ROT: computer memory

Sorry for the post but can I use PC3200(400MHz) memory in a PC2100(266MHz) system
will it just run slower or not at all
TIA

--
Andy

SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
It's big, it's mean it's really, really green

In article <3retkbFj89spU1@individual.net>, Andy.Smalley
<Andy.Smalley@Bigfoot.Com> writes
>Sorry for the post but can I use PC3200(400MHz) memory in a
>PC2100(266MHz) system
>will it just run slower or not at all

Almost always yes: The 'speed' relates to how fast it can run, not what
it needs to be running at (it's the same for processors). Colloquially,
say some address held "11110000" and I write a new value of "10101010".
The memory speed is a measure of how soon afterwards I can rely on
reading the new value properly.

Pin-for-pin compatibility is a different matter however - physical
incompatibilities may prevent it working.

Regards,

Simonm.

--
simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
SIMON MUIR, BRISTOL UK www.ukip.org
EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq
GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/

"SpamTrapSeeSig" <no-one@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:AIrFTyKCglUDFwHt@tigger.muircom.demon.co.uk...
> In article <3retkbFj89spU1@individual.net>, Andy.Smalley <Andy.Smalley@Bigfoot.Com> writes
>>Sorry for the post but can I use PC3200(400MHz) memory in a PC2100(266MHz) system
>>will it just run slower or not at all
>
> Almost always yes: The 'speed' relates to how fast it can run, not what it needs to be running at (it's the
> same for processors). Colloquially, say some address held "11110000" and I write a new value of "10101010".
> The memory speed is a measure of how soon afterwards I can rely on reading the new value properly.
>
> Pin-for-pin compatibility is a different matter however - physical incompatibilities may prevent it working.
>
> Regards,
>
> Simonm.


Thanks for that Simon
err another question if you don't mind
can I fit a 512MB(PC3200) and a 256 Mb(PC2100)
together or should they be the same
Thanks
--
Andy

SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce"
It's big, it's mean it's really, really green

In article <3rf3toFj1049U1@individual.net>, Andy.Smalley
<Andy.Smalley@Bigfoot.Com> writes
>
>"SpamTrapSeeSig" <no-one@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:AIrFTyKCglUDFwHt@tigger.muircom.demon.co.uk...
>> In article <3retkbFj89spU1@individual.net>, Andy.Smalley
>><Andy.Smalley@Bigfoot.Com> writes
>err another question if you don't mind
>can I fit a 512MB(PC3200) and a 256 Mb(PC2100)
>together or should they be the same
>Thanks

That's not so clear-cut. There are issues of capacitance and memory-bus
loading, which might come into play (I don't know the differences in the
spec of PC3200 and PC2100. So long as the motherboard is supposed to be
able to accept either, you shouldn't do any harm if you try it.

It'll either just work fine or give the blue screen of death when you
least appreciate it!


Regards,

Simonm.

--
simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
SIMON MUIR, BRISTOL UK www.ukip.org
EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq
GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/

"SpamTrapSeeSig" <no-one@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
newsIbFTqLC1lUDFwmF@tigger.muircom.demon.co.uk...
> In article <3rf3toFj1049U1@individual.net>, Andy.Smalley
> <Andy.Smalley@Bigfoot.Com> writes
> >
> >"SpamTrapSeeSig" <no-one@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> >news:AIrFTyKCglUDFwHt@tigger.muircom.demon.co.uk...
> >> In article <3retkbFj89spU1@individual.net>, Andy.Smalley
> >><Andy.Smalley@Bigfoot.Com> writes
> >err another question if you don't mind
> >can I fit a 512MB(PC3200) and a 256 Mb(PC2100)
> >together or should they be the same
> >Thanks
>
> That's not so clear-cut. There are issues of capacitance and memory-bus
> loading, which might come into play (I don't know the differences in the
> spec of PC3200 and PC2100. So long as the motherboard is supposed to be
> able to accept either, you shouldn't do any harm if you try it.
>
> It'll either just work fine or give the blue screen of death when you
> least appreciate it!
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Simonm.
>
> --
> simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
> SIMON MUIR, BRISTOL UK www.ukip.org
> EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq
> GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/

hopefully you are using XP or W2K if you go over 512Mb in 98 or ME it
actually can cause problems http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q253912/
Derek