You can't UNDERCLOCK RAM????

[rsbriggs]

Just got a call from a sales person that I bought a motherboard and some RAM from. He claims that the ram I bought (DDR400 ECC registered) is not going to work in the motherboard, because it only supports DDR266 ECC registered RAM.

Now correct me if I'm wrong here, but I don't ever recall having a problem running higher speed RAM on a slower box before. The DDR speed is essentially the maximum clock speed it will support - but that doesn't mean that you can't clock it slower than that, correct?

Strangely, the price for two sticks of the DDR 400 RAM came out to be about $45 - he wanted to sell me DDR266 RAM at $99 per stick. Did I just buy a bunch of RAM that isn't going to run in the board, or was the guy trying to get me to buy slower, and for some reason, much more expensive RAM ????

[Fozzie]

the guy is talking out his rectum.

I know it can be problematic going over but I bought some 3500 and that ran fine next to some 3200, still haven't overclocked my system to test out the 3500 on its own though. (which is what i bought the RAM for)

[LAURENU2]

I would say he was wrong All the ram I have used was downward capable. and slower ram even worked on faster PC's it just slowed the system a bit

[CaptainMooseInc]

I've always heard (and agree because of personal experiences in building) that you never MIX and MATCH or go up or down from what the board is capable.

I put a PC2700 stick beside a PC2100, both 256MBs and the computer was F'IN CRAZY until I got two PC2700s running in it. I have put a PC2700 stick in a mobo that could only take PC2100 and below and it wouldn't POST until I switched out to PC2100.

If anything DO NOT RETURN your DDR400 RAM because you can just use that on a later system. It's still good.

If you find that you need some DDR266 jump on eBay or eMicroX.com and get yourself some lots cheaper.

-Jeff

[meep]

That is usually not the case, however I would not be suprised if the ECC factor made things confusing. Without mb type and ram specifics its hard to know for sure.

However, where non ECC ddr ram is concerned, the fastest will run in the slowest board - i.e. pc3500 runs just fine at pc2100 speed. and considering in the UK that it is half the price of 2100 due to volume, it is a good thing!

This is of course my own experience, i would not be suprised if cheaper motherboards or pikey ram would limit the compatability.

[LAURENU2]

256MB PC2100 ECC Registered DDR 266MHz 184-Pin 32X72
Product ID: 2062
Price: $28.00
at http://www.starmicroinc.net/detail.aspx?ID=362

[rsbriggs]

Thanks all. I jumped on eBay and picked up about 1/2 dozen sticks of 256 MB at about $18 per stick (+ shipping). So, now I'll have plenty of both DDR266 and DDR400....