DDR2 533 on a 667 motherboard

[dmarook]

Hello

I am looking for a motherboard upgrade. Is there backward support for DDR 2 533 ram on a motherboard that has the 667 as the lowest speed for RAM? I'm not really keen to dish out extra for RAM if I can keep my perfectly working 2GB DDR2 533 speed rams. Not thinking of overclocking anything. Would it be possible?

TIA

DM

 

[o1die]

ddr2 667 is the same as pc5300.

 

[Concillian]

can you give more information about the specific mobo and processor you're trying to setup?

Typically you'd see what you are explaining in the event you upgrade to a processor with a 1333 FSB, which requires DDR2-667 as a minimum because intel chipsets don't support lower mem speeds than 1:1 (actual FSB frequency is 333 for 1333 FSB and for DDR2-667).

Is this your situation?

Because if you have an 800 FSB processor or 1066 FSB processor, you should be able to use 533.

 

[dmarook]

Thanks for the replies. I have a e4500 processor. I think thats a 800 FSB processor. My current specs are in my signature. The reason for my question is most of the new motherboards now says it supports ddr2 667 and upwards. For example, if I were to consider the ASUS P5KC as my next board, it's specs say it supports DDR2 667 and up. Looking at my current specs would I be able to replace my ASRock MoBo with the ASUS one with out changing anything else?

 

[o1die]

You may have to reinstall windows. Only advantage to higher memory is if you are overclocking. I don't notice that much difference in performance between pc5300 and pc6400.

 

[Concillian]

It appears that all of the motherboards I'm seeing that list DDR2-667 as minimum required are also DDR2 + DDR3 motherboards.

I suspect that there is some limitation with offering options for both DDR2 and DDR3 that prohbit the use of speeds under 667.

I know people had the same issue with the Asrock P43Twins1600 mobo that supports both types (search this forum for that board it's in the large thread about this specific mobo). I'd suggest a board that doesn't have both DDR2 and DDR3 slots.

 

[dmarook]

Originally posted by: Concillian
It appears that all of the motherboards I'm seeing that list DDR2-667 as minimum required are also DDR2 + DDR3 motherboards.

I suspect that there is some limitation with offering options for both DDR2 and DDR3 that prohbit the use of speeds under 667.

I know people had the same issue with the Asrock P43Twins1600 mobo that supports both types (search this forum for that board it's in the large thread about this specific mobo). I'd suggest a board that doesn't have both DDR2 and DDR3 slots.

Thanks, I had a look at the threads. Looks like I will have to go for ddr2 only boards. Don't want to risk getting cought out and needing to buy new rams. Looking for something cheap, with firewire support. Any recommendations?