THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Fun Stuff => CLIKC => Topic started by: Schmung on 12 Jul 2005, 11:33

Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: Schmung on 12 Jul 2005, 11:33
Because I work with PCs all day, my brain falls apart when I get home. My query is simple :

I have an MSI KT3 Ultra 2 mobo. It supports PC2700 and PC2100 DDR RAM (don't laugh). I have the potential to nab a gig of matched pair PC3200 modules. Now obviously they won't run at that speed in mine, but will they run at the same speed as the PC2700 and will I notice any lkoss in performance? Actually, will they work at all, I know they're both 184 pin, but don't know if the 3200 if somehow different.

Help much appreciated, for my brain is now no longer capable of thought.
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: Inanimate Object on 12 Jul 2005, 12:43
Well, I'm not entirely sure, but I think you need 2700 or lower to work properly. That may be incorrect, but I know the 3200 RAM runs at a higher clock speed, and that could probably mess up your mobo.
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: FreshJive787 on 12 Jul 2005, 14:49
does your mobo support dual channel ram?
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: Kelamin on 14 Jul 2005, 21:30
I'm reasonably sure that it will work in your mobo, just not at DDR400 speeds. As an idea you could call up a decent pc store and ask them
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: Se7en on 15 Jul 2005, 11:35
of course it will work, it will just run it at the best speed it can manage.

The key to socket A performance is to run the memory at the exact same speed as the CPU FSB, and lower the CAS latency as much as possible. Quantity is the most important factor, so go for it.
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: infract on 16 Jul 2005, 23:42
Most PC3200 (DDR 2x200MHz) ram is backward compatible to PC2700 (2x166MHz) and PC2100 (2x133MHz).  

Notice: PC3200 is NOT dual channel. I believe that starts at PC4500.
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: Se7en on 17 Jul 2005, 11:36
Incorrect. Dual channel has nothing to do with the specification of the ram used, it just requires a memory controller that supports it, and the memory to be in matched pairs of modules. Its a technique used by the controler to get more bandwidth out of the memory.

Note that due to the FSB bottleneck, dual channel memory has no benefits for the nforce 2 platform.
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: cliffkik on 26 Jul 2005, 16:27
The 3200 sticks should work in your 2700 mobo, but it'll only work at 2700 speeds, which is a small waste of money (3200 is more expensive than 2700 sticks...) but if you're getting it for free then why not!
Title: A Question of RAM
Post by: Schmung on 27 Jul 2005, 09:53
bit of a bump there.. Anyways, the RAM works fine, been sat in my machine since the 18th.