Motherboard supports faster RAM than listed?

Question

My motherboard specs say that it supports PC 2100, 2700 and 3200. I currently have a 1 gig stick of PC3200 in my PC. While looking for RAM for my friend I took the Crucial System Scanner. It said that I can support PC 4000 even though my motherboard only lists PC3200. Can it really do that or is Crucial simply telling me this, hoping that I buy it and my PC slows it down to the fastest speed it can handle?

The question is, does my Motherboard really support it or is Crucial simply telling me this so I buy it.

While were here. Can someone tell me what works better 2x512 or a 1GB stick.

Answer 1

I don't have experience with Crucial System Scanner so I don't know what it does. I assume it is checking what bridge chip version you are running and checking a table on what that supports.

The industry often down rates products. So, the motherboard may be designed to operate at faster rates, but the "version" sold to you is marketed at a slower speed. This could be due to lower priced product (artificially marketed), or not tested to the higher speed, or the design just couldn't get the faster speed to run. All of the above are also done with semiconductors (eg. CPU and memory). With semi's as long as you can keep them cool you can overdrive them (unless you got a batch that just cannot run fast).

The memory will not automatically slow itself down. This is a handshake operation that is performed between the board and the memory through the BIOS. If you can automaticaly set the speed during your startup, then you can try driving faster memory (if you are given a choice beyond PC3200). If the startup does not give you the choice, check if there is a firmware update for your board that supports faster speeds.

You can put faster memory in your machine than it needs. Example PC4000 even if you run PC3200. The reasons to do this are if the faster grade is cheaper. Yes cheaper. Sometimes the older grades get more expensive. Also, the chips will run cooler so they will be more reliable. So if you want to give it a try and the PC4000 isn't much more, get a stick and try. Remember though that your board will not be able to mix and match. You will have to replace all your memory with equivalently capable speed. If you are going to abandon your PC3200, you could just try overclocking it to start. Note: overclocking could also cause the memory to be damaged, this is primarily from overheating.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Sometimes a motherboard will support a higher speed RAM , FSB , Processor or other things, if the BIOS is updated to a newer version.
Make sure the specs relate to the version of BIOS that your are using. To smaller extent, there are even motherboard revisions for the plastic they are molded onto. Look for small numbers like 1.02, or 1.10 printed on the motherboard. There may be limitations to the revision of the board that the BIOS cannot overcome.

Answer 3

confident, maximum easily. on your specific laptop, the main RAM that it may help is 2gb, top now it maximum possibly has 256mb, that's somewhat low via on the instant's standards. It helps DDR 333 (laptop 2700) and DDR 4 hundred (laptop 3200). it won't have the skill to apply DDR2 or DDR3. the main effectual factor you're able to desire to do could be to purchase 2 1gb sticks of DDR 4 hundred RAM. that would desire to run you approximately $60-$80 USD. you will additionally want to be sure to purchase 2 comparable RAM modules, in case you do get better than one. frequently they arrive in what's stated as 'twin channel kits', which ability it is 2 of them in a equipment, that are precisely alike. And extra importantly; (Technical) They run on 2 channels, doubtlessly doubling the communique velocity. Oh, and as an factor word, for overall performance, you would be wanting a decrease "CAS" score, the customary is 3, yet you will locate 2.5 or 2.

Answer 4

Having two 512 meg slots should let you run slightly faster than one 1 gig slot because the two slots can work on different tasks at the same time. However, if you decide to upgrade again later, you'll have to get rid of one of those sticks of ram.

Answer 5

Memory will typically clock itself down, meaning that it's running at the fastest speed the motherboard supports, but not as fast as the memory itself is capable to run.

Answer 6

if your mother board dose not support that higher speed it will not boot up at all.. simple... and if you were to buy it and send it back you would not get a refund on volatile products (memory) only go for the manufactures recomened memory speed they know best

Answer 7

Hmm ... if the mobo says 3200 then that's what it normally is... If you get faster memory - it will match max mobo speed, and you'll just waste your money.