What's the "REAL TRUTH" about RAM speed? A tech told me...?

The FSB and memory bus are two separate buses. It has been accepted wisdom that the base clock frequencies of the FSB and memory should match, or at least the memory should be 1 level faster. A CPU with a FSB of 1066MHz has quad-clocking (4x) of its base bus speed which would be 266MHz. A matching DDR2 memory base clock would be 2x the base of 266MHz x 2 = 533MHz. Your memory is 800MHz, which is a little higher speed from the base clock of 400MHz. So the memory base bus clock is running faster than the CPU base clock. The CPU communicates with the motherboard chipset at 1066MHz while the memory communicates with the motherboard at 800MHz. If the memory and the CPU communicate directly with each and bypass the motherboard chipset then they would want to communicate at the base 266MHz speed without incurring any wait states. Since your memory is running ~2x faster than the CPU base clock it won't be that much of an improvement until you get the memory bus up to 1066MHz.

I recommend getting the closest to FSB rate RAM as possible. If you're Data out put is 1066 on an Intel system you would want DDR2-1066, You're Ram will run @ 533 but will give off 2 data pumps per clock on its high end and low end sides of its frequency wave output. RAM rated DDR2-533 runs @ 267 and gives the 2 data pumps making x2 = 533±.

Your CPU Multiplier quad pumps you're FSB, so 267± x4 = you're 1066.

Go for 1066 sticks to match the transfer rate of you're FSB.

Your Motherboard will only support certain RAM speeds as well so be sure to check this. If your motherboard maximum RAM speed is 800MHz, you can still use 1066MHz, but it will only run at 800. Just in case you wanna buy some future proof RAM...

Good Luck!

I think that's where data transfer comes in. Whether you have a 1333 or a 1066. I have an 800 I feel pretty good ; though my processor is rubble next to you Q9300 Intel. Sempron Athlon64 2Ghz.

RAM can have the potential to operate at speeds over 800 MHz but a lot of motherboards don't run it faster than that. Check your motherboard stats to see the highest speed it supports.

yup he is talking about the bus speed of RAM.

there is only RAM working on 667 and some with very low so be consious about them.

i probably sound stupid.

im not answering your question

i just want to respond to your answer..

you said you bought a universal adapter.

how long have you had it now?