266Mhz and 333Mhz

~~andrew.lvp~~ · 03-21-2007, 03:08 AM

I currently have 2x256mb RAM (both 333mhz) on my laptop, but recently my friend gave me an extra 256mb RAM (266mhz). I am trying to trade someone 2x256 for 1x512, how much does the "mhz" effect? Is there any big difference in 66 more mhz?

**MaverickUK** · 03-21-2007, 03:28 AM

Hi,

The difference in 67MHZ is small for todays standards, although it probably is a some-what noticeable difference. The "mhz" has a huge effect on the overall performance of the modules and obviously the higher the mhz the greater the speed (therefore the efficiency too). You are better off selling the module your friend gave you and buying the same module as you already have in your system

The main reason for this is that all your modules will run at the slowest speed of the module installed in your system (if you add your friends module, all modules will run at 266MHZ as opposed to 333MHZ).

~~andrew.lvp~~ · 03-21-2007, 05:23 AM

The problem is that my laptop only has 2 slots. I think I maybe able to trade someone their 512MB ram (333mhz) I think, with 2 of my 256MBram (333mhz). Then I will have the 512MB+256(266mhz) running, do you think that is good?

**MaverickUK** · 03-21-2007, 05:34 AM

I'd suggest getting two 512MB that run at 333MHZ, this way you've definately got (almost) the best you can out the modules and your system. Although, this is coming from someone from the 'Port (Ellesmere), we can never be trusted :p

~~andrew.lvp~~ · 03-21-2007, 05:49 AM

I would get 2x1GB ram if I could...the problem is I don't want to use any money.
So what I'm asking is this:
256MB(333Mhz)x2, or 512MB(333Mhz)+256MB(266Mhz)?
Would the change be just a little?
I currently have the 256x2.

**MaverickUK** · 03-21-2007, 06:08 AM

I'd personally use 256MB x2, especially if it runs dual channel.

**TheMatt** · 03-21-2007, 01:48 PM

Hi Andrew,

Is this for your Mobile Intel Pentium 4? The P4-m only takes DDR 266 MHz, so any DDR 333 MHz RAM will be running only at 266 MHz. You should keep the 266 MHz RAM.

~~andrew.lvp~~ · 03-21-2007, 05:39 PM

Are you sure about that?
My laptop came with a 333Mhz 256MB ram when I purchased it. Is there some article I can read about this?
Thanks.

**TheMatt** · 03-21-2007, 06:08 PM

This is written by me, but it is an article:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...ur-laptop.html

Because the FSB is 533 MHz, two DDR 266 MHz modules running in dual channel (which is supported on your laptop) will make a 1:1 FSB:DRAM ratio. The laptop would have a minimal performance gain my using faster SO-DIMMs. In your laptop, the DDR 333 MHz RAM is running at DDR 266 MHz speeds.

DDR 333 MHz is the same price or cheaper than DDR 266 MHz, and it is more common since it is used in all socket 754 AMD latops. You will notice that on the chart most of the AMD laptop RAM is DDR 333 MHz.

~~andrew.lvp~~ · 03-22-2007, 01:15 AM

I see, what is FSB:DRAM. I got a program and it said for my laptop it was 4:5

**TheMatt** · 03-22-2007, 07:31 PM

It is the ratio of FSB bandwidth to RAM bus bandwidth.

Bandwidth of a data bus in Megabytes per second (MB/s) is calculated by Speed in Megahertz (MHz) x Bus Width in Bytes (B). 8 Bits is always equal to 1 Byte.

If you have a dual channel pair of DDR 266 MHz RAM, then you have a 266 MHz clock speed and a 128 bit data bus...

266 MHz x 16 B = 4256 MB/s

If you have the standard 64-bit FSB running at 533 MHz...

533 MHz x 8 B = 4256 MB/s

The bandwidths there are the same. Because of RAM latencies, the bandwidth will not be close to exact, but the FSB is also not just for accessing the RAM, so it mostly evens out. The importance of that ratio is that the FSB is largely sending data between the RAM and CPU. If one is slower than the other, the speed of the slower bus will bottleneck the faster buses.

03-21-2007, 03:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
~~andrew.lvp~~ Troubled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 124 OS: Vista Home Premium + XP Professional My System	266Mhz and 333Mhz I currently have 2x256mb RAM (both 333mhz) on my laptop, but recently my friend gave me an extra 256mb RAM (266mhz). I am trying to trade someone 2x256 for 1x512, how much does the "mhz" effect? Is there any big difference in 66 more mhz?

03-21-2007, 03:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
MaverickUK TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 710 OS: XP Home My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz Hi, The difference in 67MHZ is small for todays standards, although it probably is a some-what noticeable difference. The "mhz" has a huge effect on the overall performance of the modules and obviously the higher the mhz the greater the speed (therefore the efficiency too). You are better off selling the module your friend gave you and buying the same module as you already have in your system The main reason for this is that all your modules will run at the slowest speed of the module installed in your system (if you add your friends module, all modules will run at 266MHZ as opposed to 333MHZ). __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate Last edited by MaverickUK : 03-21-2007 at 03:32 AM.

03-21-2007, 05:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~andrew.lvp~~ Troubled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 124 OS: Vista Home Premium + XP Professional My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz The problem is that my laptop only has 2 slots. I think I maybe able to trade someone their 512MB ram (333mhz) I think, with 2 of my 256MBram (333mhz). Then I will have the 512MB+256(266mhz) running, do you think that is good?

03-21-2007, 05:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
MaverickUK TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 710 OS: XP Home My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz I'd suggest getting two 512MB that run at 333MHZ, this way you've definately got (almost) the best you can out the modules and your system. Although, this is coming from someone from the 'Port (Ellesmere), we can never be trusted :p __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

03-21-2007, 05:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
~~andrew.lvp~~ Troubled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 124 OS: Vista Home Premium + XP Professional My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz I would get 2x1GB ram if I could...the problem is I don't want to use any money. So what I'm asking is this: 256MB(333Mhz)x2, or 512MB(333Mhz)+256MB(266Mhz)? Would the change be just a little? I currently have the 256x2.

03-21-2007, 06:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
MaverickUK TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 710 OS: XP Home My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz I'd personally use 256MB x2, especially if it runs dual channel. __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

03-21-2007, 01:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
TheMatt Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,693 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz Hi Andrew, Is this for your Mobile Intel Pentium 4? The P4-m only takes DDR 266 MHz, so any DDR 333 MHz RAM will be running only at 266 MHz. You should keep the 266 MHz RAM. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

03-21-2007, 05:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
~~andrew.lvp~~ Troubled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 124 OS: Vista Home Premium + XP Professional My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz Are you sure about that? My laptop came with a 333Mhz 256MB ram when I purchased it. Is there some article I can read about this? Thanks.

03-21-2007, 06:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheMatt Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,693 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz This is written by me, but it is an article: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...ur-laptop.html Because the FSB is 533 MHz, two DDR 266 MHz modules running in dual channel (which is supported on your laptop) will make a 1:1 FSB:DRAM ratio. The laptop would have a minimal performance gain my using faster SO-DIMMs. In your laptop, the DDR 333 MHz RAM is running at DDR 266 MHz speeds. DDR 333 MHz is the same price or cheaper than DDR 266 MHz, and it is more common since it is used in all socket 754 AMD latops. You will notice that on the chart most of the AMD laptop RAM is DDR 333 MHz. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

03-22-2007, 01:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
~~andrew.lvp~~ Troubled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 124 OS: Vista Home Premium + XP Professional My System	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz I see, what is FSB:DRAM. I got a program and it said for my laptop it was 4:5

03-22-2007, 07:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
TheMatt Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,693 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: 266Mhz and 333Mhz It is the ratio of FSB bandwidth to RAM bus bandwidth. Bandwidth of a data bus in Megabytes per second (MB/s) is calculated by Speed in Megahertz (MHz) x Bus Width in Bytes (B). 8 Bits is always equal to 1 Byte. If you have a dual channel pair of DDR 266 MHz RAM, then you have a 266 MHz clock speed and a 128 bit data bus... 266 MHz x 16 B = 4256 MB/s If you have the standard 64-bit FSB running at 533 MHz... 533 MHz x 8 B = 4256 MB/s The bandwidths there are the same. Because of RAM latencies, the bandwidth will not be close to exact, but the FSB is also not just for accessing the RAM, so it mostly evens out. The importance of that ratio is that the FSB is largely sending data between the RAM and CPU. If one is slower than the other, the speed of the slower bus will bottleneck the faster buses. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides