Techie PC Hardware Question

[pilferk]

Just got a new PC for my stepdad. It's got 1GB of DDR2 PC5400 Ram (667mhz) in it (2x512).  It's an AMD dual core X2.

He currently has 1GB (2x512) DDR PC3200 Ram in his "old" machine.

The new machine has 2 free banks open.

Can he run the extra 1GB of PC3200 in his new machine?  Is it going to downclock ALL the ram to the PC3200 speed? With DDR, I thought each pair of banks could run off it's own FSB route, so could be clocked differently, but I'm not sure.

In addition, what's the opinion of those out there:  IF it does downclock all the ram, which do YOU think is better....faster 1 GB, or slower 2 GB?

[Prometheus]

typicaly DDR is backward compatiable to any lower speed DDR that maybe in the system. However it may well be a trial and error approach when installing to see how stable the system remains with the different ram installed (ie. changing slots assignments for the DIMMs etc). One thing to keep note of is that if you are running registered DDR DIMMs it typically wont run with unregistered DDR DIMMs. It may with some boards but i wouldnt be able to tell ya which ones

[Genesis]

Just got a new PC for my stepdad. It's got 1GB of DDR2 PC5400 Ram (667mhz) in it (2x512).  It's an AMD dual core X2.

He currently has 1GB (2x512) DDR PC3200 Ram in his "old" machine.

The new machine has 2 free banks open.

Can he run the extra 1GB of PC3200 in his new machine?  Is it going to downclock ALL the ram to the PC3200 speed? With DDR, I thought each pair of banks could run off it's own FSB route, so could be clocked differently, but I'm not sure.

In addition, what's the opinion of those out there:  IF it does downclock all the ram, which do YOU think is better....faster 1 GB, or slower 2 GB?

Yeah you're right. As long as his M/B has dual channel support (two adjacent bank slots should be same colour, e.g: two black and two blue slots), only the RAM in the same channel will be slowed down. So keep the faster RAM in two adjacent same coloured slots and slowers ones in the other and you should have no problem.

Just don't mix a fast and a slow RAM in the same coloured slot.

[Gunner80]

Just got a new PC for my stepdad. It's got 1GB of DDR2 PC5400 Ram (667mhz) in it (2x512).? It's an AMD dual core X2.

He currently has 1GB (2x512) DDR PC3200 Ram in his "old" machine.

The new machine has 2 free banks open.

Can he run the extra 1GB of PC3200 in his new machine?? Is it going to downclock ALL the ram to the PC3200 speed? With DDR, I thought each pair of banks could run off it's own FSB route, so could be clocked differently, but I'm not sure.

In addition, what's the opinion of those out there:? IF it does downclock all the ram, which do YOU think is better....faster 1 GB, or slower 2 GB?

That's most likely a DDR2 only AM2 motherboard.? DDR will not work in it. Just buy some online DDR2 is getting pretty cheap now that DDR3 is coming to market.

[tim_m]

Like someone else already said if they are both DDR or DDR2 yes it will work. If the older isn't the same speed or dual channel it will run slower but still work.