Price vs. compatibility

klharper · 08-06-2007, 08:59 PM

So, I will try to keep this short.

My computer specs are as follows:
Gigabyte 8i945GMF
Pentium D 805 Smithfield (2.66ghz)
2x512 Crucial PC2 4200
160GB Seagate 7200.7

I was going to purchase a 2x1GB Crucial PC2 4200 dual-channel kit through newegg and upgrade to 3GB total, until I saw that Fry's had a sale for a 1 GB PC2 5300 for $20 after rebate.

Basically, I'm wondering if I buy 2 1GB PC2 5300 modules, it should perform the same as if I were to buy the PC2 4200 kit, correct? I know the PC2 5300 will be brought down to 533mhz rather than 667 (not an issue, as the FSB on my CPU is 533mhz), but my main concern are the timings - PC2 4200 is 4-4-4-12, 5300 being 5-5-5-15. Does this throw anything off, or can I expect it to run just fine?

Thanks very much.

~~Jaymie1989~~ · 08-07-2007, 06:15 AM

Hi,

What you need to do is get your motherboard specs

You can download everest here for free and do a full hardware scan and it will tell us what we need to know.

Everest Download HERE

**speedster123** · 08-07-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Basically, I'm wondering if I buy 2 1GB PC2 5300 modules, it should perform the same as if I were to buy the PC2 4200 kit

The 5300's have to be a dual channel matched pair, or your system will not operate on dual channel.

klharper · 08-07-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaymie1989

Hi,

What you need to do is get your motherboard specs

You can download everest here for free and do a full hardware scan and it will tell us what we need to know.

Everest Download HERE

Link does not work
But from the GIGABYTE website:
1. 4 DDR II DIMM memory slots (supports up to 4GB memory)
2. Supports 1.8V DDR II DIMM
3. Supports dual channel DDR II 667/533/400 DIMM

SiSoft doesn't tell much more interesting.
I was under the impression that to run dual-channel, all I needed was a motherboard that supports it (which it does, has 4 slots, 2 of each color coded, so right now currently my 512s are in banks A0 and A2). But you are saying I must purchase a said "kit" in order to run dual-channel? There is an actual difference in the sticks they sell in kits?

**speedster123** · 08-11-2007, 05:55 AM

very rarely do random ram modules operate in dual channel mode. the ram has to be sold in matched and tested pairs, or kits.

08-06-2007, 08:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
klharper Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Price vs. compatibility So, I will try to keep this short. My computer specs are as follows: Gigabyte 8i945GMF Pentium D 805 Smithfield (2.66ghz) 2x512 Crucial PC2 4200 160GB Seagate 7200.7 I was going to purchase a 2x1GB Crucial PC2 4200 dual-channel kit through newegg and upgrade to 3GB total, until I saw that Fry's had a sale for a 1 GB PC2 5300 for $20 after rebate. Basically, I'm wondering if I buy 2 1GB PC2 5300 modules, it should perform the same as if I were to buy the PC2 4200 kit, correct? I know the PC2 5300 will be brought down to 533mhz rather than 667 (not an issue, as the FSB on my CPU is 533mhz), but my main concern are the timings - PC2 4200 is 4-4-4-12, 5300 being 5-5-5-15. Does this throw anything off, or can I expect it to run just fine? Thanks very much.

08-07-2007, 06:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~Jaymie1989~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tech Support Forum, Online - Otherwise Brighton, United Kingdom Posts: 2,186 OS: Dual Booting - Windows XP Home Edition SP2 & Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Price vs. compatibility Hi, What you need to do is get your motherboard specs You can download everest here for free and do a full hardware scan and it will tell us what we need to know. Everest Download HERE

08-11-2007, 05:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: Price vs. compatibility very rarely do random ram modules operate in dual channel mode. the ram has to be sold in matched and tested pairs, or kits. __________________