Old Computer with Modern RAM -- is this a problem?

[bobland]

I have an old Intel Core 2 4400 currently running with 2 GB DDR2 RAM. I also have 3 sticks of DDR3 (2G each) from my newer computer that I replaced with faster RAM. Can I install 2 sticks of the DDR3 into the Core 2?

I'm having a hard time finding out what is the appropriate RAM to install into this old computer. The computer is on its last legs but we're trying to hold off getting a new one for as long as possible.

 

[bigmck]

The RAM has to be compatible with the Motherboard. Tell us what you have and we can help.

 

[bobland]

As best as I can find out:
Intel Core 2 4400@2Ghz Duo
Em64T Capable
Intel Corporation D945GCNL AAD97184-102

I've run Belarc and CPU-Z and this is the best I've come up with.

Most of info I've found is way too technical for me. Can't find anything in laymans English.

 

[Thorsen]

from the looks of it, your board is this: http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15115/eng/D945GCNL_TechProdSpec.pdf

and it is only compatible with DDR2.

• Two 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets

• Support for DDR2 667 or DDR2 533 MHz DIMMs
• Support for up to 2 GB of system memory​

​

DDR2 and DDR3 are different specifications and are not backward or forward compatible.​

in fact. I don't think they will physically fit in the same slot: DDR2 SDRAM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia​

 

[bobland]

Thorsen,
Thanks for that document. It told me, essentially, that we have to get a new motherboard as the max RAM is 2GB. No matter, the computer is on its last legs and perhaps this is the time to upgrade.

 

[nilank]

The design of the slot will be different in your case I suppose, so it might not even fit anyway.

 

[alphanumeric]

DDR3 will not fit in a DDR2 slot and vise versa. There is a notch on the edge connector that lines up with keyway in the slot.. It's in a different position for each different type of RAM, DDR1 will only fit in a DDR1 slot, DDR2 will only fit in a DDR2 slot etc. It's done that way so you don't accidentally mix things up and fry your motherboard.