# Computer RAM question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 29, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573 "2007-12-29T06:09:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573/1 "2007-12-29T06:09:01Z")
My Dell Inspiron 6400 notebook currently has 2 x 512MB DDR2-533 (or PC2-4200 depending on what you call it) RAM cards in it. According to Crucial, my setup will not support dual channel or ECC RAM. What I want to get is a set of 1GB x 2 DDR2-667 (PC2-5300) cards in there.
I’m wondering if I find a set with dual channel or ECC, if such cards would function on my comp (just without the ECC or dual channel) or just fail to work. I ask this because I saw a set of sticks online that were 1GB x 2 DDR2-667 (PC2-5300) dual channel, and I wondered if they would work in my comp.
Maybe I should just upgrade my Core Duo to a Core 2 Duo. Would that change the compatibility of the RAM?
In any case, I’m just looking to get the best 2GB setup for my XP home system at the moment. I plan on getting Pro from uh… a um reputable dealer…yeah that’s it. Perhaps Pro can utilize my new memory better.
Thanks for your reply in advance.
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### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2007, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573/2 "2007-12-29T07:39:24Z")
There’s absolutely nothing special about “dual channel” memory kits. They’re just a pair of ordinary RAM sticks. If you have the right sort of motherboard, you need a matched pair of sticks to get dual channel. You, on the other hand, don’t have to worry a bit. Just buy any non-ECC DDR2 RAM and you’ll be fine.
RAM compatibility is primarily determined by the motherboard, so upgrading your CPU (if it’s even possible) won’t change anything.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2007, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573/3 "2007-12-29T09:47:15Z")
[QUOTE=dnooman]
Perhaps Pro can utilize my new memory better.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t believe there is any difference in the way XP Home or XP Pro use the available memory – that is entirely a hardware issue.
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### Author:  [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573/4 "2007-12-29T18:57:50Z")
You need to check compatibility with your motherboard
If your current sticks are PC2-4200 then your motherboard will not necessarily support PC2-5300.
But looking at the dell website you’re probably ok:
[RAM upgrades for Inspiron 6400](http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&category_id=4325&mfgpid=193373&chassisid=-1)
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### Author:  [@mikemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikemo)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573/5 "2007-12-29T19:10:48Z")
Unless there’s a significant monetary savings with the 667 MHz memory, you most likely won’t see any benefit there, either. You can generally put memory with a faster clock-speed into a system, but the system board determines the speed at which the RAM is accessed. Since you have 533 MHz RAM in there now, I’d say that’s likely the clock-speed you’ll be running at.
Besides…I’m pretty certain that no human being can tell the difference between 533 and 667 MHz RAM access! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-ram-question/431573/6 "2007-12-29T20:33:27Z")
Even if it will run 667MHz at it’s rated speed, the 533MHz stick will limit the clockspeed to 533MHz.