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    533 vs. 667

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by MYK, May 22, 2006.

  1. MYK

    MYK Newbie NBR Reviewer

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    My current rams are 1 gig (2*512) ddr2 667. I have from my older laptop 2 gig(2*1) ddr2 533. Both are compatible with my laptop. I was told that I was better off staying on the 667 mhz 1 gb and because the 2 gig are 533 they won't be as good. Anyone know something about this?
     
    MYK, May 22, 2006
    #1
  2. USAFdude02

    USAFdude02 NBR Reviewer & Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Well...here is the thing. With 667Mhz you have higher Cas Latency. You get about a 5-10% increase in performance with the 667. The thing is, in regards to the extra amount of RAM is...do you really need 2GB?

    I would recommend for video editing and gaming.

    But if it is in the older laptop I would say that if you game I would go with the 533Mhz 2GB of RAM.

    That is just me though.
     
    USAFdude02, May 22, 2006
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  3. sangnom

    sangnom Notebook Enthusiast

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    With the exceedingly high CAS latency on 667 memory now, you may get a 1% overal system speed boost over 533. The extra 1gb of memory (provided the tasks you use will take advantage of it) will provide a much much larger boost over swapping past 1gb. There is no reason not to use the 533 unless you have some sort of overclocking fetish. (if it doesn't cost you anything that is)
     
    sangnom, May 22, 2006
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  4. Arvin

    Arvin Notebook Evangelist

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    It's less than 1%
     
    Arvin, May 22, 2006
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  5. dagamer34

    dagamer34 Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Anyone know if you have a Intel Pentium M 725A 1.6 Ghz CPU what speed the RAM is running at? Specs of laptop are in sig...

    I'm suspecting that it runs at a 1:1 ratio with the FSB, meaning my 533Mhz RAM is actually running at 400Mhz!! Eww...
     
    dagamer34, May 22, 2006
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  6. nerj

    nerj Notebook Enthusiast

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    wait... so does that mean a 667mhz RAM has not much advantage over a 533mhz RAM????
     
    nerj, May 23, 2006
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  7. Yamaraj

    Yamaraj Notebook Enthusiast

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    Correct. Remember, clock speeds do not matter much anymore. DDR400 is
    faster than DDR2-533 is almost all cases, thanks to the higher latencies of the
    latter. Likewise, DDR2-667 doesn't improve much over the 533 because of the
    same latency problem.

    Performance difference is minimal, if any.
     
    Yamaraj, May 23, 2006
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  8. otaku

    otaku Notebook Deity

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    As these guys have said (especially for gaming) lower latency is best. 667mhz ram with a latency of 3 or so would be nice but at the moment better performance is available from ddr400 or 533
     
    otaku, May 23, 2006
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  9. nerj

    nerj Notebook Enthusiast

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    why are 667mhz more expensive if they are actually worse then o.o''
    ah.. never knew this hahaha
     
    nerj, May 24, 2006
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  10. MYK

    MYK Newbie NBR Reviewer

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    Thanks for the feedback guys, I think i'm going with 2gb 533, I need it for gaming.
     
    MYK, May 24, 2006
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  11. USAFdude02

    USAFdude02 NBR Reviewer & Deity NBR Reviewer

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    If they can lower the Cas Latency it will be better. But that will drive the cost up more. :p
     
    USAFdude02, May 24, 2006
    #11