Can PC66 SDRAM be mixed with PC133 SDRAM on an Intel 440LX chipset mo/bo?

[gctk]

The PCGuide's section on RAM and its various types was very helpful. Most of it was a good refresher, but some of it was new e.g. CAS settings for BIOS. However, I did not really see any mention of PC133 SDRAM.... would you personally mix the two different speeds?

Some ppl say, "No, don't. Eventually something will fry--the DIMMs or
M/B." Others say they would mix PC66 and PC100 but not PC133 because of
the speed differential. What do you think?

Also, what would cause a DIMM to fry (a burning smell was detected) once power was turned on (Rest of system seems to be fine)? Partially inserted (How is a short possible? Not with SIMMs in my experience)? ESD? (!) A sudden spike?

[iisbob]

Some ppl say, "No, don't. Eventually something will fry--the DIMMs or
M/B." Others say they would mix PC66 and PC100 but not PC133 because of
the speed differential. What do you think?

So speak the oh so knowledgable sales clerks at your local BestBuy, http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif The same ones who think that you can't surf the internet on anything less than a 1GHZ-60GB size system!

Go to crucial (http://www.crucial.com/) and peruse their FAQ's. I've got a 128mb PC133 on an EP-68lxr mobo ( intel i440 chipset ) running with a FSB of 78 mhz-i used it to replace the (2) PC66 32mb's sticks that were in there, running it with nary a problem.

It is posssible that some motherboards may not work well with the newer memory modules-but i haven't found one yet, generally if it's a memory problem it's the stick of memory , not the mobo that's the issue.

Kingston, Crucial, and Micron's memory are all backward compatible; just like Maxtor's and WD's hard drive specs on the ATA interface.

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[mjc]

You will not gain any performance bonus by using faster memory in a 66Mhz system, but it should run...

"First, you can use RAM that is faster than the motherboard specifies. For example, if the system needs 100MHz SDRAM, you can put in 133MHz SDRAM and it will work fine..."
Mike Meyers, A+ Certification, Third Edition



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mjc
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[Paleo Pete]

On paper, mixing the two speeds should work. In practice, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. Mix PC 100 and PC 133 in the same syatem, it's usually supposed to work, but it will run at 100 MHz, not 133...as long as both require the same voltages, and are the same type.

What would fry it? No telling. Could be a power surge or spike, faulty power supply, dust got into the connectors, or it got hot and internal components shorted. ESD would be possible, but probably only if it was handled immediately before it got toasted, usually it would be already damaged before power was turned on. Partially inserted-maybe but not likely I would think. Usually if it's only partially inserted the machine won't boot at all, you'll get a beep code and a blank screen. Then again a partially inserted chip could feasibly create an arc that could do the trick...I wouldn't expect it given the low voltages involved. I'm sure other things could cause it, that's about all I can think of at the moment.

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[rond36]

I have an 440LX chip set mo bo and i am having a problem with not being able to use PC100 SDRAM let aloan PC133what BIOS are you using mine is Award 4.51pg

[gctk]

Heh. I thought as much. Thanks for confirming my suspicions that PC100/133 SDRAM would merely slow down to the m/b's bus speed of 66MHz and of course, without any performance boost. Didn't make sense that running at a slower speed would cause overheating, although I was concerned that there might be a synchronization problem. As it is, my system is working fine on 320MB RAM: One stick of PC133 SDRAM (256MB) and 2 of PC66 SDRAM (32MB each). Apparently those people I bought the RAM from didn't know the difference between a 128 MB and a 256MB DIMM. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

So, what would you say to people like that? Try to explain things? Or just keep quiet?

Rond36: About your problem, I'm not sure. Mine's a Tekram m/b with the same BIOS (and revision) as yours. Check it out:
Program: Unicore BIOS Wizard Version 1.5
Program: Unicore Chip Detect v0.72 2000.03.10
BIOS Date: 04/21/98
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG
BIOS ID: 04/21/1998-i440LX-W877AF-2A69JTG9C-00
BIOS Eval: TRM-P6L40A4-V1.04
Chipset: Intel 440EX/LX rev 3
Superio: Winbond 877AF (use 87h) rev 0 found at port 3F0h

Perhaps you could try adjusting the CAS/RAM speeds in BIOS to slower speeds? Or maybe your m/b manufacturer made the m/b in such a way that it wouldn't accept anything faster than PC66? As the other guys have said, in theory it works, but not always in practice.

[Fr0zns0ul |G3no]

"So speak the oh so knowledgable sales clerks at your local BestBuy, The same ones who think that you can't surf the internet on anything less than a 1GHZ-60GB size system!"

WRONG!!! I work at best buy (For some extra cash) And Im cisco, red-hat, msce, A+ certified. That is complete and utter noob comment there bro. I dont care how old this thread is. It was noob.

Yes pc 100 and pc133 can be mixed, And NO no mix of ram will ever fry your board, cpu etc. It just will not boot if it dosent work. Duh. Some systems work with it, some wont. I have that mix in my 4x Xenon server, and it works fine. On the other hand, It will NOT work in my mac g4. All depends on the system, (board, cpu, chipset, etc. ) Other than not booting, nothing will happen. I experiment with diff ram setups all the time, and never once Have I fried something. Listen to the pros . Ive been workin on comps since 91, and-never never never have fried anything from mixing ram. O yes, ive turned plenty of computers into burning up mush, but thats form OC waaaaaaaay beyond their limits. But still go ahead, experiment. Do you think bill gates had rules building his OS. NO, well he did, and he broke them all. So point stays. :) :D :) :D :) :D

[saphalline]

First of all, try not to dig up old threads. If there was a problem 4-5 years ago, chances are it's been fixed by now.

WRONG!!! I work at best buy (For some extra cash) And Im cisco, red-hat, msce, A+ certified. That is complete and utter noob comment there bro. I dont care how old this thread is. It was noob.As to this statement, you can't speak for all of Best Buy. Yes, you may be quite knowledgable, but I go into a Best Buy at least once a month, and I always find one or more people working in the computer department that don't know jack $hit! I'm sure you have a few co-workers who are like this, and if you don't I want to know where you work! :D

Maybe the original comment isn't always right, but I've found it to be true most of the time.

[Fr0zns0ul |G3no]

So what. Not everyone is as smart as you. Dont be ignorant. I kno there are dumb people at best buy, circuit city etc. but o well. It happens. not everyone is as interested in comps as we are. Dont generalize. You went to a few best buys. There is a reason best buy is one of the biggest electronic stores in the US. Ive lived in 4 states, and been to 36 states also, and been to plenty of best buys around the country. SO you cant generalize. In every company, and I mean every company, there are sub standard workers. I kno reps at cisco, amd, intel, and nvidia, and there is some questional people there to. But like I said, not everyone has the capabilities others do, and to say like cisco is bad, just because some employees are clueless is completely wrong. Look at the bigger picture. If you find someone is not helping at best buy, ask a manager, or someone else. Just because a few are completely helpless, the managers normally have a good Idea of whats going on. hense why they are a manager. Now if the manager is dumb also go somewhere else. Trust me, i kno plenty about dumb enployees, but some of the managers I highly respect for their knowledge. All depends on the location really. Just dont let one bad or a few bad experiences ruin others opinions of it also. Other than that good response. I like people who challange others ideas. Keeps people on top of the game. :)

[Fr0zns0ul |G3no]

PS.www.sheaiden.com Is a good site. been there a few times. Good posting. :)

[saphalline]

Oh I wasn't saying Best Buy is bad or anything. I wouldn't go there so often if I thought that! I'm just saying some of them don't know a lot about specific issues or problems related to building your own or upgrading a proprietary system. Although I did see one guy who didn't know what a USB cable is... but that's another story...

[pave_spectre]

Fr0zns0ul |G3no However strongly you disagree there is still no reason to ressurect a dead thread, and certainly not with that tone.

Feel free to disagree with peoples opinions, but we have scant patience for personal attacks here.