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  • #2100223

    Mixing RAM memory

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    by dragon_45 ·

    I have recently purchased more memory for our units, Prices being cheap:) My question is
    should I use my older memory with my new stuff? I have 256 mb of pc133 ECC in some units. I now have 256 mb of pc100 ECC in other units. Can I use some of the older 64 mb, 32mb of pc100 in my pc133 units? Should I use it in our pc 100 units? Should let it collect dust? Please give a detailed reasoning and sources of your answers. What our the risk & benfits?

    Thanks very much.
    Richard Bolha
    HiddenValley Lake, Inc.

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    • #3613389

      Mixing RAM memory

      by jereg ·

      In reply to Mixing RAM memory

      If this was my task, I would not mix memory. Memory can only run as fast as your SLOWEST chip. If you mix faster chips with slower ones, you’re wasting money. A better way might be to remove the 100 chips from some of the PC’s and replace them completly with the 133’s. Then take the 100 chips and add them to another box that already has 100’s. That way, every box has more memory, and each box has matching memory, speedwise. the size of the ram should make no difference, but you may want to pairup the 32mb’s, the 64mb’s, etc. You’ll have less chance of problems in the long run.
      Hope that helps.

    • #3613388

      Mixing RAM memory

      by admin-stuart ·

      In reply to Mixing RAM memory

      I assume the new memory purchased is the PC133? Did the systems you installed the new PC133 into originally support PC100? If so, you may be able to mix the PC100 with it.

      From experience, I’ve not seen PC100 memory work with a motherboard designed for PC133. However, it sometimes works the other way around, though (PC133 usable on PC100 mobo).

      If you have multiple PC100 systems, how about consolidating memory in one PC100 system to meet your application requirements?

    • #3613387

      Mixing RAM memory

      by pete1968_be ·

      In reply to Mixing RAM memory

      Hi,
      First of all, as you say, price is being cheap, but on the other side it would be a shame to let some memory to go collect dust.
      If I understand correct you have some PC’s with PC133ECC memory and others with PC100ECC, and finally you have PC100ECC memory collecting dust. I’d put them in the PC100ECC machines, but not in the PC133ECC ones. If you want to do so, you got to lower the PC133ECC PC to 100Mhz FSB so the PC100ECC can keep up, and that would be a waste for the PC133ECC memory.
      Risks, if you put the PC100ECC in the PC133ECC pc without lowering the frequence, you get a non booting or very unstable machine. Benefits, well more memory is always just that little bit faster.(anyway better then dustcollecting :-)))

      Greetz,

      Pete

    • #3613376

      Mixing RAM memory

      by Anonymous ·

      In reply to Mixing RAM memory

      The excerpt below was found at the following URL-http://www.tyan.com/support/html/memory.html

      Can I mix brands, types, and speeds of memory?
      All Tyan motherboards are produced with performance in mind. When we talk about performance, it goes hand in hand with tolerances which must be met in order to reach the performance levels expected of high quality peripherals. When you mix memory types, brands or speeds on any high performance board, timing problems may significantly affect the stability, reliability and performance of the entire system. This is why we recommend using a single type of brand, speed, and type. Adding different banks of memory of different sizes is fine. It is recommended that all Tyan products be equipped with a minimum speed rating of 60ns on all memory.

      Even though this is about Tyan motherboards the remarks about mixing RAM and performance hold true in all cases. You may have no problems what so ever with reliability but you will have a relative performance bottleneck at the slower/older chips.

    • #3612919

      Mixing RAM memory

      by dragon_45 ·

      In reply to Mixing RAM memory

      This question was closed by the author

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