Which speed of RAM should I use?

Motherboard: MSI KT4V
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2000+
Current RAM: Samsung PC3200/DDR400 DIMM- 256MB, 1 stick

I would like to increase my system RAM, but don't know the best way to do it. This motherboard can only handle a single stick of DDR400 RAM.

Is it worthwhile replacing existing stick with 512MB DDR400 ?
Or, would it be just as good to replace with DDR333 ?
For that matter, does it make a difference to replace with DDR266 ?

Can I mix DDR333 or DDR266 with my existing DDR400 stick ?
Despite the warnings I have read about mixing RAM speeds, this would be preferred because I could have more RAM this way.

I am confused because as far as I can tell, my FSB is 266MHz. So maybe there is no significant benefit from using DDR400 or DDR333 ???

Thanks in advance...

Just get another stick of what you allready have, that should work.

*plum*

if it can only handle a single stick of ram he cannot buy another one of wat he has


my suggestion is that if your motherboard can only handle one memmory stick like that just get a new motherboard

If you do not want to do that you should look at your motherboard manual and see what type of memmory it can handle

mixing 2 different speeds of ram isnt good becuase if you have a pc3200 and a pc 2700 the pc 2700 would slow the pc 3200 down to the same speed as a pc 2700

I would go with Skirge on this and buy a new Mobo.

You can get some pretty mean Mobos for very little money.

So he only has 1 ram slot??? That cannot be right... you can use any speed or ram in any motherboard, the ram just wont run at its full speed it will "downclock". Get a new mobo is thats the case and a new processor if you can afford it, DFI Lanparty UT NF3 250GB and Sempron 3100+'s provide decent speed and are great at overclocking and games, all at a price of only £150.

*plum*

OK guys, I didn't explain this clearly. My mobo has three ram slots, however, it can only handle one stick of ddr400 ram.

So I can have multiple sticks of ddr266 or ddr333, but just one of ddr400.

My manual doesn't explain clearly if I can mix other speed rams with my single ddr400, or can only have a single stick when using ddr400.

So, would ddr400 benefit me enough to use a single upgraded (512MB)stick of it, or is it just the same to go down to a lower speed ram because of my 266MHz fsb?

If your mobo can only handle one stick of 400 and you place another stick of 333 or lower, the 400 will slow its clock speed to match that of the 333 stick.

So unless you are going to buy a 1GB stick of 400, you are better off just buying two sticks of something else.