memory stick??

  • Thread starter Thread starter L.S.
  • Start date Start date
L

L.S.

I have an older system, nvidia geforce2 board, amd sempron 3300+ @ 1.8mhz
and
one 512m stick on memory, ddr333 64x64.
I have an extra stick 1gb, pc3200 ddr @ 400mhz.
Can I run both or not and will the pc3200 run ok in the system?

thanks for any help/advise,
 
L.S. said:
I have an older system, nvidia geforce2 board, amd sempron 3300+ @ 1.8mhz
and
one 512m stick on memory, ddr333 64x64.
I have an extra stick 1gb, pc3200 ddr @ 400mhz.
Can I run both or not and will the pc3200 run ok in the system?

thanks for any help/advise,
Click to expand...


It is absolutely essential that any new RAM module(s) be fully
compatible with both the motherboard and/or any other RAM module(s)
already in the system. Additionally, there are sometimes jumper
switches on older motherboards that need to be reset for new RAM
configurations. Consult your motherboard's manual or the manufacturer's
web site for specific instructions and compatibility requirements.

If you cannot lay your hands upon the computer's manual and the
manufacturer doesn't provide a support web site, you can use these
utilities to help determine the correct type of RAM needed:

SiSoft's Sandra
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.php?dir=&location=sware_dl&lang=en

Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Unlimited Possibilities' AIDA32
http://forum.aumha.org/overflow/aida32.zip

Also, Crucial Memory's web site (www.crucial.com) has a database to
help to find the right RAM for your specific make and model computer
and/or motherboard. (Incidentally, Crucial is the only company from
which I ever buy RAM. I've never been disappointed.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
L.S. said:
I have an older system, nvidia geforce2 board, amd sempron 3300+ @ 1.8mhz
and
one 512m stick on memory, ddr333 64x64.
I have an extra stick 1gb, pc3200 ddr @ 400mhz.
Can I run both or not and will the pc3200 run ok in the system?

thanks for any help/advise,
Click to expand...


L.S.
It's *always* a crapshoot at best. Why don't you simply install the
additional RAM and see what happens?

If the system doesn't boot, that's a good symptom the add'l RAM is
incompatible, right? So you'll uninstall the RAM.

If the system does boot...
1. Determine if the system detects the add'l RAM; and,
2. Run your various programs/applications and determine if there are any
problems doing so, whether the add'l RAM seems to speed up the various
processes, etc., etc. If problems arise, uninstall the RAM.

And should there be problems with the add'l RAM, try uninstalling the
current 512 MB module and work *only* with the 1 GB module. Determine how
that works out.
Anna
 
Download and create a Memtest86+ boot disk or CD
See: http://www.memtest.org/

Turn off the PC, remove the AC power cord.
Wait 5 minutes or until the green motherboard LED (if there is one) goes
out.

Now remove the 512MB stick, insert the 1GB stick.
Power up the PC and running Memtest86+,
this runs from the boot disk or CD you created and
should eliminate or confirm if your ram is bad.
Let it run for as long as you can, 2,4,6,8 or more hours,
if no errors by then your ram is OK.

Again turn off the PC, remove the AC power cord.
and wait 5 minutes or until the green motherboard LED goes out.

Insert the 512MB stick so you now have both sticks installed.
Run Memtest86+ again.

Last test is Prime95
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/

It's a stand alone .exe file contained in a .zip archive.
Just choose to run the "stress test" option for 3 hours.
If your PC can pass this test both your memory and CPU
are fine (close the case cover to maintain proper ventilation)
 
JS said:
Download and create a Memtest86+ boot disk or CD
See: http://www.memtest.org/

Turn off the PC, remove the AC power cord.
Wait 5 minutes or until the green motherboard LED (if there is one) goes
out.

Now remove the 512MB stick, insert the 1GB stick.
Power up the PC and running Memtest86+,
this runs from the boot disk or CD you created and
should eliminate or confirm if your ram is bad.
Let it run for as long as you can, 2,4,6,8 or more hours,
if no errors by then your ram is OK.

Again turn off the PC, remove the AC power cord.
and wait 5 minutes or until the green motherboard LED goes out.

Insert the 512MB stick so you now have both sticks installed.
Run Memtest86+ again.

Last test is Prime95
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/

It's a stand alone .exe file contained in a .zip archive.
Just choose to run the "stress test" option for 3 hours.
If your PC can pass this test both your memory and CPU
are fine (close the case cover to maintain proper ventilation)
Click to expand...
In my experience if you have a pc2700 (ddr333) ram stick and a pc3200
(ddr400) ram stick the motherboard will run at the fastest speed
possible, in this case the speed of the pc2700 (ddr333) as long as the
motherboard supports pc3200 (ddr400).
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I've learned over the years to keep 'everything' that comes with the system.
:)
The MB, according to the specs, should be able to run the 400mhz stick.
Spec state the MB can handle up to 3gig and 400m.

Generally speaking, is there a problem running a 333m with the 400m stick on
the same board at the same time? Or would be 'better/faster' to run with the
400m only?
IOW- more memory (1.5g, 400 & 333) vs speed (400 only).

Will run test's' and report back if problem.

Again thanks,,
 
Your limited by the CPU's FSB speed so
check the specs for your CPU.

Using DDR400 will not speed things up any
and as long as the memory specs meet your motherboards
requirements and the motherboard can properly detect
and read the memory stick's SPD values you should be OK.

As for mixing with both DDR333 and DDR400 it should work
but that's not a certainty.
IOW- more memory (1.5g, 400 & 333) vs. speed (400 only).
Click to expand...
DDR333 is designed for CPUs with a memory clock of 166MHz
DDR400 is designed for CPUs with a memory clock of 200MHz

Using DDR400 does not speed up your CPU's clock frequency so
you will not get any speed advantage buy just using DDR400.

1.0GB of memory vs. 1.5GB
Unless you are doing some high end photo editing or gaming
you will not see any improvement in your PC's performance
as for most users 512MB of ram is more than enough.

If you planning to "Overclock" your PC then that's another
story but it's also another question.
 
Again, thanks.

Working fine with either and/or both. Someone else said I wouldn't see any
difference so unless I need the 512 somewhere else, I'll leave it in. That
way I know where it is. :)

L.
 
Mr. Smith said:
Why ask here? What type of memory, or how it must be
installed/configured, has nothing to do with XP. It is pure hardware.
Click to expand...

Ignore our resident ****wit.

Your question is entirely welcome in a *hardware* forum, which this is.
 
If it's that hot to the touch, then it's time to scrap it.

Leaving it connected to your USB port drawing
that much power as to heat up your Cruzer to a
point were it is "hot like a fire" may end up damaging
your computer's motherboard which is far more
expensive to replace than the memory stick.
 
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