Will adding RAM with same specifications but different memory sizes slow down my PC?

Question

I have an Athlon K7T266 Pro-RU motherboard. It can take 4 DDR memory cards with total capacity of 2GB of RAM. I already have two DDR 256MB cards in it. Some people say if I add another card with different memory size, i.e. 512MB or 1GB it could slow my computer. Is this a hard fact or an urban legend that cards with different RAM size don't work well together?

Answer 1

NOPE! It should improve your PC's performance instead.
Apparent slowdown happens to PCs that are already running a matched pair of RAM on a dual channel capable motherboard. Adding another stick of RAM disables dual channel memory mode, thus dropping memory bandwidth to half. I believe VIA KT266 chipset only supports single channel memory.

Answer 2

Check your motherboard manual if your 4 DDR slots are in logical pairs. It is some better to have pairs of same capacity memory modules because your motherboard is capable of memory interleaving.

Another thing - probably 1GB modules were not available at the time when your board was developed, so 2x512 would be a safe bet. Also most DDR modules have no problem working @ slower speed, so you can buy PC3200 ones ( 400MHz ) and use them @ 266MHz and then reuse them with faster CPU/Motherboard. Besides now days slower memory might be actually more expensive than more popular 400MHz one.

Answer 3

this is a legend as most everyone had a 256 and upgraded by adding a 512 in order to load windows xp. and the two different sizes work well together. more memory always = always speeds thing up.

Answer 4

Hey there,

It shouldn't slow down your computer at all. I've done it many times on different computers and I never noticed it being any slower.

Hope this helps!

Dre

Answer 5

Go here and see what they recommend as an upgrade. I would yank those old sticks out and fill it up with the fastest ram it would take if it takes faster than whats in it.
http://www.crucial.com click on "scan my system"