Mixing ram

[Korma2]

Hi there,

Iv got a dell inspiron 6000 laptop, it currently has 1 stick of 512mb DDR2 400mhz dell (samsung) ram in it.

Im gonna add a stick of 1Gb Kingston ddr2 533mhz pc4200 ram to the free ram slot.

My question is will mixing these 2 ram together cause any problems?

Im also right in assuming that this will not allow for dual-channel function?

Would it be better to run the 1gig stick of ram on its own since it wuold run at 533Mhz, whereas the combo would only run at 400Mhz.

BTW my laptop spec is:

Intel Centrino 1.73Ghz (740),

512mb DDR2 400mhz ram,

80gig 5400rpm hdd,

128mb ATI x300 graphics,

bleh..rest should matter i dont think??

Oh yeah and Windows XP home.

Thanks

 

[Dav0s]

yup should be fine for everyday use, im not an expert on ddr2 but more is usually better when its a different that large and you arent overclocking.

 

[Korma2]

Hi Dav0s, thanks for the reply, Im sorry but i dont get what you mean by its good when you said "more is usually better when its a different that large", do you mean its better to use the 1gig stick on its own, or use the 2 mixed ram together even tho the clock speed will be reduced?

 

[Dav0s]

sorry..

i meant "difference that large"

ie. when you have 1.5gb that is slower speed compared to 1gb that is faster speed, the 1.5gb will be better because the largr amount will overcome the speed loss, if you udnerstand me

 

[Phnom_Penh]

sorry..

i meant "difference that large"

ie. when you have 1.5gb that is slower speed compared to 1gb that is faster speed, the 1.5gb will be better because the largr amount will overcome the speed loss, if you udnerstand me

Yes thats right, although presuming the laptop supports dual channel, getting two sticks of 512mb ddr2 533, or 1gb ddr2 533 would be better.

 

[Korma2]

Hmm ok then ill just use the 1.5gb and if i want ill just get another 1gig stick later and sell off the 512mb stick

Thanks guys

 

[Korma2]

Just an update for others in the same-ish situation, I tried mixing the ram, and it worked!,

but I got another 1gig matched stick and now have 2gig and selling off the 512mb stick. .

 

[FarFarAway]

Laptops tend to be pretty good about taking different RAM IMO

I think 1gb is a must nowadays

 

[PV5150]

I think 1gb is a must nowadays

Agreed, M$ recommends 256mb of RAM to run Win XP, but to get it running better...512 mb imho as a minimum but 1 - 2 Gb is better. Especially if your running all the XP eye candy (I turn it all off myself) or into PS or other RAM taxing apps.

 

[Moku]

Hi there,

Iv got a dell inspiron 6000 laptop, it currently has 1 stick of 512mb DDR2 400mhz dell (samsung) ram in it.

Im gonna add a stick of 1Gb Kingston ddr2 533mhz pc4200 ram to the free ram slot.

My question is will mixing these 2 ram together cause any problems?

Im also right in assuming that this will not allow for dual-channel function?

Would it be better to run the 1gig stick of ram on its own since it wuold run at 533Mhz, whereas the combo would only run at 400Mhz.

BTW my laptop spec is:

Intel Centrino 1.73Ghz (740),

512mb DDR2 400mhz ram,

80gig 5400rpm hdd,

128mb ATI x300 graphics,

bleh..rest should matter i dont think??

Oh yeah and Windows XP home.

Thanks

Have done the same thing you are proposing on my Inspiron 8600 laptop and it works perfectly.