Conflicting Compatibility with HP Desktop

I've got an HP Pavillion 543x. Crucial.com says it'll take up to 2x512 of PC3200, at PC2100 speeds.

Kingston says it'll take one stick of 1GB PC2100.

I'd rather get the PC3200 in case I upgrade later...would it just be clocked down or will it fry my board?

nothing?

Hi tuffgong,

The PC 3200RAM should scale down to the highest speed the motherboard is compatible with (in your case PC2100). The worst that can happen is that the motherboard rejects the RAM and beeps at you. It won't cause any damage to the chip if it is incompatible.

In my experience though, DDR is alot more forgiving and flexible with boards that require lower spec RAM. I am pretty sure it should accept the RAM at PC2100 speeds.

The only other way to be sure of compatibility is to get something like the Corsair System Select RAM. It's a bit more expensive than other brands simply because it's designed to work in the major brand name computers (HP included).

Let me know how you go.

Cheers.

Thanks a bunch it worked. However, the performance boost I was hoping for did not take place. Went from 256MB to 1GB. System still hangs...maybe the CPU is overheating, despite the fact that I cleaned the entire system.

Hi tuffgong,

By hang do you mean a hard lockup? Or is it just not performing as you'd expect it to with those specifications?

More of a hanging that underperformance...the kind of hang a P4 does when it's overheating, but this is an Athlon XP Palomino. It reaches 61 Celcius.

Yeah that definately sounds too hot. Are you using the stock AMD CPU HSF? I'd look at replacing the thermal paste with some Arctic Silver. Also make sure that you have adequate airflow in your case.

Yes it's stock...good old HP parts...I'll prob end up replacing the HSF altogether.