mixing RAM sticks...

[Red96TA]

Right now, I have 768mb of PC2700. I want to add another 512mb stick, but don't want to pay for an obsolete stick that I'll have to replace with a gig of faster stuff in a few months....

Is it ok to mix the two sticks of PC2700 with something like PC4400 so that I'm running two 27's and one 44? This way, when I DO upgrade, I only have two sticks to replace instead of all three...

[mujahid7ia]

yes its OK, the 4400 will just run at 2700 speeds.

EDIT: wait, just saw your mobo, nforce2 boards are a little bit pick about memory, both manufacturer and type... you should probably try the MSI forums, pretty helpful and active

forum.msi.com.tw
i have the same name there

[gitreel]

You need to make sure your motherboard supports pc4400.

[mrtristan]

There's no way of telling, unless you actually try. In theory, the faster RAM should be able to run at a slower speed, but mixing RAM is always a case by case scenario. Even if you do research and buy something that's supposed to be compatible, there is a chance that the two different speeds will not play nicely.

If you order from crucial, they have a guarantee that what they send you will be compatible. Just don't tell them that you're running two different speeds. If the first two that they send you don't work, they'll exchange them for two new ones.

[mrtristan]

There's no way of telling, unless you actually try. In theory, the faster RAM should be able to run at a slower speed, but mixing RAM is always a case by case scenario. Even if you do research and buy something that's supposed to be compatible, there is a chance that the two different speeds will not play nicely.

If you order from crucial, they have a guarantee that what they send you will be compatible. Just don't tell them that you're running two different speeds. If the first two that they send you don't work, they'll exchange them for two new ones.

[xxgriff]

a RAM module may be compatable with your Mobo and or Chipset, but it may not play well with you other RAM.

keep your eye on timings as well as freq. you will have to set the timings and frequency to match the slowest module. i.e. if your slowest RAM stick is a CAS 2.5 PC2700 then the fastest any module can operate is at that speed regardless of higher performance modules. with the NF2, the slots used also have bearing on performance as well- Single channel vs. dual etc...