Should I Mix the Memory Speeds in order to get more RAM?

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Ok tech boys here goes this one:

I have this computer with 512MB (2x256MB) PC2700 333Mhz. RAM, and I just bought a 1GB DDR PC3200 400Mhz.

Now, my question is this: I have installed the 1GB module and it works great!, but seeing these 2 empty slots in the mainboard (3 slots, now 1 busy 2 availiable) makes me feel sad because I will have to sell the two memories I took out on Ebay for pennies...
I know that if I install the three modules, 1 1/2 GB the faster module is going to decrease it's speed from 400Mhz to 333Mhz to match the slower memory, but... it's the speed gain worth enough for me to leave the 1GB module alone and sell the other two?, or is it not a great deal in performance gain, so I can use all my modules and have all the memory installed?
What do you think?... less memory and more performance (if any ) or..
More memory and less performance (if any )

Please let me know your opinions.

Thanks in advance.

[bazooka]

You can mix speeds but it will only go as fast as the slowest stick.

[rallynavvie]

Unless the board supports dual channel you won't be missing anything. I also don't think you'll be missing anything without that extra half gig. Are you running anything memory-intensive?

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Bazooka wrote:
You can mix speeds but it will only go as fast as the slowest stick.

I know that dude!, please read my whole post, my question is that if that decrease in the faster module from 400 to 333Mhz. will be considerable enough to let it be alone and don't mix it with the other two. If in the other hand the decrease is not even noticeable, I would use all the three of them.

Rallynavvie wrote:
Are you running anything memory-intensive?

Adobe Photoshop 7 and Corel Draw 10, these two are resource leeches!.

[glockjs]

as i learned recently it's far better to have memory running 1:1....match your bus speed to your memory...you're not gaining right now, it's actually might be running slower due to the gap and your computer having to compensate for that. do a siso sandra mem test if you dont believe me, i did

i would lower the speed to match the fsb and if you're going to add the extra sticks make sure all the timings are the same and all shall be good

[rallynavvie]

If you're using PS and Draw at the same time maybe, but all my DCC workstations at work are surviving with 1GB of RAM, RDRAM albeit. Those are running Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Quark all at once on most days.

I've also heard rumors that memory like to be had in even amounts: 8MB, 16MB, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB. I've never run anything but these amounts so I don't know if it's bull or not.

[Cobra]

You should be OK populating all three DIMM slots. It will run at DDR333 or 266 depending on which XP2400 you have. You won't gain any speed increases by running memory that is rated faster, because you aren't using the overhead.

[alsyed]

i think the question has to be enhanced. he wan'ts to know whether he will get greater performance by having the extra ram at the cost of slighly lower speed, or is it just better for him to leave it as is.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Yes, that's it!, thanks for putting it into a much better way.

I want to know what choice would led to a better performance. I'm trying with both doing some tests, I'll see the results later on.