Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200?

-Oscar- · 01-19-2008, 05:30 PM

Hello.

I am trying to install my RAM correctly - if possible.

I want to combine two 1GB PC2700 sticks, with two 512MB PC3200 sticks. I wonder if this is at all possible?

I have an MSI K8T Neo2 motherboard, which has 4 DIMM slots where each slot supports a max of 1 GB.

I have tried every possible variation in how the sticks are placed into the DIMM slots. I'm still not sure if anything should be changed in my BIOS. Screenshot is from my BIOS DRAM settings.

http://admin.deletionquality.net/images/DRAM.jpg

Any reply is appericiated!

**belfasteddie** · 01-20-2008, 02:12 AM

I have the same in my Desktop. No probs.
I run mine on 1T timing.

-Oscar- · 01-20-2008, 02:39 AM

Is that so? Then there's probably a way.

The problem occurs whenever I get to the WinXP splash logo screen - Everything will freeze.

I tried enableing 1T timing but still get the freeze.

**speedster123** · 01-21-2008, 05:07 PM

1t is too tight..loosen it up
the pc2700 will default all your ram down, along with the system.

-Oscar- · 01-22-2008, 02:49 AM

I understand the pc2700 will slow the system down.
So what do you suggest? Keeping the 1T disabled will also freeze win xp.

I'm starting to beleive that my motherboard may not support 3GB RAM only. If that's possible. It only says how to place your sticks to get either 1, 2 or 4 GB in the manual.

**speedster123** · 01-22-2008, 04:50 AM

all the sticks single sided? latest bios?
we need your complete specs including the power supply.

-Oscar- · 01-22-2008, 08:30 AM

All sticks are double sided.
I beleive I do not have the latest BIOS.
I'm afraid to update it since I've never done that before.

PC specs:

Mainboard:
MSI K8T Neo2 Fir (click)

CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 3000+

RAM:
Currently only using the two:
1GB pc2700 sticks. Crucial DDR-DIMM Unbuffered, 2.5V
The two sticks I want to use at the same time are:
Corsair VS 512MB pc3200. DDR-DIMM, Unbuffered, 2.5V

PSU:
NorthQ 4001A
3.3V: 26A
5V: 35A
12V: 15A
Max effect: 400 Watt
PFC: passive.

More in depth info in this CPUZ html dump:
http://admin.deletionquality.net/pc/cpuz.htm

MadNed · 01-23-2008, 01:57 PM

Best to my knowledge, any added RAM will run up to the speed of the slowest of the bunch, so your Corsair will slow down to 2700. Also, there might be compactibility issue between two memory manufactures. I would rather opt for Corsair only, dump slower sticks, tighten timings, and with time add more of the Corsair 3200 RAM. Also worth notting: info I read not long ago said that it is not the same if you have 4x512MB or 2x1GB because of precharging times and so on, so latency time values would not be the same if you're using same capacity in 2 or 4 sticks. Note No 2: 32 bit systems support up to 4GB RAM. Adding more is pointless because of addressing issues (but you allready know that). 2x2x2x2xand-so-on-32-times=around 4GB.

2pistolpacker · 01-23-2008, 06:39 PM

I have a couple of systems that are running the pc2700 Crucial memory at pc3200 speeds. Crucial is very good quality memory and can take the overclock. Check in the bios to see if you can change the memory speed from by spd to 100%. It's worth a try. Mike

01-19-2008, 05:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
-Oscar- Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP SP2	Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? Hello. I am trying to install my RAM correctly - if possible. I want to combine two 1GB PC2700 sticks, with two 512MB PC3200 sticks. I wonder if this is at all possible? I have an MSI K8T Neo2 motherboard, which has 4 DIMM slots where each slot supports a max of 1 GB. I have tried every possible variation in how the sticks are placed into the DIMM slots. I'm still not sure if anything should be changed in my BIOS. Screenshot is from my BIOS DRAM settings. http://admin.deletionquality.net/images/DRAM.jpg Any reply is appericiated! Last edited by -Oscar- : 01-19-2008 at 05:40 PM. Reason: Added BIOS screen.

01-20-2008, 02:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
belfasteddie TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 643 OS: Suse 10.2 64 bit	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? I have the same in my Desktop. No probs. I run mine on 1T timing.

01-20-2008, 02:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
-Oscar- Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP SP2	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? Is that so? Then there's probably a way. The problem occurs whenever I get to the WinXP splash logo screen - Everything will freeze. I tried enableing 1T timing but still get the freeze. Last edited by -Oscar- : 01-20-2008 at 02:43 AM.

01-21-2008, 05:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York Posts: 3,904 OS: xp pro My System	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? 1t is too tight..loosen it up the pc2700 will default all your ram down, along with the system. __________________ Infection Detection and Removal Thermal Grease Instructions Bench Test

01-22-2008, 02:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
-Oscar- Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP SP2	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? I understand the pc2700 will slow the system down. So what do you suggest? Keeping the 1T disabled will also freeze win xp. I'm starting to beleive that my motherboard may not support 3GB RAM only. If that's possible. It only says how to place your sticks to get either 1, 2 or 4 GB in the manual.

01-22-2008, 04:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York Posts: 3,904 OS: xp pro My System	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? all the sticks single sided? latest bios? we need your complete specs including the power supply. __________________ Infection Detection and Removal Thermal Grease Instructions Bench Test

01-22-2008, 08:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
-Oscar- Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP SP2	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? All sticks are double sided. I beleive I do not have the latest BIOS. I'm afraid to update it since I've never done that before. PC specs: Mainboard: MSI K8T Neo2 Fir (click) CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ RAM: Currently only using the two: 1GB pc2700 sticks. Crucial DDR-DIMM Unbuffered, 2.5V The two sticks I want to use at the same time are: Corsair VS 512MB pc3200. DDR-DIMM, Unbuffered, 2.5V PSU: NorthQ 4001A 3.3V: 26A 5V: 35A 12V: 15A Max effect: 400 Watt PFC: passive. More in depth info in this CPUZ html dump: http://admin.deletionquality.net/pc/cpuz.htm Last edited by -Oscar- : 01-22-2008 at 08:32 AM.

01-23-2008, 01:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
MadNed Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Croatia Posts: 1 OS: WinXP SP2	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? Best to my knowledge, any added RAM will run up to the speed of the slowest of the bunch, so your Corsair will slow down to 2700. Also, there might be compactibility issue between two memory manufactures. I would rather opt for Corsair only, dump slower sticks, tighten timings, and with time add more of the Corsair 3200 RAM. Also worth notting: info I read not long ago said that it is not the same if you have 4x512MB or 2x1GB because of precharging times and so on, so latency time values would not be the same if you're using same capacity in 2 or 4 sticks. Note No 2: 32 bit systems support up to 4GB RAM. Adding more is pointless because of addressing issues (but you allready know that). 2x2x2x2xand-so-on-32-times=around 4GB. __________________ Behind every good computer... is a jumble of wires ‘n’ stuff! Last edited by MadNed : 01-23-2008 at 02:22 PM.

01-23-2008, 06:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
2pistolpacker TECH HARDWARE TEAM Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lenexa, Ks Posts: 1,038 OS: Win XP Pro My System	Re: Possible to combine pc2700 with pc3200? I have a couple of systems that are running the pc2700 Crucial memory at pc3200 speeds. Crucial is very good quality memory and can take the overclock. Check in the bios to see if you can change the memory speed from by spd to 100%. It's worth a try. Mike __________________ Speak kindly to me, beloved master. Revel in my unconditional love, and give me every minute that you can spare, for my time with you is short. --Your faithful dog Last edited by 2pistolpacker : 01-23-2008 at 06:41 PM.