Can running under-spec damage RAM?

UberLord · Sep 17, 2002, 09:25 AM

After playing the UT2003 demo, looking at my benchmarks and looking at others, I've decided that it's time to replace my aging AMD 1.4 t/bird with something like an Intel 2.53 P4.

However, I've also discovered that one of my memory sticks (PC2100) has died on me, so I need to buy more of this stuff anyway.

I'm also looking at getting the ABit- BD7-II

However, both the chip and the board run @ FSB 133Mhz
Which is good - my current memory does as well.

What I want to know, is this. Can running PC2700 memory at PC2100 speeds damage the memory? I ask as I understand the P4 northwoods love clocking the FSB. But in case it don't like it can I still underclock the RAM so to speak?

Answers on a bottle of vodka to the usual address

merry · Sep 17, 2002, 11:02 AM

I've been using 133 sdram at 66 MHz for years (Celeron@500)

JavaFox · Sep 18, 2002, 12:53 AM

Nah. There's nothing wrong with underclocking.

Matth · Sep 18, 2002, 05:42 PM

Running PC133 at PC100 in mine

Wouldn't be quite so confident about DDR timings holding good though.

Gat a vague recollection that there is ONE oddity in the PC66 / PC100 / PC133 set...
PC133 seems happy at 100 - and also 66 - maybe PC100 doesn't run well at 66, since it dates from when PC100 was an expensive luxury.

PS. Just found and chucked some old magazines
£499 for 16 Mb of RAM
£300 for a CD-ROM drive, and similar prices for a modem

In hardware, we've never had it so good - but we need it, because in software, we've never had it so BAD.

Instead of great hardware driving software to incredible performance, we seem locked to a cycle of software that barely runs on anything more than a year or 2 old.

Sep 17, 2002, 09:25 AM	#1
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 0	Can running under-spec damage RAM? After playing the UT2003 demo, looking at my benchmarks and looking at others, I've decided that it's time to replace my aging AMD 1.4 t/bird with something like an Intel 2.53 P4. However, I've also discovered that one of my memory sticks (PC2100) has died on me, so I need to buy more of this stuff anyway. I'm also looking at getting the ABit- BD7-II However, both the chip and the board run @ FSB 133Mhz Which is good - my current memory does as well. What I want to know, is this. Can running PC2700 memory at PC2100 speeds damage the memory? I ask as I understand the P4 northwoods love clocking the FSB. But in case it don't like it can I still underclock the RAM so to speak? Answers on a bottle of vodka to the usual address __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

Sep 17, 2002, 11:02 AM	#2
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	No I've been using 133 sdram at 66 MHz for years (Celeron@500) __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 18, 2002, 05:42 PM	#4
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Running PC133 at PC100 in mine Wouldn't be quite so confident about DDR timings holding good though. Gat a vague recollection that there is ONE oddity in the PC66 / PC100 / PC133 set... PC133 seems happy at 100 - and also 66 - maybe PC100 doesn't run well at 66, since it dates from when PC100 was an expensive luxury. PS. Just found and chucked some old magazines £499 for 16 Mb of RAM £300 for a CD-ROM drive, and similar prices for a modem In hardware, we've never had it so good - but we need it, because in software, we've never had it so BAD. Instead of great hardware driving software to incredible performance, we seem locked to a cycle of software that barely runs on anything more than a year or 2 old. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Sep 18, 2002, 12:53 AM	#3
JavaFox E Pluribus Unum Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,203 Rep Power: 0	Nah. There's nothing wrong with underclocking.