Bought New RAM, Rated Faster than my CPU FSB: Okay?

Hi everyone. I'm new to the board so I appreciate any help you might be able to give me.

I just found a good deal on some Kingston PC2700 DDR for my stock Dell 2400 (bought late last year). I believe that CPU FSB is 333Mhz. The memory I bought is actually a Dell part # so I snapped it up (on eBay), but then realized it's for the latest 2400 which is FSB rated at 533Mhz. I bought it so I'm stuck with it.

Can I use this stick with no problems? Do I need to change any settings? I'm not really concerned with overclocking my CPU, just stock compatibility with the FSB as is, but if anyone thinks the FSB on my Dell can be goosed up a notch toward the 533 rating, I'd appreciate some advice on how to do that.

Also, there's one stick of PC2700 333 in there now which I'd just as soon use. If the new stick is just going to step down and follow the FSB speed ( and overclocking isn't worth trying), can I use the 533 memory along with the 333 or should I do away with the 333 (it's only 128 Mb so it's not critical).

Once again, many thanks for your help!
Dave

 

Running ram at slower than rated speed should cause no problems. It simply runs at whatever clockspeed and setting the motherboard is set up for.

One thing I'd so is to change the motherboard's speed selection from "auto" or "by SPD", which reads the ram's capabilities from the ram itself, to "manual", while keeping all the current settings exactly where they are. Otherwise your motherboard *might* take the settings from the newer ram, which the old one may not like.

 

Hey thanks!

Really appreciate the advice!
Cheers!

 

Hi, I'm a bit of a newbie so can you tell me how to access the speed settings for the motherboard?

Thanks again!

 

You access those through BIOS, and you access BIOS during the initial boot phase when you first start the computer, or reboot it. If you get a text screen first, there's usually a note somewhere onscreen to "Hit Delete to access BIOS" or some such. If you get a company's splash screen instead of the standard text screen, you may have to check your computer manual or get it from the manufacturer, but usually you hit either Delete, Escape or F2... there may be others. If you simply tap those three repeatedly during boot up, you'll likely get into BIOS.

If you're not sure what you're doing, be cautious about changing the BIOS settings. Some changes can louse up performance, some may keep you from running at all if you pick the wrong settings.

 

I thought it involved getting into the BIOS screen (which appears to be easy on booting up XP---though you have to have nimble finges cause boot-up goes by fast), but I thought I'd check. I'll only make the specific change you stated.

Thanks much!
Dave