a couple questions. need help.

[Ruhl]

I am working on upgrading to a new system but wanted to ask a couple of questions first.

1. When a motherboard says (DDR Standard DDR 400 (PC 3200) ) does that mean, the highest memory it can use is 3200? or the minimum is 3200.. Like this mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131004

2.If I get a new mobo setup, Can I just hook up my Hard drive to the new Mobo, and windows, and everything will work as it did with the old mobo, or are they connected somehow? I dont want to buy a new copy of windows.

3. for dual channel memory to work does it have to be only two sticks of ram? or can it be 4.
I have 4 x 412 mb sticks, can I make dual channel work with that? or do I need 2 x 1gb to do that?

Thanks in advance for the feedback, I am still learning ..

 

[Standpoint]

I am working on upgrading to a new system but wanted to ask a couple of questions first.

1. When a motherboard says (DDR Standard DDR 400 (PC 3200) ) does that mean, the highest memory it can use is 3200? or the minimum is 3200.. Like this mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131004

2.If I get a new mobo setup, Can I just hook up my Hard drive to the new Mobo, and windows, and everything will work as it did with the old mobo, or are they connected somehow? I dont want to buy a new copy of windows.

3. for dual channel memory to work does it have to be only two sticks of ram? or can it be 4.
I have 4 x 412 mb sticks, can I make dual channel work with that? or do I need 2 x 1gb to do that?

Thanks in advance for the feedback, I am still learning ..

1. Usually that is the highest allowed memory. Now, older mobos that took PC 2700 for example, would also take PC3200, but the memory itself would downclock to PC2700 speeds. Not sure if you got higher speed DDR memory, if it would be the same or not.

2. Always format your hard drive when you put in a new brand mobo. What was your old computer? If you don't start w/ a fresh install of windows, all your old mobo drivers, etc. would still be there, possibly causing conflicts.

3. As long as the memory in each pair is identical, then you should be fine. This includes all aspects of the memory. Most people buy dual channel in pairs, so as to guarantee compatibility.

 

[djnes]

1) That means DDR400 is the highest "official" memory speeds it supports. If you bought higher speed memory with the intent of overclocking, it would work. Higher speed memory can also downclock to DDR400 speeds if you aren't overclocking.
2) You don't have to buy a new copy of Windows, but chances are, it isn't going to boot just by connecting it into the new computer. I always prefer doing a fresh install with a new motherboard. If not, your other option is to follow the sticky in the OS forum, and run sysprep before you take apart your old machine.
3) I'm not too familiar with the AMD side, but on the boards I've used, dual channel works with 4 matched sticks as well as 2. You just have to make sure the sticks are matched in the same channel, which is usually color coded on the motherboard.

 

[Ruhl]

1) That means DDR400 is the highest "official" memory speeds it supports. If you bought higher speed memory with the intent of overclocking, it would work. Higher speed memory can also downclock to DDR400 speeds if you aren't overclocking.
2) You don't have to buy a new copy of Windows, but chances are, it isn't going to boot just by connecting it into the new computer. I always prefer doing a fresh install with a new motherboard. If not, your other option is to follow the sticky in the OS forum, and run sysprep before you take apart your old machine.
3) I'm not too familiar with the AMD side, but on the boards I've used, dual channel works with 4 matched sticks as well as 2. You just have to make sure the sticks are matched in the same channel, which is usually color coded on the motherboard.

So like I have a HD that has a restore side on it, witha CD. So technically I could just Delete my regaulr partition on my main HD? and just put in restore disk after I boot back up. and hopefully will re install windows

 

[djnes]

So like I have a HD that has a restore side on it, witha CD. So technically I could just Delete my regaulr partition on my main HD? and just put in restore disk after I boot back up. and hopefully will re install windows

No, a restore CD is built only for that computer. Since you are upgrading to a new computer, not only would the RestoreCD not work, but technically, it's probably not a legal license, since it's probably XP OEM. To install XP fresh on your new system, you'll need a plain XP CD...not one from HP/Dell, etc that's in the form of a restore disc.