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View Full Version : New ram into old MOBO?


Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 09:19 AM
I need your help, nerds.

I am running a 3 or 4 year old PC with an ASUS P5K Rev 1.xx motherboard. I have just recently been gifted 1 DDR3-1600-PC3-12800 4GB ram chip.

I am wondering if these are going to be compatible if I try and jam this sucker in there?

I currently have 2x Corsair DDR2 (PC2-6400), with 2 open ram slots.

Also, while I have you in this thread, I've been thinking about upgrading the video card.

Currently, I have a GeForce 8800 GTS. I'm not looking to go top of the line, but rather have a budget of around 100 bucks (give or take). What should I get?

Thanks as always.

Rathji
08-03-2011, 09:25 AM
I need your help, nerds.

I am running a 3 or 4 year old PC with an ASUS P5K Rev 1.xx motherboard. I have just recently been gifted 1 DDR3-1600-PC3-12800 4GB ram chip.

I am wondering if these are going to be compatible if I try and jam this sucker in there?

I currently have 2x Corsair DDR2 (PC2-6400), with 2 open ram slots.

Also, while I have you in this thread, I've been thinking about upgrading the video card.

Currently, I have a GeForce 8800 GTS. I'm not looking to go top of the line, but rather have a budget of around 100 bucks (give or take). What should I get?

Thanks as always.

You could try all you want but there is no way it would fit.

Hanni
08-03-2011, 10:00 AM
Use a hammer, post results.

Hack&Lube
08-03-2011, 11:44 AM
1. Ram will not fit. Sell it and buy DDR2.

2. For $100? Get an AMD 5770. For $130 though, you could get an Nvidia GTX 460.

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 12:27 PM
1. Ram will not fit. Sell it and buy DDR2.

2. For $100? Get an AMD 5770. For $130 though, you could get an Nvidia GTX 460.
Care to explain to me just what that extra 30 is going to do for me?

Hack&Lube
08-03-2011, 01:34 PM
Care to explain to me just what that extra 30 is going to do for me?

20% faster as a rough approximation.

Vulcan
08-03-2011, 04:32 PM
The only Asus P5k board from that era that will accept DDR3 memory is the P5KC which has 6 slots. 4 for DDR2 and 2 for DDR3.

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 09:00 PM
New question!

Just ripped open an old tower, have 2x256 mb UNB PC3200 ram.

Possible to/worth putting in until I get some larger chips?

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 09:04 PM
The only Asus P5k board from that era that will accept DDR3 memory is the P5KC which has 6 slots. 4 for DDR2 and 2 for DDR3.
IS there an optimal type of ram for my mobo that I should be looking for?

Is that a stupid question?

ricosuave
08-03-2011, 09:13 PM
see my for sale thread

i bet your mobo has 4 memory slots, I can sell you 4x 512mb for 2gb total, pretty cheap

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 09:15 PM
see my for sale thread

i bet your mobo has 4 memory slots, I can sell you 4x 512mb for 2gb total, pretty cheap
I've already got 2gb in 2 chips.

ricosuave
08-03-2011, 09:22 PM
I've already got 2gb in 2 chips.


you said



Just ripped open an old tower, have 2x256 mb UNB PC3200 ram.

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 09:23 PM
you said

But I said this first,

I need your help, nerds.

I am running a 3 or 4 year old PC with an ASUS P5K Rev 1.xx motherboard. I have just recently been gifted 1 DDR3-1600-PC3-12800 4GB ram chip.

I am wondering if these are going to be compatible if I try and jam this sucker in there?

I currently have 2x Corsair DDR2 (PC2-6400), with 2 open ram slots.

Also, while I have you in this thread, I've been thinking about upgrading the video card.

Currently, I have a GeForce 8800 GTS. I'm not looking to go top of the line, but rather have a budget of around 100 bucks (give or take). What should I get?

Thanks as always.

ricosuave
08-03-2011, 09:44 PM
yes but I was only referring to 'the old tower'

Hack&Lube
08-03-2011, 10:04 PM
New question!

Just ripped open an old tower, have 2x256 mb UNB PC3200 ram.

Possible to/worth putting in until I get some larger chips?

No, that's DDR. You need DDR2.

How much ram do you currently have? What do you need more ram for?

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 10:43 PM
No, that's DDR. You need DDR2.

How much ram do you currently have? What do you need more ram for?
I have 2 gigs right now and would like another gig or so.

I plan on upgrading the GFX card in the future, but for right now, I feel like a bit more ram would really improve the operation of my computer.

I just recently got GTA IV, and reading through their forums, it seems like you get a greater benefit from ram in that game vs graphics card.

I was just looking on craigslist, I'll probably end up getting a couple chips in the next few days.

Hack&Lube
08-03-2011, 10:54 PM
I have 2 gigs right now and would like another gig or so.

I plan on upgrading the GFX card in the future, but for right now, I feel like a bit more ram would really improve the operation of my computer.

I just recently got GTA IV, and reading through their forums, it seems like you get a greater benefit from ram in that game vs graphics card.

I was just looking on craigslist, I'll probably end up getting a couple chips in the next few days.

The biggest factor in GTA IV is a quad core processor. What you need is a quad core CPU and a videocard with at least 1GB of VRAM. What is your graphics card right now?

I just ran GTA IV. It was using 1.9GB of RAM by itself.

Flash Walken
08-03-2011, 11:13 PM
The biggest factor in GTA IV is a quad core processor. What you need is a quad core CPU and a videocard with at least 1GB of VRAM. What is your graphics card right now?

I just ran GTA IV. It was using 1.9GB of RAM by itself.
Geforce 8800.

Not on that computer right now, don't remember the cpu.

Vulcan
08-04-2011, 12:45 AM
I currently have 2x Corsair DDR2 (PC2-6400), with 2 open ram slots.I'd look for another set of Corsair ram to fill the open ram slots. Preferable the same specs, except maybe a 4GB set. I've heard that the same type plays together better although I mixed some Corsair with some G Skill with no problems. If you have two different sets they will only run at the lower speed set unless you overclock.

One thing to consider with DDR2 now a lame duck, and last I looked it's more expensive than DDR3. At some point it's not worth buying new outdated parts for an older computer. Look for used if possible.

Oh yeah if you are running a 32 bit windows version it will only recognize up to 4 gigs of ram, usually only 3.??? so it may not be worth going over another 2 gig set.