RAM backwards compatible with mobo

[sagaticus]

I'm looking to go with this mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

1. Will DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) run on this board although it's spec'd at DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)?
2. If 1=yes, then would you rather go with 4GB @ DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) or 2GB @DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)?

(vista ult. 64, heavy dev/CS3/multitasking machine)

 

[level101]

Yes PC2 6400 will work, I would go with 4GB

 

[level101]

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-p35-ds3l_1.0.pdf

 

[level101]

Make sure brand & model# of RAM are compatible

 

[sagaticus]

I took a look at this pdf and found a pair of 2gb (2 x 1gb) sticks compatible. Problem is my mobo is 8gb max which means that I cant buy any 1gb sticks... RAM at pc 8500 does not come in packages of 2 x 2gb yet, at least not on newegg.

I really wanted to go with the pc 8500 chips, regardless of cost, but I don't want to end up with 4 x 1gb sticks.

one option I suppose would be to go with 4gb (2 x 2gb) pc 6400 and 2 gb (2 x 1gb) pc 8500 chips... but then I have to be settled on the 6gb total. thoughts on this combination?

When in the next 3 yrs will I need a full 8gb of pc 8500?

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Just a thought from myself, when you look at ram, consider skipping the heatspreaders, I know they are fancy and all that, but I am kinda thinking they might do more harm than good in some ways. Why? I just had a gig of supertalent less than 2 months old go bad, pulled it out and it was all nice and hot with a nice "burnt electronics smell", even with the heatspreader on it. The cheap stuff with no heatspreader is in there working perfectly.