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DDR400 (PC3200) RAM in the 1.6 GHz G5?

~Shard~

~Shard~

macrumors P6
Original poster
Jun 4, 2003
18,377
48
1123.6536.5321
Hi there!

Just wondering if DDR400 (PC3200) RAM will work in the G5 1.6 GHz machine. I believe the general rule is that your system bus has to be twice the speed of your RAM when using DDR, so technically, at 800 MHz, the G5 1.6 GHz should be able to handle 400 MHz RAM, no?

Also, if I wanted a 1.8 GHz G5, would there be any issues if I left the 2x256 MB sticks of RAM in the machine, and added my own RAM in the remaining slots - either 1 512 MB stick, or 2x512 MB sticks? Or should I remove the 2x256 MB sticks?

Lastly, is Mac RAM "special"? I have a friend who can get PC components at cost, and was wondering if I ordered some of his "PC" RAM, if that is essentially the same, and would work in a Mac as well....

Any advice is appreciated!

Scott
 
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macrumors 6502
Jul 3, 2001
470
0
nl
You can use DDR3200 RAM, but it will run at 366 MHz (DDR2700 speed) not 400, the frequency is controlled by the memory controller, not by the dimms themselves. And the G5 1.6 runs it ram at 366 MHz effectively. You will be underclocking the ram and waste money, don't do it!

edit:

You add the dimms in pairs. 2x256 and 2x512 will work fine.

Not all pc dimms will work fine, there is a thread about this already.
 
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