Can I mix memory cards like this?

Thlorian · 03-16-2008, 09:47 AM

Hello

I am doing a rebuild/upgrade from a Pentium 3.4 to a duo-core. On the memory side, I purchased 2gb of DDR2 PC2-5300 for my install. When I ran a Crucial Memory test on what I have installed on my system right now (prior to my rebuild), it told me that I have 2gb of DDR PC2-5200. My question thus is can I have all four sticks in my system, i.e., two slots with the new DDR2 cards and two slots with the DDR cards?

Thanks for your help!

**jarod** · 03-16-2008, 10:11 AM

You will need to check if your MOB supports both DDR and DDR2 but it is unlikely that it does. Cuz DDR memory is starting to phase out and no one really produces MOB that supports DDR anymore.

Besides even if you are running an XP, it can only support up to 3gb of memory.

HawMan · 03-16-2008, 10:39 AM

No it wont work.

if you Mobo has DDR and DDR2 slots then you can only use 1 kind at a time.

Thlorian · 03-16-2008, 01:00 PM

Ok, so to play it safe should I buy one more gb of DDR2 ram and install the three sticks of just DDR2 memory, or is it better to buy two sticks of 512 DDR2 and have all four slots filled with 3gb of memory? I will be running XP...

Thanks again for your thoughts and help...

**jarod** · 03-17-2008, 05:35 PM

Best is just to have 2 slots filled up with 1gb mem each. Actually you dun need so much RAM in XP. 2gb should be sufficient. Try it out with 2GB first and if you find your computer insufficient in RAM, then only you wanna add

**oldmn** · 03-17-2008, 05:43 PM

What MOB are you using?
If it supports DDR and DDR2 there will be two different type memory slots, One of my boards has 4 slots for DDR and 2 slots for DDR2 and I can not use both at the same time.

Thlorian · 03-17-2008, 08:44 PM

MOB is a Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2C
CPU is Intel Duo Core E2160
CASE is Cooler Master CM690

**jarod** · 03-18-2008, 04:39 PM

Memory
Supported RAM Technology DDR II SDRAM
RAM Installed ( Max ) 0 MB / 4 GB (max)
Supported RAM Speed PC2-3200, PC2-4300, PC2-5300
RAM Features Two DDR channels

http://www.softchoice.com/catalog/pr...R=W12712_US_EN

Looks like your MOB only supports DDR2

03-16-2008, 09:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Thlorian Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25 OS: Win XP	Can I mix memory cards like this? Hello I am doing a rebuild/upgrade from a Pentium 3.4 to a duo-core. On the memory side, I purchased 2gb of DDR2 PC2-5300 for my install. When I ran a Crucial Memory test on what I have installed on my system right now (prior to my rebuild), it told me that I have 2gb of DDR PC2-5200. My question thus is can I have all four sticks in my system, i.e., two slots with the new DDR2 cards and two slots with the DDR cards? Thanks for your help!

03-16-2008, 10:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
jarod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Malaysia, Klang Posts: 518 OS: Win XP service pack 2 My System	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? You will need to check if your MOB supports both DDR and DDR2 but it is unlikely that it does. Cuz DDR memory is starting to phase out and no one really produces MOB that supports DDR anymore. Besides even if you are running an XP, it can only support up to 3gb of memory.

03-16-2008, 10:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,939 OS: Win XP My System	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? No it wont work. if you Mobo has DDR and DDR2 slots then you can only use 1 kind at a time. __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

03-16-2008, 01:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thlorian Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25 OS: Win XP	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? Ok, so to play it safe should I buy one more gb of DDR2 ram and install the three sticks of just DDR2 memory, or is it better to buy two sticks of 512 DDR2 and have all four slots filled with 3gb of memory? I will be running XP... Thanks again for your thoughts and help...

03-17-2008, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
jarod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Malaysia, Klang Posts: 518 OS: Win XP service pack 2 My System	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? Best is just to have 2 slots filled up with 1gb mem each. Actually you dun need so much RAM in XP. 2gb should be sufficient. Try it out with 2GB first and if you find your computer insufficient in RAM, then only you wanna add

03-17-2008, 05:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? What MOB are you using? If it supports DDR and DDR2 there will be two different type memory slots, One of my boards has 4 slots for DDR and 2 slots for DDR2 and I can not use both at the same time. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]

03-17-2008, 08:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Thlorian Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25 OS: Win XP	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? MOB is a Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2C CPU is Intel Duo Core E2160 CASE is Cooler Master CM690

03-18-2008, 04:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
jarod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Malaysia, Klang Posts: 518 OS: Win XP service pack 2 My System	Re: Can I mix memory cards like this? Memory Supported RAM Technology DDR II SDRAM RAM Installed ( Max ) 0 MB / 4 GB (max) Supported RAM Speed PC2-3200, PC2-4300, PC2-5300 RAM Features Two DDR channels http://www.softchoice.com/catalog/pr...R=W12712_US_EN Looks like your MOB only supports DDR2