DDR upgrade question

c_nyein · 05-31-2009, 05:20 PM

Hi,

I have P4 destop with below specs running XP.

Motherboard Gigabyie - GA-8IG1000MK
4 DDR memory slots on board
Existing 512mb two sticks @ 333 speed - not matching pair, one single sided and one double sided but it works fine

Recently I bought 1gb stick @400 speed but when I tried to install this new one, PC refuses to boot up. I tired taking out the old sticks and put just new stick, it works fine.

Compatibility issue ? Any advice on combinations to try ? Should I try changing positions of slots on mother board ?

**Tyree** · 06-01-2009, 08:39 AM

The 1GB alone would be your best solution but you will run in Single Channel.
When mixing RAM speeds, the RAM will revert to the lowest speed.
You could try the 1GB and one of the 512's together but your 1.5 GB will operate at 333.
Adding another 1GB of 3200 (making it 2GB of 3200) would be a good thing.

c_nyein · 06-01-2009, 12:48 PM

I am using two systems on same machine with xp and win 7rc which I am just testing and hence, I needed more ram.

You are right that mixing speed lead to lower speed at 333.
I tried switching sticks to slot1=1gb, slot2=512mb and slot4=512mb. It seems to work until now and my pc boots up ok.

Thanks for your help anyway.

05-31-2009, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
c_nyein Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows 7 RC	DDR upgrade question Hi, I have P4 destop with below specs running XP. Motherboard Gigabyie - GA-8IG1000MK 4 DDR memory slots on board Existing 512mb two sticks @ 333 speed - not matching pair, one single sided and one double sided but it works fine Recently I bought 1gb stick @400 speed but when I tried to install this new one, PC refuses to boot up. I tired taking out the old sticks and put just new stick, it works fine. Compatibility issue ? Any advice on combinations to try ? Should I try changing positions of slots on mother board ?

06-01-2009, 08:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,640 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: DDR upgrade question The 1GB alone would be your best solution but you will run in Single Channel. When mixing RAM speeds, the RAM will revert to the lowest speed. You could try the 1GB and one of the 512's together but your 1.5 GB will operate at 333. Adding another 1GB of 3200 (making it 2GB of 3200) would be a good thing. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently. Last edited by Tyree; 06-01-2009 at 08:40 AM.

06-01-2009, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
c_nyein Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows 7 RC	Re: DDR upgrade question I am using two systems on same machine with xp and win 7rc which I am just testing and hence, I needed more ram. You are right that mixing speed lead to lower speed at 333. I tried switching sticks to slot1=1gb, slot2=512mb and slot4=512mb. It seems to work until now and my pc boots up ok. Thanks for your help anyway.