Changing RAM - Upgrade or Downgrade ?

[davidgsmith]

Hi Everyone!

I'm refurbishing a Dell computer.

It came with 256mb DDR RAM @ 400mhz

The only extra RAM I had available was a 512mb DDR @333mhz stick and a 256mb DDR @266 stick. Which I installed and of course, I now have 1GB DDR RAM @266 mhz. (Which is recognized by the computer)

Was this a good trade off???
256mb @ 400mhz for 1GB @ 266mhz

If anyone suggests just using the 512mb @ 333mhz, I don't think I can as I would need a dummy stick and I don't have one.

Thanks as always....
davidgsmith

P.S. purchasing additional 400mhz ram is out of the question.

[photolady]

Which Dell? Since this isn't Rambus memory you wouldn't need a dummy stick. Only Rambus memory needed a dummy stick. if you're talking about dual channel ram, then the only thing with using just the 512 would be, you'd not get the benefit of using the dual channel.

It probably won't hurt anything to run this as it is, the only thing that happens is the memory will run at the lowest speed. In other words, at 266Mhz.

[davidgsmith]

"the only thing that happens is the memory will run at the lowest speed. In other words, at 266Mhz."

I now have 1GB DDR RAM @266 mhz.

My question still is ....
Is this a good tradeoff?
By that I mean does the increase in mb's of RAM outweigh the loss of RAM speed? or not?

Thanks as usual,
davidgsmith

[photolady]

The increase in RAM will be benificial. So, yes, even though the speed of the ram will be slower, the increase is good.

[Midknyte]

More slow ram is better than less fast ram in your case.

[davidgsmith]

More slow ram is better than less fast ram in your case.

..No pun intended ! LOL ROFL...

Thank you gang....
davidgsmith

PS I guess you can mark this thread "Resolved"

[Steve R Jones]

You too can mark this thread resolved. Please click on the THREAD TOOLS link and then the Mark This Thread Resolved link.

[SuperSparks]

Although this test was done on much faster RAM, it oes give some idea of the difference between single channel and dual channel:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...G,1705-11.html