RAM - speed or capacity?

Because of money, I don´t really want to buy much more than 512MB. So I could have 768MB of PC2100 or ~512MB of ~PC3200

how do they make RAM run a t different speeds? We learned that RAM is a bunch off capacitors that has a hig or a low chatge...where high is 1 and low is 0 and that is used to represent the data and it has to be refreshed...is faster RAM simply refreshed more times a second or how does it work? <img src=´http://img.photobucket.com/alb…17/sycho_warrior/eyes.jpg ´>

RAM isnt capacitors, its simply switches that are either on or off. (1 or 0)

according to what we leanred the cache is switches which are either on or off representing 1 or 0...this is why cache is faster becus it doesnt need refreshing...or sth like that...

Depends on how old your computer is. The ram on yours rus at a set speed. Putting a faster one in will not speed it up. I opt for the lower one. I found this out a few years ago with the old vesions PC66, pc100, and pc133 I think were the increments. A computer that was bought with Pc66 could run Pc100, but it nly ran at the Pc66 speed. Also a computer with pc133 could not run pc66 on it. It had to be at current levels or higher. <A href=´http://www.crucial.com/promo/index.asp?prog=desktop2´ Target=_Blank>Link</a> for more info

first we need to know what kind of ram you want. Static, dynamic, or hybrid ram <img src=´http://www.danasoft.com/sig/14298.jpg ´>

whats hybrid RAM? afaik dynamic is what we use and static is cache...cept if we were taught wrong <img src=smilies/icon_smile_sad.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>

well im getting a Giga-byte <A href=´http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/motherboardsandaccessories/productView.htm?quicklinx=37WT´ Target=_Blank>GA-7NF-RZ</a> and ive decided to go for 512MB of PC3200

I usually stick with the same speed of RAM, I usually end up running into compatability issues so I avoid those whenever possible. RAM is so cheap nowadays that I tripled the RAM in my parents´ computer with about $15, and it had a decent amount of RAM in it, enough to run Windows 2000 well. Christmas, is that a BF1942 mod or something? <A href=´http://s4.invisionfree.com/Delayed_Gamers/´ Target=_Blank>Delayed Gamers:</a> The short bus of gaming.

Capacity by a long way will improve system performance. RAM speed when it all washes out, gives only a minor speed advantage.

It all depends on what MB you have. If you MB uses PC 2100, then its FSB is like 266Mhz. PC 3200 works at 400Mhz. It is a big difference, but only if your Motherboard can support it. Then you run into problems with your CPU running slower/faster on the FSB. If your CPU now runs at 266 FSB, your memory runs at 266mhz, then I would go for more capacity, since you would be wasting money on more expensive ram that your computer cant handle. Give us a description, including the type of MB you have and the CPU that you have. <img src=´http://www.danasoft.com/sig/thisisfakedotcom.jpg ´> [/img --------------------------------------- <A href=´http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&amp;id=0&amp;t=71´ Target=_Blank><img src=´http://www.spreadfirefox.com/c…s/Buttons/88x31/safer.gif ´></a>

<font size=1 face="trebuchet ms"><BLOCKQUOTE><hr size=1 noshade>first we need to know what kind of ram you want. Static, dynamic, or hybrid ram <hr size=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face=´trebuchet ms, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica´ size=2>Stop confusing the little fella <img src=smilies/icon_smile_big.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>. On the most basic level, more RAM will allow for less &quot;j*rkiness&quot; in games, while faster RAM will usually increase performance, but only by a small amount. It is also important to ask what you will be using the computer for, and whether or not you will be running anything memory-intensive. For gaming (generally speaking), the lower the resolution and less sophisticated your graphics card is, the less RAM you will need for games. Edited by - esquilax on 11/28/2004 5:08:38 PM