Can I go from DDR to DDR2?

I have a Gateway MX6428, specs are HERE

I want to upgrade to 2 sticks of 1GB, but was wondering if I can go to a higher speed or even go to DDR2? It currently uses DDR SODIMM PC2700. Can I move to a DDR2 SODIMM PC2-4200? Just looking to squeeze everything out that I can. Thanks!

 

No, you cannot use DDR2, AMD does not support it. If you use faster RAM then it can handle it will automatically downclock the RAM to PC2700 speed in your case, if it even recognizes it at all, some do some don't so it is pointless to upgrade in speed past the PC2700. Your 2GB is a ton of RAM , should make a nice improvement.

Matt

 

It is usually phisically impossible to put in the different stick too.

Cheers,

 

Thanks Matt. One more question if I may. I ran CPU-Z to see what's actually under the hood. The memory says it's PC2700, but it shows the max bandwidth at 166 MHz. I know PC2700 should be around 333 MHz. I checked the FSB and it shows 199 MHz. Either I am sold short on the FSB, which seems true, but why wouldn't the memory go to 199 MHz instead of 166 MHz??? Would a PC4200 help, although I know the FSB affects that?

 

Your memory is DDR(dual data rate), so the real clock speed is 166MHz and the effective speed is DDR333MHz(166X2). The memory wont go above its rated speed which is PC2700 or 166MHz. You"ll need to replace your existing memory with PC3200 memory to run at 200MHz. PC4200 wont work as that would mean DDR2 memory as there are no offficial DDR based PC4200 memory.

The 200MHz which CPU-Z reports is not the FSB. It is the base clock generator around which the cpu frequency, the HTT links(the replacement of FSB) are derived with the help of a multiplier. So, for an ML 37 Turion cpu multiplier would be 10(200MHz X 10 = 2.0GHz). The HTT is also derived from this and has a multiplier of 4 (4 X 200=800MHz). This is also dual data rate so you will have an effective bandwidth of 1600MHz. There is essentially no FSB in AMD based systems as the memory controller is located on board the cpu itself and runs at the same frequency as the cpu(in your case 2.0GHz)

 

Thanks miner for the great explanation, one of the things I love about this place.

So my highest (fastest) memory upgrade would be 2 sticks of SODIMM PC3200 1GB, right?

 

Yeah, PC3200 is the max you can go with current AMD cpu's.