Memory DDR PC2 5200 vs 5300 ?

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Ritter 197

Is there a noticeable difference between PC2 5200 and 5300?

I have now both installed, 1 MB each of DDR PC2 5300 and 2X 512MB of DDR PC
5200.
 
Two things to know about RAM:

1- When mixing RAM of different speeds, all RAM operates at the lowest
speed.

2- You should only use RAM that has been specified for your computer.
The major RAM vendors (e.g., Crucial) have RAM selectors that easily
guide you to the correct RAM for your particular make and model of computer.
 
Why confuse people? Explain yourself. Does higher speed memory slow down
when installed with lower speed RAM?
 
Two things to know about RAM:

1- When mixing RAM of different speeds, all RAM operates at the lowest
speed.
Click to expand...


No this isn't correct. These RAM "speeds" are not really speeds at
all, but speed ratings--the speeds they have been tested to reliably
work at.

The actual speed the RAM runs at is the speed the motherboard is set
to run it at. For safety, that *should be* the lowest of the speeds,
but isn't necessarily. If it's a higher speed, you are overclocking at
least some of the RAM, and are at risk of failure, with consequent
risk to your data.

2- You should only use RAM that has been specified for your computer.
The major RAM vendors (e.g., Crucial) have RAM selectors that easily
guide you to the correct RAM for your particular make and model of computer.
Click to expand...


I agree completely with that.
 
Ken is correct, of course, and he provided more detail than I thought
was needed.

RAM (and CPUs) do not run at a set speed. Indeed, they are capable of
running over a wide range of speeds. However, they do have a 'rated'
speed - this is speed at which the manufacturer can predict the results.
RAM and CPUs can successfully be run at higher or lower than rated
speed, if you know what you're doing and you have a sense of adventure.

Absent over- and under-clocking, when different speed RAM modules are
used, then all of the RAM should clock to the speed of the slowest
module. In reality, mixing RAM speeds can cause your system to be
unstable (but not necessarily so). For that reason, it's always best to
use RAM of the same speed.
 
Ken is correct, of course, and he provided more detail than I thought
was needed.
Click to expand...


Thanks, Leonard. The reason I thought clarification was needed because
the oft-seen statement that "When mixing RAM of different speeds, all
RAM operates at the lowest speed" erroneously implies that if you have
RAM running at a particular speed and you add slower RAM to it, it
will therefore all be run at the slower speed. In fact, unless you
change a setting, it will be all be run at the *higher* speed, and
with the attendant risk of the overclocked slower RAM failing.
 
"In fact, unless you change a setting, it will be all be run at the
*higher* speed..."

An internet search for 'mixing RAM speed' should make it clear for
anyone reading.
 
Great clarification!
Ken Blake said:
Thanks, Leonard. The reason I thought clarification was needed because
the oft-seen statement that "When mixing RAM of different speeds, all
RAM operates at the lowest speed" erroneously implies that if you have
RAM running at a particular speed and you add slower RAM to it, it
will therefore all be run at the slower speed. In fact, unless you
change a setting, it will be all be run at the *higher* speed, and
with the attendant risk of the overclocked slower RAM failing.
Click to expand...
 
It doesn't clear anything, it muddles things up even more! All the RAM
manufacturers and all the RAM sellers always say that if you mix RAM of
different speed that (even if the FSB can handle the higher speed) it
will run at the speed of the slowest module.

John
 
Look, I've repeated the same point three times. I don't know how to say
it any clearer. I'm not a professional writer. If a search of the
internet produces a clearer explanation than I can write, I'm all for it.
 
Would you care to explain that?
John John (MVP) said:
It doesn't clear anything, it muddles things up even more! All the RAM
manufacturers and all the RAM sellers always say that if you mix RAM of
different speed that (even if the FSB can handle the higher speed) it will
run at the speed of the slowest module.

John
Click to expand...
 
I will say this for the last time:

When you mix RAM of different speeds, all the RAM operates at the speed
of the slowest module, unless your computer crashes altogether. For
further information, conduct a web search with the search engine of your
choice using the following search term: mix RAM speed
 
Don't you have a search engine? Why not search and find out what RAM
sellers say about mixing RAM of different speed?

John
 
Both ridiculous comments. Any memory installed in a computer will run at the
speed the computer is set to.
 
All I said is to check what RAM vendors have to say about mixing RAM of
different speed. What is so ridiculous about that?

John
 
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