RAM Upgrade Help Needed

Paul Kemna

Honorable
Jan 5, 2014
2
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10,510
I have 3 PCs, and some various sticks of RAM. My ultimate goal is to bump the RAM in the main desktop to 8 GB. I have priced RAM to match what is installed currently, and it is running between $60 and $80. I would like to avoid that expense, and get the best bang for my buck.

Using the information below, what are my options? My first thought would be to pull the Patriot RAM out of the media server and install it in the Gigabyte board, which, if I recall, would clock the other RAM down to match the 800 mhz speed. Surely 4GB more total RAM would counteract any decrease in speed? Ideally, I would like to pull the 4 1 GB sticks of the Dell and install it into the XFX board (again, taking a bit of a speed hit) but it does not look like this board supports PC2 5300 DDR2 667 RAM, according to Crucial's configurator. If this were to work, I could use whatever leftovers I have in the Dell, where 2 GB would be sufficient, if need be. (the 2 PNY sticks perhaps)

Plan B I guess would be to find another 2 GB PC2 6400 to go along with the Spectec and use them in the XFX board.

Or, do I just bite the bullet and drop $80 on matching RAM for my Gigabyte?

Help!

Thanks,

Paul


PC1 - my main desktop
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz
Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
(according to Crucial, DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 PC2-8500, DDR2 PC2-6400, pairs not required but recommended)

PC2 - my media server running Plex Media Server used to stream to a Roku
XFX MB-N78S-8209 nForce720a chipset
AMD Athlon II X2 240
2 x 2 GB Patriot PVS24G6400LLKNB DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 (Kit)
(according to Crucial, DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-8500, DDR2, pairs not required but suggested)

PC3 - hand me down to be used as a"test bed" PC (do not have PC in my possession yet, but is a guaranteed deal)
Dell XPS
Core2 Processor
4 x 1 GB PC2 5300 DDR2 667
(according to Crucial, DDR2 PC2-8500, DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-5300, installed in pairs)

Various RAM:
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2/1GR
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Desktop Memory Model KVR533D2/1GR
Buffalo Select D2U667C-S512/BJ PC2-5300U-55 512MB 667 CL5
Oxcco 512MB PC2 4200 533

I do not have this RAM in my possession, but will likely purchase from a person on Craigslist:
2 x 1GB PNY DDR2 A0QFT DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
1 SpecTek 2GB PC2 6400 DDR2 800