RAM Compatibility Question

[Jeremizzle]

I've been planning on upgrading my system memory for a while, but im not sure what i should be looking at. Can someone please explain what needs to be compatible between your mobo and ram? Im planning on buying Mushkin 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC to add to my dual channel 512 on my ASUS "P4P800 SE" i865PE Chipset Motherboard

Thanks for your help

[xmetal2001]

Good Choice in ram, but unless you buy two sticks you won't be able to run dual channel.

[Jeremizzle]

no, to add to my dual channel 512. I already have 2 256 pc3200's in there and i want to upgrade to 1024mb. Do you know what needs to be compatible between the mobo and ram though?

[Python14]

Front bus speed

[devildog]

if you are gonna run dual channel, you should buy 2 sticks of 512 in a package, as a matched pair. otherwise your not gonna get the dual channel effect. you might get lucky and get an exact match, but its very very unlikely.

as far as mb compatability, check on the manufacturers website, they usually have a memory compat. list. basically, check what speed the memory runs at, pc2700, pc3200, pc4000, and make sure your mb supports the speed.

[Jeremizzle]

But does stuff like socket 178 or 184 pin or Non ECC or unbuffered or any of that stuff have anything to do with it? Also, if 800mhz fsb is the fastest you can get, then how is there above pc3200 RAM? because pc3200 is the fastest an 800mhz fsb supports (i think).

Also, right now, i have duel channel 512mb pc3200 RAM in my comp, does this mean my upgrade has to be another dual channel setup? or can i just purchase a single 512 (so i have a slot to upgrade in later)

Also-- can someone please explain to me how to check the frequency of my RAM?

One more thing (haha) What is the difference between the chipsets on a mobo? For instance Intel 865PE and Intel 875P does this make any difference on what you can use on the motherboard?

Thanks for your help i know im such a noob PC builder

[magman#1]

it shouldn't matter the faster one will just downclock to the speed of the slower ram. so basically if your motherboard can't handle ram that fast it should just downclock it to be able to run.

[Jeremizzle]

Ive never seen a mobo that can run anything faster than DDR400/support over 800mhz fsb

[devildog]

if you got the money, you can get mb that support just about anything. if you want to upgrade to one stick of 512, thats fine, you dont have to run dual channel, but if you want the bennefits of the dual channel, you have to have to matched sticks.

to check your ram frequency, you can try 2 things.

1. when your comp first boots, at the post screen right in the begining, about 1/4 of the page down, it says the amount of ram in the system, and it will tell you what speed its running at.

2. you can pull the ram out of the system, its usually written somewhere on a sticker on the ram itself. if not, write down the number on one of the ic chips on the ram and look it up on the internet.

as far a differences between chipsets on the mb, i dont know your specific model off the top of my head, but something like the the abit nf7 and the nf7-s could be something as simple as onboard video, or onboard sound added, everything else the same. something more extreme, like the difference between the nforce3 chipset and the k8t800 chipset, could be amount of buses, ram configuration, socket type, and different hardware controllers. and then there is the obvious difference between intel and amd chipsets.

i think that answers most of your questions, if not, just say so ill try to clarify

[xmetal2001]

The over pc3200 speeds are for when you overclock your processor and the ram has to run at higher than stock speeds to keep up.

[Jeremizzle]

But wouldnt that mean you have to overclock your FSB? Because the speed of ram you buy is dependant on your FSB

[devildog]

what motherboard do you have and what ram do you plan on buying, ill tell you if its compatible.

[xmetal2001]

But wouldnt that mean you have to overclock your FSB? Because the speed of ram you buy is dependant on your FSB

Yes, to overclock you would be increasing the FSB of your processor.

[Jeremizzle]

Ahhh, i didnt know you could overclock your front side bus speed. Alright thankyou for helping a computer noob

[xmetal2001]

No problem...

I see your from ATL, where you play?
(Don't mean to hijack thread, you can pm me if you would prefer)