768mb of pc2700 ram or 512mb of pc3200 ram?

Question

I just upgraded my pc and plan to put my 512mb pc3200 stick into my aunt's computer. She only has a 256mb pc2700 stick.

I know that if I put both sticks in, the 3200 will run down at 2700 speeds. Would I be better off using both, or just the 3200?

Answer 1

Just use the 512mb. Here's why, if you mix different sized RAM chips, the computer runs slower. This is because it can't just shoot the same sized chunks of data to the RAM. It has to alternate (it's like trying to run with one big bucket and one small bucket full of water. You're lopsided so you're slower). It's better to just put in the PC3200 512mb of ram. If you get ANOTHER 512mb of pc3200 ram, that would be fine. As a general rule of thumb, pairs of the same RAM are better than mixed pairs. 2 256mb pc2700 chips would still run faster than 768mb of 1x256mb and 1x512mb of ram.

Answer 2

You aunt's computer may run marginally slower but the extra RAM will make it more stable and what you loose in out right speed you will pick from the added resources. If the computer is setup for PC2700 that is what it is going to run at regardless of how fast your RAM is.
If you are going for max speed throw out the 256mb PC2700 and go with 1-1gb PC3200 or 2-512PC3200. I do not think you would see enough difference to worry about it.

Answer 3

768 of PC2700 is fine for the job

Answer 4

No, it should work. RAM is RAM as long as it is the same type. You mixing DDR PC2700/PC3200 RAM from different makes will not have any ill side effects.