Replace DDR2-400 with DDR-533 ... AMD question also

[vois2]

I own a Dell Dimension 8400. The CPU is the Pentium-4 630, which has a speed of 3.0 GHz and 800 MHz FSB (2MB L2).

There are 4 DIMM slots. Currently, a total of 3.0 GB DDR2-400 is in those slots. The existing configuration is 2x1024 along with 2x512, of course.

If you're wondering why I have 3.0 GB RAM, this is because the machine arrived from factory with 2x512. I later added 2x1024 -- again, all of this is DDR2-400. I do think the 3.0GB is overkill as I have learned from much benchmarking at both the 2.0GB and 3.0GB levels.

I have two questions.

(1) If I were to replace all of this with 2x1024 of DDR2-533, what sort of speed or efficiency increase is noted (if any)?

(2) Will my existing PC2-3200 modules totaling 3.0GB ever be useable in a future AMD-powered machine? I hear that AMD will soon support DDR2, however, I also read that the minimum AMD will support is DDR2-667. Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

 

[mpjesse]

(2) Will my existing PC2-3200 modules totaling 3.0GB ever be useable in a future AMD-powered machine? I hear that AMD will soon support DDR2, however, I also read that the minimum AMD will support is DDR2-667. Is this true?

Since ur P4 is on a 800mhz FSB, no DDR2-667 will not make a difference. If you were on 1000mhz FSB it would. But you're not, so don't concern yourself with it.

(2) Will my existing PC2-3200 modules totaling 3.0GB ever be useable in a future AMD-powered machine? I hear that AMD will soon support DDR2, however, I also read that the minimum AMD will support is DDR2-667. Is this true?

From what I've read- yes. I don't think AMD has officially confirmed DDR2-667 support yet though. You could probably use the DDR2 stuff you have now w/ an AMD machine, but it won't run at DDR2-667 (obviously).

Unfortunately you're stuck with what you got.

-mpjesse