DDR 400 in FSB 266 board?

[tk1780]

Can you use DDR 400 Ram in a m/b with a FSB of 266?

I want to overclock and I assume that a DDR 440 Ram will just run at 266 if I do not o/c. Is that correct? Any downside?

Thanks

[tk1780]

Also, does cl 3 make a big difference in performance?

[John Prophet]

I would think you are correct..plus you will have plenty of headroom for overclocking...that way the ram wont be a limitation.

Not sure about cl3...but I am pretty sure most "performance" ram would be at least 2.5.

Either way there are so many variables in modern bioses (memory timings etc) that you can surely work with the cl3

[tgxiii]

What motherboard do you have?

[beppodmime]

Yes, DDR is backwards compatible, meaning that PC3200 will function just fine as PC2100.

About CAS latency, the difference in price from CL=3 to CL=2.5 is negligible at best, and lower is definately better. Some of the better brand CL=2.5 (Crucial, Kingston) will function just peachy at CL=2, with maybe a minute increase in voltage (more often than not, it works just fine without this, though). But, like I said, with as negligible a difference it is between the better latencies, go for the good stuff.

But, whatever memory you are considering, double check with the mobo manufacturer to make sure it will work. Name brand stuff is definately better than generic.