It will give you a general idea, but no guarantee with it running at the different speed. It could possibly be completely stable at 166, and fail at 200.

BB very conveniently changed the two RAM sticks with the warrenty intact.

Memtest says the RAM is good.

However, CPUZ says the RAM is PC2700 running at 166. These are supposed to be PC3200 sticks - is there some setting I need to change for my system to use the sticks at full speed, or might I have been misled as to the kind of sticks these are? (They did come with no labels at all, supposedly Kingmax/Micron brand. This made me a bit nervous.)

MOst likely you were misled. If they are really both PC3200 and they did change both, the SPD info on the RAM would make it run 200MHz. You can software overclock it, but you shouldn't have to do that if they put PC3200 in both slots. What SPD info and other memory info does CPU-Z report?

CPUZ reads the following:

SPD, for both slots 1and 2:
Module size 1024
Max Bandwidth PC2700 (166MHz)
Manufacturer 127F000000000000

Timings:
133MHz 2-3-3-6
166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7

correction -none
registered-no
Buffered-no
EPP-no

Memory:
Type DDR
Size 2048 MBytes
Channels#-single
Frequency 159.2 MHz
FSB: DRAM - CPU /5
CAS#Latency - 2.5 clocks
RAS#toCAS delay - 3 clocks
RAS to pre charge-3 clocks
Cycle timing (Tras)-7 clocks
Bank Cycle time (Trc)- 10 clocks
command rate - 1T
DRAM Idle Timer - 16 clocks

Sounds like Best Buy screwed you, sorry.

Wasn't Best Buy's fault - I bought the RAM sticks myself online. BB just installed them.

Ah, from where?

OK, I want to resolve this in a positive light. Here is what I learned from this experience/ordeal:

Its true what is said that "quality" is paramount in RAM upgrades. I went with a questionable source because I was mislead by advertising. I should have been more alerted when I saw that I did not know the brand name.

The amount of RAM is more important than the type of RAM (assuming correct types of RAM)

Faster RAM does make a difference with certain types of programs - for example in my work with sofware synthesizers that use a lot of RAM, there is a noticable difference between DDR 333 and DDR400.

Getting dazzled by "tech gee-whiz" combined with information-overload can lead to the easiest of mistakes: just stop thinking and buy. I have learned to recognize the "gee-whiz information overload" and now just stop, calm down, and re-assess. I have learned not to fear taking my time in decision making when upgrading.

So in the end, I returned the no-name RAM and hope to get refund credit. I bought Crucial brand DDR400 RAM from a reputable source. Best Buy replaced the RAM again, and kindly did not even charge me again. I am very happy with the new performance of the 7525. And I am wiser. I want to thank the forum for their patience and insights.
Romaned

I've read this entire forum, and I know that people are reporting that you can't use two sticks of ram that are 2.6V. But I'm wondering if you can use a single 1gb stick that is 2.6V +/-.1V. That pretty much eavens out to be the same as 2.5V, and it's a fair ammount cheaper. Also from what I can gater all Kingmax is 2.6V, but Dogi managed to get one to work in combination with the original stick on the inside, which is what I want to do.

So to recap, is evreyone certain that you can't use 1 2.6V stick?

This one should be okay for my M6809, right? It looks like it will be from what I've read, but since I'm not completely comfortable with this type of stuff, affirmation would be greatly appreciated.

Kingston

Yeah should work fine, but, why 512MB why not go for 1GB

Oh, a couple of reasons:

- This one was a better deal.
- I didn't want to spend that much. :P
- 768 MB is probably more than enough for me.

Hope someone is still around for this, but here it goes. I am finally getting around to upgrading my M6811 and I see that Compusa as the Centon 1g 3200 for a decent price. The question is can I just place the 1gig in the accesible ram slot, will it work. I understand it will only work at 2700 speed which is ok, I just want to make sure that it will work with the other ram already deep inside the computer.
Thanks.
John

Went to CompUsa and could not pass the deal. $169 minus $30 intstant, $45 mail in and another $30 mail in. Install was easy as I just put it in the accessible slot now running with 1.25 gigs at 166 speed. May try later and open her up and replace the other memory, but for now I am good.
(Centon 1gig pc3200, Samsung 256 pc2700)

just make sure that it is a 200pins and it should be ok

cheers ...