Better to replace my Ram or expand on what I have?

[scooticus14]

I admit, I don't know all the ins and outs of ram.

What I have: Ultra brand
Dual Channel 1 gig DDR
PC4000 500MHz

I want to add another gig but this is the problem, my Motherboard is only supposed to handle 400MHz ram. I had the 500MHz before I built my pc...Would it be better for me to take out the 1 gig I have now and put in 2 gigs of 400MHz ram, or does it not make any difference between the 400MHz and 500MHz?

 

[Elbatrop1]

First off, I would read my guide to RAM.

After reading that you will know some of the basic stuff about RAM.

Because your mobo natively supports DDR400, your DDR500 will run at DDR400 speeds. DDR500 is only really useful if you are overclocking. And, it doesnt really sound like you are overclocking.

If you want to add another 1GB of DDR400, thats fine. It will work just fine.

But remember, RAM will underclock itself to the slowest component. This component could be another stick of RAM, your CPU FSB, or the motherboard.

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

Well tell us more about your PC, what kind of processor and motherboard?

If you have an old AMD core, and add 2 more sticks of ram, they will run at 333mhz speed and not 400

 

[scooticus14]

Sure, here is pretty much the complete system
Everything is set at factory settings, my room's too hot to OC

Intel P4 3.0HT 800FBS 478 Socket Northwood
DFI Lanparty 865PE
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO
Creative Audigy 2ZS
2 WD 74gigRaptors
2 WD 120 SATA drives
Evercool WC-202 water cooling system

Pretty much everything else is onboard
Oh yea, it runs XP Home Edition.