Mixing ram. Which setup is better

mclow

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Aug 5, 2008
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Hi, I just ordered 2G (2*1G) of dual channel DDR400 PC3200 CL2-3-2-5 to replace my current setup of 512M (2*256M) of dual channel DDR400 PC3200 CL2-3-2-6. I also have a 512M stick of DDR400 PC3200 CL3-4-4-8 in there.

My board only has three memory slots. Asus A7N8X Deluxe

I have confirmed the memory in the system now is running in dual channel mode but my motherboard's bios set the timing to CL3-3-3-7 as the timings don't match. If I take out the 512M stick the bios sets to CL2-3-2-6

Wondering when my order comes in if it would actually be better to omit the 512M stick from the setup. Better timings and less ram or 512M more ram and slower timings.

Asking now as I will be installing Vista Home Premium OEM and I don't think its going to let me try it both ways to see what works best.

Also current setup only shows the memory running at 200MHz. Wondering shouldnt it be 400MHz. To fix can I just change the frequency in the bios. I see the option there just dont know if I should change it. Thanks,
 
If you mix RAM, the board will default to the slowest timings.
You can manually set them to different ones, but make sure you run memtest86+ and check for errors.
If you populate all three slots, the memory cannot work in dual channel mode.
2 GB is plenty for that system and you can omit the slower 512 MB.
200MHZ is probably right.

 

jeb1517

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Apr 15, 2007
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I would leave the 512 stick in there. Vista shouldn't have a problem with you trying different memory configurations. 200MHz is correct. Your memory is DDR in which the D is for Dual basically meaning you have to multiply what it says in the BIOS by 2. So 200MHz * 2 is 400MHz which is what you have. DO NOT CHANGE IT TO 400.
 

mford66215

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My thoughts are that leaving the 512 stick in there would be more responsive at any memory timings than paging to the disk drive could ever be.