PC100 SDRAM added to PC133 SDRAM

[LSUfan]

A friend has a Dell PIII 900 running windows ME. He plays with photoshop pretty much and it leads to big slow downs. It has 128 mb of PC133 SDRAM. I have a couple 128 mb sticks of PC100 SDRAM and he has a couple of open slots. Will this work in his system? And will it help performance?

 

[KGB1]

Its well worth to buy PC133 SDRAM. Placing PC100 memory into a system with PC133 ram already will make the PC133 funtion at PC100 speed. Losing any performance gain

If the system's FSB (front side bus) is 100 MHZ, then PC100 memory is fine, but if the P3 is 133 FSB the system will work, but slower. Better to have 133 with other pC133 memory.

 

[MetroFly]

stick it in there. anything is better than 128 mb of ram.

 

[LSUfan]

He really wasnt planning on upgrading but since I could give it to him free I was just wondering if adding the Ram would be worth slowing down the FSB . The FSB is 133 BTW. So Basically He could have FSB 133 with 128 mb ram or FSB 100 with 384 mb ram.

 

[paralazarguer]

Yes,when you're dealing with such a small ammount, quantity over quality. BUT if the bios is set to run the memory at 133 regardless of SPD, you'll be overclocking it to 133 with (likely) dubious results. Make sure it's set to SPD.

 

[LSUfan]

I don't have the pc with me but IIRC there is no way to change the speed in the bios. Dell = not many options.

 

[paralazarguer]

Then it'll be SPD. Put the extra ram in there. He needs it. Windows ME won't use it properly though. See if you can get him winXP

 

[LSUfan]

Thanks for the help