Best RAM combination

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
K

k@rt

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2012
150
5
18,715
I am trying to get a little extra performance from a friends PC by adding some stuff from my old one.

As the moment her PC has 4Gb total RAM, 2 x 2Gb DDR2 but only running at 333Mhz. I have 2 spare RAM sticks (making another 3GB in total) 1 x 2Gb DDR2 and 1 x 1Gb DDR2, but both of these are running at 800Mhz, so faster.

Now if I just add my RAM to hers I will get 7Gb total but as I understand it all of 7 Gb will be running at her lower 333Mhz speed. So it seems to be a choice between either 7Gb @ 333Mhz or 3Gb @ 800Mhz - which is better in real terms?

I am not sure but I think not having the same on each side (2Gb on one side and 1Gb on the other) can sometimes prevent the RAM from running at optimum levels - but I dont know if this is definitely true.

 
Solution
D
First DDR = double data rate so the 333 is actually DDR2 667. Your DDR2 800 would read as 400. There is almost no speed difference between the two and what she has now with 4GB is plenty for most usage. Trying to add what you have to what she has is likely to cause a headache than it is to improve her performance. Unless she is doing something to cause her computer to run out of available RAM 4GB is fine.

Also with DDR2 unless a newer version of Windows has been installed she likely has 32 bit Windows XP. You need a 64 bit OS to use more than 4GB.

As far as speed goes having matched sticks in each pair of DIMMS or channels allows the RAM to run in dual channel mode. Adding a mismatched set to the existing matched 2 x 2GB sticks would...
Sort by date Sort by votes
D

Deleted member 217926

Guest
First DDR = double data rate so the 333 is actually DDR2 667. Your DDR2 800 would read as 400. There is almost no speed difference between the two and what she has now with 4GB is plenty for most usage. Trying to add what you have to what she has is likely to cause a headache than it is to improve her performance. Unless she is doing something to cause her computer to run out of available RAM 4GB is fine.

Also with DDR2 unless a newer version of Windows has been installed she likely has 32 bit Windows XP. You need a 64 bit OS to use more than 4GB.

As far as speed goes having matched sticks in each pair of DIMMS or channels allows the RAM to run in dual channel mode. Adding a mismatched set to the existing matched 2 x 2GB sticks would actually decrease speed by 5-7% by only running in single channel mode.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
K

k@rt

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2012
150
5
18,715


Thank you very much for reply. Actually I am being kinda stupid, I know windows vista32 can't use more than 4Gb but it completely slipped my mind (Doh!)

I am a little confused about the DDR, however. I got the 333Mhz DDR2 value from CPU-Z.

What I dont understand is why you say 333Mhz DDR2 is actually running at 667Mhz (i.e doubling) but 800Mhz DDR2 is actually running at only 400 (i.e. halving)... logically it would be 1600Mhz. I would have thought that the best solution would be to remove her RAM completely and add mine no? Ok I lose I Gb but have a lot higher frequency.

Its very hard to read the lable but i think this is my RAM specs:

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/PartsInfo.asp?ktcpartno=KVR800D2N6/2G

KVR800D2N6/2G
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

Deleted member 217926

Guest
Yep CPU-Z reads the actual speed. My DDR3 1600 reads at 800Mhz. DDR2 came in 3 speeds ( and 1 overclocked speed ) DDR2 533, DDR2 667 and DD2 800 ( DDR2 1066 was factory overclocked. ). So DDR2 533 runs at 266Mhz, DDR2 667 runs at 333Mhz and DDR2 800 runs at an actual speed of 400Mhz.

CPU-Z is just reading the actual speed. The RAM is listed at its data rate for marketing purposes.

By adding your RAM and discarding what she has she would lose 1GB and that would hurt more than the slight speed increase would help. Also you don't have matched sticks so she would lose the 5-7% performance increase she has now from dual channel since mismatched sticks would only run in single channel mode. So the slight speed increase from you sticks would be lost by losing the 1GB capacity and losing 5-7% from dual channel.

Also depending on her motherboard and CPU, DDR2 800 may not even be supported. And if it is may not help. Without getting too complicated if she has for instance a Core2 based system they do best with a 1:1 FSB to RAM ratio. So adding higher speed memory would not improve performance. Even in newer systems higher speed RAM will make very little difference. Like 1% between DDR3 1600 and DDR3 2133.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

k@rt

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2012
150
5
18,715


Ahhh ok!!! Thanks! That makes a lot more sense reading like that now. So when the manufacturer says their memory is DDR2 XXX they are quoting the combined or total speed once the DDR is counted. That makes sense I guess.

CPU-Z gives the MoBo as a Packard Bell BV - MCP73 with a chipset ID07C7 southbridge nforce630i. I think these are the correct system specs (they look about right):

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1994694

I was thinking that maybe the other possibility would be to go out and buy another 2Gb DDR2 800, its not that expensive really. But from what you have said maybe that just not worth it, tbh I thought that RAM frequency made more of a difference and that if the frequency was X percent higher then the RAM would aquire and transfer information X percent faster, but that is obviously not the case. I browsed 1 or 2 other forums and found this which made me laugh:

"I was adviced to remove the 4GB 667MHz RAM's and replace them with 4GB DDR2 800MHz..."

That guy hates you. That advice has no sense.

You won't get any apreciable improvement with 800Mhz memory and you are throwing away 4GBs of memory...Oh man!!!
Click to expand...

Looks best to just forget about it - it just that I have this RAM lying around collecting dust, would be nice to get some use from it! :)

Thanks again for all the good info, anort!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

Deleted member 217926

Guest
I thought it might be a Core2. Your Core2Quad Q8200 has a FSB of 333Mhz and since Core2 does best with a 1:1 FSB to RAM ratio the computer already has optimal memory with DDR2 667 ( 333Mhz ). The only reason to add DDR2 800 would be to overclock and since it's an OEM ( Packard Bell ) you can't overclock. So just leave it alone.

Glad to help!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom