DDR backward compatability

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jerry
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J

Jerry

Other things being equal - the 'newer' memory will run only as fast as the
bus allows. What does the motherboard manual say about memory bus speed and
the type of memory sticks that can be used?
 
Hello!
Would it be safe to use a newer (faster) DDR on slower systems? In other
words,how backward compatable are newer DDR SDRAM modules?
 
Alon said:
Hello!
Would it be safe to use a newer (faster) DDR on slower systems? In other
words,how backward compatable are newer DDR SDRAM modules?
Click to expand...

As long as you're not trying ddr2 on a ddr1 board, you should be OK.
HOWEVER, there are always potential compatibility issues, so if
possible, stick to the same rating as your old memory.
 
Alon Brodski said:
Hello!
Would it be safe to use a newer (faster) DDR on slower systems? In other
words,how backward compatable are newer DDR SDRAM modules?
Click to expand...

If you place a standard DDR and DDR2 RAM module over the top of the other,
and line them up side to side, you'll see the little notch is slightly
offset from the other one near the middle of the RAM module.
In other words, DDR2 won't fit in a older DDR RAM slot, and vice versa.

If its just a faster version of DDR, most likely, the motherboard will
backpedal the RAM to a speed it can use.
 
And how I can use DDR2 modules on DDR board if DDR2 modules physically won't
fit into DDR slots?
 
So if I install faster DDR module most likely no damage would be done,just
it would work slower?
 
No. It means the bios will utilize the speed its capable of using, not the
fastest speed the RAM module can do.
If there is a compatibility problem regarding voltage etc., check with
crucial.com for one applicable to your system. There's nothing wrong with
recording the specs crucial provides and shopping elsewhere for the same
thing.
--
Jonny
Alon Brodski said:
So if I install faster DDR module most likely no damage would be done,just
it would work slower?
Click to expand...
 
If your mobo fastest Bus Speed is 333 and you use 400 DDR Ram modules the
only way to actually run at 400 is to overclock the bus speed..........which
is a different subject.Running the Ram slower usually does not do any damage
but you do need to check to see that your mobo supplies the correct voltage
to the RAM....some cannot.
I used a AMD Barton 2500 chip at one time...this runs at 166x2=333 but I
used 400 DDR Ram...The mobo was capable of running at 400.This allowed for
an easier overclock but at the expense of heat.
peter

--
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
Alon Brodski said:
So if I install faster DDR module most likely no damage would be done,just
it would work slower?
Click to expand...
 
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