DDR2 backwards compatibility?

Jed Shields · 30 Apr 2007 at 09:40

Hi guys,

please excuse my ignorance but ...

I'm looking to add more RAM to my wifes PC. She's got an Athlon 2600 XP with 3 banks, 512, 512 and 256. I was after a 1 gig stick to replace the 256, but it looks like you can generally only buy matched pairs now. 2x 1Gb DDR2 seems to be going pretty cheap. Is DDR2 ram compatible with older motherboards? I'm assuming that she's got the older DDR in there at the moment... Also, do I need to use the ram in pairs, or could I buy the 2 pack and use one myself?

steve258 · 30 Apr 2007 at 10:04

No DDR2 cannot be used in DDR sockets, it won't even fit.

Yes her PC is most likely using DDR, but depending on the motherboard chipset it may or maynot support dual channel. If it supports dual channel memory then you will have the best performance with a matched pair of DDR. If DC is not supported a single stick will suffice.

*EDIT* judging by 3 DIMM sockets it's most likely a single channel memory motherboard.

Participant · 30 Apr 2007 at 14:44

Jed

Just defrag her hard disk and tell her you've sorted the memory. Save a few pennies and she'll be none the wiser

. If she does spot it stuf your "RAM" in her "slot" and that'll shut her up.

Jed Shields · 30 Apr 2007 at 14:56

Robbie G said:
Jed

Just defrag her hard disk and tell her you've sorted the memory. Save a few pennies and she'll be none the wiser . If she does spot it stuf your "RAM" in her "slot" and that'll shut her up.

Heh ... I'll see what I can do