PC2700 Vs PC3200 Memory

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sudhi
  • Start date Start date
My computer (eMachines T3256) came with PC2700 memory. Specs are here:
http://www.emachines.com/support/support_info.html?prodName=T3256

I found a good deal for PC3200 memory. But I am not sure if my computer
will recognize and work with this memory.

Would I be taking a big risk if I bought the PC3200 memory?
Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

Get the PC3200, it's backwards compatible and you're less
likely to have stability issues due to higher clockspeed
margin.
 
I believe the nforce2 chipset only supports up to pc2700. Others may
confirm.
Click to expand...

Nforce2 officially supports up to PC3200. Many nforce boards will easily hit
PC3500 (217MEM/FSB) speeds with good memory.
--


"I don't cheat to survive. I cheat to LIVE!!"

- Alceryes
 
Nforce2 officially supports up to PC3200. Many nforce boards will easily hit
PC3500 (217MEM/FSB) speeds with good memory.
Click to expand...

Early nForce2 chipsets only supported 166MHz/DDR333 FSB &
memory. Later steppings supported 200MHz/DDR400, except
only 166/333 when using the integrated video. While there
was potential to run asyc memory, it is not a good idea.

As for the last steppings of nForce2 IGP, maybe the
integrated video is officially spec'd to do 200/400? I
don't know for certain but I vaguely remember having one's
video @ 200/400.
 
Thank you all for your input and help.

I had an online chat with eMachines support. (S)he told me that PC3200
wouldn't work. With the way my conversation (interaction) went with
him/her, it looked like a "safe" recommendation rather than an informed
and intelligent recommendation.

Meanwhile, the deal I found on memory turned out to be from a
manufacturer that didn't get good reviews on the Net. So, I am
temporarily postponing my purchase.

When I do purchase, I am considering PC3200 (with a good return policy)
and if that doesn't work, I will settle for PC2700.
Thanks again for your time.
 
Thank you all for your input and help.

I had an online chat with eMachines support. (S)he told me that PC3200
wouldn't work. With the way my conversation (interaction) went with
him/her, it looked like a "safe" recommendation rather than an informed
and intelligent recommendation.

Meanwhile, the deal I found on memory turned out to be from a
manufacturer that didn't get good reviews on the Net. So, I am
temporarily postponing my purchase.

When I do purchase, I am considering PC3200 (with a good return policy)
and if that doesn't work, I will settle for PC2700.
Thanks again for your time.
Click to expand...


There is no technical reason why a motherboard that can run
PC2700, won't run PC3200. Occasionally a board will be
picky about the CAS or other timings, but this problem is no
more ore less prevalent whether the installed module were
spec'd as PC2700 or 3200.
 
Sudhi said:
Thank you all for your input and help.

I had an online chat with eMachines support. (S)he told me that PC3200
wouldn't work. With the way my conversation (interaction) went with
him/her, it looked like a "safe" recommendation rather than an informed
and intelligent recommendation.
Click to expand...
So you wanted an intelligent sounding recommendation that might not
work?????
 
So you wanted an intelligent sounding recommendation that might not
work?????
Click to expand...


I understand what was meant. Often tech support only reads
what's written on paper, or being optimistic, what's very
similar and has been tested. Similar issue would come up if
one asked "what size HDD does my system support", and the
tech can read on a page that the bios was (Award 4.01 or
whatever) and can't support over 128GB, ignoring that later
technology is meant to be backwards compatible for the most
part, and technically there is no reason a newer bios might
not support 48bit LBA, larger drives.

On the other hand, this is not always foolproof either.
A CSR might reply that a board supports 3 x PC2700 memory
modules up to 1.5GB, based on the manual, which is based on
the chipset spec and physical slots on a board, but use of
correctly funcioning, JEDEC standard memory may not be
stable in a 3 x 512MB configuration... they can only tell
you what's written on paper, they answer the phones rather
than running the testbeds.
 
afaik
it's fine

PC3200 RAM can run safely at any speed 400MHz or below. At 400MHz it is
PC3200 (3200=400*8). At 333MHz it is PC2700. Your mobo can only run
ram at <= 333MHz and 'PC3200' RAM can run at that speed of 333mhz as
PC2700.
 
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