ram compatibility

jepherz

i need more ram!

i have a corsair cmx512-2700C2 DDR333 right now. thats 512 ram. i want to get another 512 but its hard finding another one of those. i guess my question is will a DDR400 work along side with the DDR333 that i have currently?

http://us.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_prod...YPE=MB&SITE=US

jp306

Yes DDR 400 will work with DDR 333, but it will only run at DDR 333 speeds.

CDsDontBurn

although this is true, there may be RAM compatibility between the two sticks of RAM, causing system instability such as random restarts or BSODs. it would be best to get two sticks of ram at the same time.

if you can't do that, then the next best thing to do would be to get as similar a stick of RAM as possible if you can no longer get the model RAM you have right now.

Dyre Straits

See if you can find what you need here:

http://www.mightymicro.com/IC/t_catg...2&manu_id=1171

jepherz

http://www.mightymicro.com/IC/t_prod...03&prodid=9425

i dont think its in stock =[

what do you mean by as similar as possible? if i have a corsair cmx512-2700 and i get cmx512-3200 would that be okay? o.o same model or whatever just faster? i think....

CDsDontBurn

what i meant by "as similar as possible" meant to get something litterally that. for example, say your stick of RAM is cmx512-2700 v1.1 and the only ones now available are cmx512-2700 v2.1, then that would indicate there is a newer version of your RAM. if say for example corsair doesn't make pc2700 RAM, but another manufacturer does, go for that, and so on, so fourth. if pc3200 is the only stuff available, then you would have to settle for some of that.

jepherz

>< so go for another brand of ram first?

CDsDontBurn

if corsair doesn't make any more of the RAM you currently have, then i'd say yes. other people may say no and get a faster corsair stick though.

jepherz

im getting confused!!!! ><

what if i just get 2 sticks of 512 pc3200 ddr400 and take out my current one? my mobo can use those types of ram right?

http://us.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_prod...YPE=MB&SITE=US

whats the ecc/non-ecc thing though? does that affect anything?

ChaosMinionX

To put it plainly between the different sticks of ram you can buy on the market theres the following things that are different.


IC's used on the stick (the black squares on the green/black PCBs depending on what brand you buy)

Binning of the IC's used on the sticks (IE the stuff that makes the ram get rated DDR333 or DDR400 in your scenario)

Voltages those various ICs need to run properly (differently binned ICs will be able to run certain speeds better than others, and take more or less voltage than others to run those speeds)

How tight the timings can go on the ICs at said voltage...Some sticks can do 3-3-3-3 at 2v some cant they do 4-4-4-4 at 2v or they take more voltage at 3-3-3-3 (not saying theres alot that can do that, just throwing up a scenario that could happen)
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The fact that you want to use 2 different 512mb sticks of ram in your system poses stability problems with one or more of the specifications ram needs to run and how it runs that I listed.....You are better off running 2 Matched Pairs of memory IE buy a 2x512mb kit, or a single 1gb stick.

ECC / Non ECC refers to the memorys ability to "test" the accuracy of the data being sent in and out of the modules, its only generally available in ram used in servers that handle lots of information or systems that need complete accuracy in their desired application.

Most desktop ram does not use ECC.


And finally yes if you bought 2 pairs of the DDR 333 512mb sticks, they would be compatible with your motherboard.

jepherz

"And finally yes if you bought 2 pairs of the DDR 333 512mb sticks, they would be compatible with your motherboard."

i was asking about getting 2 pairs of DDR400 ._.

thanks for all the info though. =p

jp306

Dude, if I were you I'd just get 1 512 mb stick of DDR400 that is compatible with your motherboard. If you start having compatibility problems (random reboots/BSODs)with it and your old ram, just get another stick of the same DDR400 at that point and toss the old stick of DDR333 then. I've used mismatched ram before without any problems at all, but it's a crap shoot. Try to get ram that uses the same voltage as the stick you have now and that should help reduce the chances of having a problem.

ChaosMinionX

That too haha.

jepherz

alright. thanks!

PangingJr

you can try to contact corsair directly and ask them to help you locate the best match type or a compatible type of the RAM module that you are having now, or otherwise, you will want to make sure that you can exchange or return the new RAM after buying it, if needed to...