My laptop says it can only take a certain speed RAM, is that true?

Question

Okay, so I ended up being given a 512mb piece of RAM with 4200 speed (I think, here is the line: 512MB 2Rx16 PC2-4200S-444-12), but the point is it is faster than the max speed on the Dell Lattitude D800.

My question is this: Is that truly the max speed, or is it the max because that was the max speed at the time? Can I use this piece, and if so, what will happen? Let's pretend everything else is okay (max RAM, etc).

In your answer, please tell me why it would work or dont work, if anyone wastes my time with some random answer along the lines of "I LOVE COOKIES" I will give you a major thumbs down.

Answer 1

well its too fast for your motherboard, not your laptop! the only way to find out for sure is to get the model number of your motherboard and look it up. but im going to guess that the two are incompatible

Answer 2

yes i'm afraid it is true. matching the ram speed to the specified will give the best performance, and if you are using 2 pieces of ram with 2 different speeds then it won't work anyway

Answer 3

Yes that truly is the max speed.

You can't use that piece of RAM because the laptop is not designed to use that RAM. If you use it anyways a variety of things could happen from slowing your computer down, to you having an error message.

See, the buses on the motherboard are designed to handle a certain frequency of current and if you install a piece that is not suited for those buses then the devices on the motherboard will get either misinterpret the signal or will not understand them at all.

Answer 4

Your ram will only work at the speed the laptop can handle, im almost positive you can still use the ram it just will work at the lower speed