confused about 5300 vs 6400

[ogbird]

i have a simple question for you(not so simple for me). i currently have pc2-5300(2x512) in my computer. i want to add memory to my PC. now i read that if you install a mixed pair of DDR2 667-MHz and DDR2 800-MHz memory, the modules function at the slowest speed installed. this is probably retarded but, im confused about the "mixed pair" part. does that mean if i installed 1 stick of 5300 + 1 stick of 6400, the pair will function 667MHz? OR does it mean if i install 2 sticks of 5300 + 2 sticks of 6400, the memory will function at 667MHz? im very retarded lol. i just want to be sure about this because i dont like to waste money. i dont want to go buy 6400 if its going to work the same speed as 5300. please help me!

 

[nukemaster]

The board can not run sticks at different speeds(they all go the same speed), you will run at the speed of the slowest stick.

As long as the stick of 5300(667) is in ALL ram will run at that speed unless you overclock the 5300(667) stuff.

PC 6400(800) stuff is cheap now so its not worth seeking 5300(667) stuff even if you run it at 5300(667)

 

[ogbird]

ok thanks for the reply nukemaster.

so which of these memory do you think i should buy?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134117

also, do you think it would be better to remove the 5300 and just keep the 6400 in by itself? so basically its 3GB(2x512 + 2x1GB) at 5300 or 2GB(2x1GB) at 6400.

 

[MrMeth]

I think you should just drop in 4 gigs of ram and be done with it , ram is so cheap now there is no reason your pc shouldnt have at least 4 gigs .. im not sure what OS your running but vista will use as much ram as you give it. Just remember that on a 32 bit OS you cant access the full 4 gigs it will be around 3-3.5 gigs . take a look at this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134730

 

[nukemaster]

What board and cpu do you have?

In some cases the ram speed increase does not always give a performance boost in all apps.

for 2$ i would get the 800 if only for use with more 800 stuff in the future.

I ram 667 and 800 together(2 x 1gig + 2 x 512 with the timings at 4,4,4,10 ) for close to a year without issues and even going to all 800(4 x 2GB sticks at 4,4,4,10) I did not notice any speed increase as such.

This article shows performance increases with different memory speeds and timings.
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&number=1&artpage=1962&articID=472

mrmeth has a good point at the price of memory. just make sure your board supports 2gig sticks.