Quick question on DDR Ram Memory,

I would have tried searching, but the search function button appears to have vanished ????

Anyways, my question is:

Is it ok to fit PC3200 400mhz memory modules into a system that had PC2700 333mhz memory ?
Wanting to buy a cheapo system that only has 256mb and want to fit a matched pair of 512 DDR modules in its place. I save a tenner if I buy a pair of the PC3200 400mhz modules as opposed to the PC2700 333mhz pair.Crazy!

As I see it, the new memory should run ok but at the lower spec / speed.
Am I correct in thinking this?

This is the basic PC I'm thinking of buying ebuyer bargain

And this is the cheaper memory CorsairPC3200
or the dearer version CorsairPC2700

I know the system has onboard sound and graphics, thats fine for our usage, I have a higher spec laptop for my use, its just to replace the wifes old pc which is starting to get a bit tempremental of late, so as its an old 1.3Gig Celeron I thought a new machine was the order of the day.

Thanks,

Bob

 

Usually yes, but not always. Youll have been very unlucky if it doesnt work though.

Simon (can remember when fixed disks and video adapters had to match...)

 

So if I bought the following:

PC

1Gb Ram

Extra Combo Drive

TFT

Would that make a reasonable low end system for general use, not being used for watching movies or playing games.

BUY IT or BIN IT ?


Bob

 

The Ram will work but just at 333mhz. Unless your mobo supports PC3200?

 

Or do I just go for this ready made system:

Fujisu at PC WORLD


Would realy appreciate any advice, the cash is sat there waiting to be spent but can't decide.... £550 at Ebuyer or £699 at PCW (but a better spec?)
Want to order it today

Bob

 

Nvr buy anything from PCW apart from consumables period. Ripoff prices, crap support if anything goes wrong. If they are local then I guess u could take it back for piece of mind. The PCW box is a much better core spec than the ebuyer one u listed and probably more than u need.

Try microdirect.co.uk or microland.co.uk, mesh and eBay, I bet u can find similar or better spec'd boxes as the ebuyer for less.

For the cash ure spending though, u want to maximise the CPU, Ram, Display and maybe the HDD, and keep the budget under £400. Anything over that is going to be overkill for the replacement you want imo.

 

Look at Dell or scan.co.uk

 

Just tried the microdirect site, couldn't find any suitable ready built systems, looks more suited to self build systems, which I'd have a go at if someone could give me a list of bits I'd need and offer some tech support in building, which can't be too hard as I've changed PSU / Drives / Ram / Cards etc in the past.

Microland - site not found
Mesh - bit pricey
eBay - No thanks, too many rip off scammers

Even more now!

Bob

Dell - too much
Scan - nothing below 800 for a ready built system

 

http://www.microlandtechnology.com/ Edited to say, oops just realised they've gone bust lol, sorry.

You could call microdirect yknow. Go for a base unit, n then decide which components to use.

In fact I would always ring the supplier for help if I wasnt sure on the spec I wanted. You will always save money buying a custom built box over a prebuilt one. Depends on whether u can be bothered to research it, or just buy ready made I guess.

 

eBay is safe, its common sense. I bought my oldman a nice well specced £400 Amd 3000+ box off a supplier on there, no problems at all.

 

That Microland link is for Domain names etc.

As for ringing, I aint got a clue what to ask them, plus I always feel that companies will try and push you inot buying their outdated stock / biggest profit items / other junk they can't sell etc.

Would consider building from a barebones, but its all going over my head, which do ya go for ?

Bob

 

Just looking at the overclockers website at the mo'

Are they any good?

Bob

 

Yep very good rep n prices.

 

Right, I'd really consider building a system up, but what do I buy with regards to compatablity, am I going to have to trust a company and ring them?

What I think I want is
A reasonably quick processor
A motherboard to suit
PSU & fan
512 - 1Gb Ram
80Gb or more HDD
Onboard sound and graphics will do me
4 or more USB2 ports
2 optical drives
A case to put it all in

Is that it?

Bob

 

Yep sounds fine,

CPU at least AMD 2800+ or Intel P4 2.8ghz fan will be included
Avoid cheap mobos.
PSU sbe at least 300W fan is included.
Ram - 512mb minimum
HDD fine, make sure its ATA100 or SATA and 7200rpm (drive speed).
Optical drives. Do u really need two? DVDRW - you want latest NEC or Pioneer, both cheap.

Onboard sound is fine, but I would recommend getting a video card, as you might get a bottleneck with the performance. Go for an Nvidia 6800GT or an ATI Radeon equivalent.

Dont forget the TFT or save some cash n get a 17" CRT and put the 'saving' into a faster cpu

 

Thanks for the advice so far

Already have CRT's but want to reduce space hence the TFT.

Wifey has just been on the phone to me and thrown something new into the works - "Why don't I just get a laptop like you, that would save loads more space" aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaarrrrggh! my heads really really hurting now

I must stop

Bob

 

haha

 

Just had a quick look at budget laptops and again I'm drawn to ebuyer with this:
Centino Laptop

The built in WiFi is handy 'cos we have a wireless network at home.
My laptop has a desktop P4 processor, but this has the Centrino processor, is that better?
At £610 its less than 1/2 the price mine cost, but it still looks a decent spec.

Any more thoughts?

Bob

 

PCWorld arent as bad as they are made out to be; their support is far beyond most of the 'system builders' who are proposed as alternatives, and I should know. Its tru that many of the sales satff know f*ck all about the kit but itd be extremely foolish to expect them to; PCW is little more than Currys for PCs and no one expects a Currys sales assistant to be a television expert.....

With regard to cost; I just bought a Hauppauge WinTV PVR150 for less than any other reseller in the country could supply it for..... On the other hand £15 for a 35p USB A-B cable is a **** take.


Simon

 

No its not better than your desktop P4. Centrino cpus are for laptops only, they use less power are smaller etc, and not very powerful, only 1.6ghz that one. But it sbe fine for yer wifes uses.

 

Hi Bob,

Centrino isn't really the processor, it's a Intel marketing term for a collection of three components in a laptop. They are the CPU, the chipset (which glues everything together and lets things talk) and a wireless network card.

The CPU in a Centrino laptop is a Pentium-M. The Acer in your link has a Pentium-M 1.6Ghz. Now 1.6Ghz might seem slow compared to the 2.8 or 3.0Ghz desktops you've been looking at but the Pentium-M is a much more effecient CPU. As a very rough rule of thumb, you can add maybe another 1 Ghz to the processor speed so it would perform similar to a 2.4Ghz or 2.6Ghz Pentium 4 CPU. The P4 would be quicker at certain tasks but Pentium-M is much more power effecient, so swings and roundabouts.

Personally, that's a very nice spec of laptop for the money. Plenty of RAM, nice sized HD, decent graphics, DVD-burner, big screen and the rest - should run very nicely.

HTH,

Chris.

 

Thanks Chris,

Wifey likes the idea of a laptop, will have to make our minds up now!

Bob