be fast enough?

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[cdogg]

pechenegs,
It appears you have the Williamette Pentium 4, which only supports a 400MHz frontside bus (100Mhz x 4). If you keep the same processor on that board, then there's no reason to go above PC2100 (266MHz). In fact, PC1600 (200MHz) is actually best suited for this processor for reasons I'm not going to get into.

If it was me, I'd go ahead and try throwing in the PC2700 memory you have, which will just downclock to 266MHz automatically. If it isn't recognized or doesn't work for some reason, then you should search online for another stick of PC2100 to compliment the existing stick that's already installed. Better yet, upgrade the processor as well to a faster 2.8GHz Northwood 400MHz FSB (the fastest CPU supported by this motherboard) or save the money for a complete system overhaul.

Here's a link to the mobo specs:

http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=&cat3_no=&prod_no=518

~cdogg
"All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain
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[pechenegs]

Cheers cdogg, I'll probably go over tomorrow and throw the RAM in and if it's ok then that'll be fine as far as I'm concerned. 1 GB of RAM should be more than enough for XP.

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[BadBigBen]

Keep us updated Pechenegs...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[pechenegs]

Well, it took the RAM but it's running at 166mhz, so they'll just need to put up with it until they buy a new computer!

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