PC100 vs PC133 RAM

Gemo · 08-15-2007, 07:15 AM

I have an older (Pentium 600MHZ running Win98) PC at the cottage which has 256MB / PC133 RAM.

I figure increasing the mem will help improve the performance somewhat.

I have 4 DIMMs 128MB PC100 that I'm thinking of using. I believe the PC100 chips will work however I imagine the mem speed will be restricted to 100 MB/s...

Therefore my question is - considering I will be lowing the mem clock speed BUT doubling the mem size will I see any performance benefit?

Otherwise, if in deed there is some material performance gain in doubling the RAM amount would I just be better to spend ~$50 and buy 256MB PC133 ?

Tumbleweed36 · 08-15-2007, 07:21 AM

Frankly, you aren't going to see much difference between PC100 and PC133. I would go the cheapest way until you are ready to upgrade if it were me. Your biggest gain will be from having MORE memory.

Gemo · 08-15-2007, 07:53 AM

Many thanks for the good advice Tumbleweed.

No dount the best way to validate this will be to install the four PC100 RAM and see how this old beast runs - which I'll do this weekend.

Is there any 'mem' (Win98) utilities that will measure mem/PC performance before (256MB PC133) and after 512MB PC100)???

~~Nik00117~~ · 08-15-2007, 12:59 PM

Gemo the performance gained form a extra 33 Mhz on such old ram like that is below minial.

In fact I just recently upgraded a PC which MOBO ran ram at 133 Mhz it was 266 Mhz ram, ram runs at 133 Mhz because the mobo underclocks it to be compatiable.

I really didn't care, truth be known just get more ram and be happy.

08-15-2007, 07:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gemo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 48 OS: Win98	PC100 vs PC133 RAM I have an older (Pentium 600MHZ running Win98) PC at the cottage which has 256MB / PC133 RAM. I figure increasing the mem will help improve the performance somewhat. I have 4 DIMMs 128MB PC100 that I'm thinking of using. I believe the PC100 chips will work however I imagine the mem speed will be restricted to 100 MB/s... Therefore my question is - considering I will be lowing the mem clock speed BUT doubling the mem size will I see any performance benefit? Otherwise, if in deed there is some material performance gain in doubling the RAM amount would I just be better to spend ~$50 and buy 256MB PC133 ?

08-15-2007, 07:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,662 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC100 vs PC133 RAM Frankly, you aren't going to see much difference between PC100 and PC133. I would go the cheapest way until you are ready to upgrade if it were me. Your biggest gain will be from having MORE memory. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

08-15-2007, 07:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gemo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 48 OS: Win98	Re: PC100 vs PC133 RAM Many thanks for the good advice Tumbleweed. No dount the best way to validate this will be to install the four PC100 RAM and see how this old beast runs - which I'll do this weekend. Is there any 'mem' (Win98) utilities that will measure mem/PC performance before (256MB PC133) and after 512MB PC100)???

08-15-2007, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~Nik00117~~ Troubled Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1,572 OS: XP Pro, Vista Ulimate My System	Re: PC100 vs PC133 RAM Gemo the performance gained form a extra 33 Mhz on such old ram like that is below minial. In fact I just recently upgraded a PC which MOBO ran ram at 133 Mhz it was 266 Mhz ram, ram runs at 133 Mhz because the mobo underclocks it to be compatiable. I really didn't care, truth be known just get more ram and be happy.