Does adding 1066Mhz DDR3 SODIMM to a 1600Mhz FSB laptop make sense?

Question

My previous laptop had 4x4GB 1066 Mhz DDR3.

My new laptop instead has only 2x4GB 1600 Mhz DDR3.

Using dmidecode I gather my FSB is set to 2300Mhz.

Max Speed: 3800 MHz
Current Speed: 2300 MHz

2 questions:

• Can somebody confirm I can safely add two "old" 1066Mhz modules to my new laptop before I treat myself to faster DDR3 modules?
• I understand this should not slow down the faster 2 1600 Mhz DDR3 modules. Correct?

If this is of any relevance, I'm running Linux Mint Maya.

Answer 1

It will slow it down.

• All RAM modules work at the same speed.

• The best way this is done by the system is make them all work at the slowest speed.

• You can definitely add your older RAM modules safely to you new laptop.

• However, if you add 2 x 4GB modules @ 1066Mhz, the 2 x 4GB modules @ 1600Mhz will also work @ 1066Mhz

• Ideally, all your RAM modules should be identical for best performance.