ShadowTek wrote:
On Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:27:27 -0500, Paul wrote:

No, the computer adjusts the clock rate, according to bus loading. Three
sticks of memory is a heavy load for the bus, which is why it is using
slow settings.

By installing only two sticks, a higher clock speed can be used. So your
2x1GB is a better way to run the computer, than 2x1GB+512MB. 2x1GB would
be the best compromise between memory capacity and operating speed.

For my motherboard, I read that the DDR will drop to 333 if I use the
maximum 4gigs, which would be 1gig per each of the 4 slots. I am now
using 2x1GBs and 2x512MBs, which is using every slot, but I am still
running at 400.

There are three options:

1) two sticks running DDR400 Command Rate 1T
2) four sticks running DDR333 Command Rate 1T (BIOS auto preference)
3) four sticks running DDR400 Command Rate 2T (User adjustment and test...)

If those 512MB sticks happened to be single sided modules, then
that would reduce the bus loading slightly, and make (3) a
good prospect. If you use something other than the BIOS
default, you should test for stability. (Memtest86+/Prime95 or equiv)

Paul