Buying a 2nd RAM stick for my PC2700 DDR PC

[Muse]

The system is Beauty in my sig. MSI KT3 Ultra2 MB and I have a Samsung Original Crucial DIMM in there now, DDR PC2700 and on the DIMM it says:

M368L6423DTM-CB3

I found a DIMM selling at auction and it's:

M368L6423DTM-CB300 <-- auction
M368L6423DTM-CB3 <-- mine

Are these apt to be the same or at least work OK together?

I'm running Windows 2000 and my CPU is an AMD Athlon XP 1700+. Sometimes the system bogs down and I think that since these DIMMs have come down a lot in price it might be a worthwhile upgrade for me until I build my next system. That DIMM I have now I paid about $200 for!

 

[eplebnista]

They should work fine together.

 

[Lemon law]

Should work and do work together may well be different things. In my case two sticks of different PC3200 ram downclocked to less than PC2100 speeds. I finally had to go into the bios, select overclock mode, and fill in stock ram speeds to get them working together. And even then, I made a minor mistake, the ram ran at PC 3200 for awhile, and a few boots later the bios reset itself. I corrected that mistake and hopefully now I will keep the PC3200 speeds.

So if should does not result in does, you may have to gasp--do some reading up on ram and your computer bios to force should into does. And freeware utilities like cpu-z, everest2.2, and memtest86 should be in your toolbox.

 

[lobbyone]

Yes

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: lobbyone
Yes

Well, I'm hoping that the sticks are really the same. I got my current stick through a vendor at a computer show. Maybe different channels have differing ways of IDing the same product, is my thinking. Anyway, I won the auction. It came in about 75 cents under my maximum bid! I guess I just open the case with the computer turned off and pop that puppy in and boot and hope to see 1 GB when I check out System in Control Panel. Is that all? Or is there something else I should do? Should I run memtest after installing it?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Muse
Should I run memtest after installing it?

Definitely, even if it weren't used, I would.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Muse
Should I run memtest after installing it?

Definitely, even if it weren't used, I would.

OK, I definitely will. The seller says will refund price (minus s/h) for 7 days if there's a problem. I'll just run memtest on the system with both sticks installed, right? Or should I run it with just the new stick installed? Memtest takes a while to run, doesn't it?

 

[myocardia]

Run it with only the new stick installed, that's all you're testing. And no, it doesn't take long at all to run. Just let it run at least 8 hours, and if it doesn't fail any tests, it's good.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Run it with only the new stick installed, that's all you're testing. And no, it doesn't take long at all to run. Just let it run at least 8 hours, and if it doesn't fail any tests, it's good.

Great! I'm stoked. I often get bogged down because I run a lot of stuff simultaneously. This should really help. I'll have the system maxed out at full RAM capacity. I figured I may someday want more RAM, so I got a single stick to begin with. There's only two slots. This is probably a perfect match.

Edit: I was wrong. My MB has 3 slots for a maximum of 3 GB RAM!

 

[Lemon law]

If you read the fine print in memtest86 documentation, you will see that memtest86 just counts errors---it does nothing to diagnose which stick in a multichip ram configuration is causing the errors if errors are produced. And opening the system case, disconnecting everything, and then moving the case to where you have room to lay it flat on its back is a certain amount of time consuming work.

Were I doing the job---I would run memtest86 and cpu-z with the existing ram in there---and confirm that the existing ram is good and get a speed report from cpu-z. Then I would power off, open the case and disconnecting everything, lay the system flat on its back, add the new ram, reconnect everything, and fire up the computer. I would then rerun cpu-z to see if the combination of ram has downclocked or runs at the same speed it did in the single memory stick configuration. Making the necessary bios changes to assure you are getting the same timings you had before if necessary. Then I would run memtest86 for at least two full runs of all eight tests---which will take about 40 minutes. If it passes that with no errors,
you can pat your self on the back and be pretty sure your ram upgrade worked---and schedule an overnight run for some near future date to be super sure.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
If you read the fine print in memtest86 documentation, you will see that memtest86 just counts errors---it does nothing to diagnose which stick in a multichip ram configuration is causing the errors if errors are produced. And opening the system case, disconnecting everything, and then moving the case to where you have room to lay it flat on its back is a certain amount of time consuming work.

Were I doing the job---I would run memtest86 and cpu-z with the existing ram in there---and confirm that the existing ram is good and get a speed report from cpu-z. Then I would power off, open the case and disconnecting everything, lay the system flat on its back, add the new ram, reconnect everything, and fire up the computer. I would then rerun cpu-z to see if the combination of ram has downclocked or runs at the same speed it did in the single memory stick configuration. Making the necessary bios changes to assure you are getting the same timings you had before if necessary. Then I would run memtest86 for at least two full runs of all eight tests---which will take about 40 minutes. If it passes that with no errors,
you can pat your self on the back and be pretty sure your ram upgrade worked---and schedule an overnight run for some near future date to be super sure.

Thanks. I've used memtest86, everest also, not heard of cpu-z before, but will download and use it (I assume it's freeware). I haven't done anything with the timings on my current RAM. Never got around to adjusting or testing different timings. I guess I can just follow the procedures above and see how it pans out. If I get a slowdown, then maybe I can investigate adjusting the timings to work around that issue.

Is it necessary to lay the box on its back? I could do that, but it's some trouble the way I have things set up. The box is a mid-tower which is on top of another mid-tower. The bottom of the topmost is through-bolted to the top of the bottom case (this is earthquake country!). It's the top system that I use daily, the other only occasionally. I could put it on its back, but I figure I can put the new stick in without difficulty the way it is. The top case is attached to the wall with a bracket - it's all quite solid.

 

[Lemon law]

Whu--you really have that baby bolted down---you may be able to add your ram with the computer in place if you have the access--but murphy laws always seems to dictate every wire in the computer will run over the ram slot making life difficult---and its usually easier to add ram with the computer on its back--because you will have to exert certain pressure on the ram stick to really make sure it fully inserts into the slots--and then the clips run it home---and one thing I forgot to mention---get a small can of compressed air and clean the dust likely built up inside of the empty ram slot. It will help make sure you make a good resistance free connection of mating pins.

 

[0roo0roo]

thats a slow processor, but its true, xp needs more than 512 mb of ram if you do any multitasking at all.
as for how to install, doesn't matter as long as the case is braced so you can push firmly to seat the ram without knocking everything over.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Whu--you really have that baby bolted down---you may be able to add your ram with the computer in place if you have the access--but murphy laws always seems to dictate every wire in the computer will run over the ram slot making life difficult---and its usually easier to add ram with the computer on its back--because you will have to exert certain pressure on the ram stick to really make sure it fully inserts into the slots--and then the clips run it home---and one thing I forgot to mention---get a small can of compressed air and clean the dust likely built up inside of the empty ram slot. It will help make sure you make a good resistance free connection of mating pins.

Yeah, it's pretty solid. I did have a look a week or two ago and I wasn't thinking of adding a stick then but I have a feeling that access is good. This even though it's a pretty full box -- All 6 PCI slots full, 3 HD's too. It wouldn't be too hard to put the case on its back but I don't think I'll need to. Thanks for the tip about the dust. I'll blast it real good. There was quite a bit of dust in there this last week. I had to take things apart to troubleshoot a windows crashing problem. It looked like a dieing HD, but turned out to be a bad IDE cable. At least that's what the evidence says. Either that or the cable wasn't making good contact. But I replaced the cable and the crashes went away.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
thats a slow processor, but its true, xp needs more than 512 mb of ram if you do any multitasking at all.
as for how to install, doesn't matter as long as the case is braced so you can push firmly to seat the ram without knocking everything over.

I'm running Windows 2000, but I still get paging sometimes. The box doubles as an HTPC and when I'm doing that stuff sometimes I like to compute too.

 

[Muse]

While waiting for the stick to arrive, I'm running cpu-z (version 1.39, Feb. 2007) to find out how things are running with my original stick of Samsung 512 MB DDR.

It says this under the memory tab (ran cpu-z.exe from Windows 2000 Explorer, so no switches):

CPU-Z 3/20/07, Tuesday

Run with original 512 MB Samsung stick, while waiting for 2nd stick to arrive.

Memory:

DDR 512 MB

Bank Interleave 4-way

Timings
Frequency 166.7 MHz
FSBRAM FSB + 33 MHz
CAS# Latency 2.5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay 3 clocks
RAS# Precharge 3 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras) 6 clocks

On the SPD tab it says:

Memory Slot Selection

Slot#1

Module Size 512 MB
Max Bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Manufacturer Samsung
Part Number M3 68L6423DTM-CB3
Serial Number 35A76503
Manufacturing Date Week 56, Year 02

Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
EPP no

Timings Table
Frequency 133 MHz 166 MHz
CAS# latency 2.0 2.5
RAS# to CAS# 3 3
RAS# Precharge 3 3
Tras 6 7


I never did any memory adjustments in BIOS. Are these figures sensible or have I been running with bad timings? When I put in both sticks I'm hoping to see the same numbers except that it will say 1024 MB DDR?

 

[Muse]

Bump...

Can I get some comments about my cpu-z results for my current stick of DDR (last post)? The additional stick should be here today or tomorrow. Are those numbers OK or is there something wrong with the way my BIOS is configured for this RAM? Thanks in advance.

 

[Muse]

I just got the stick and it doesn't have the part number that the ebay seller specified. The specified number in the listing is:

M368L6423DTM-CB300 (it says this in the line just below the listing topic - ""NO RESERVE" SAMSUNG 512MB DDR 333 MHZ Memory PC2700
"NO RESERVE" M368L6423DTM-CB300 512MB DDR Memory PC2700")

He sent me:
M368L6423ETN-CB3

Ebay listing

I just sent the seller this message:
- - - -
I just got the package. The part number wasn't the one you specified. The specified number was M368L6423DTM-CB300, however on the stick, the sticker says: M368L6423ETN-CB3. I'm disappointed because the stick I already have says M368L6423DTM-CB3 and I thought this would be a good match. Why is it that the stick you sent me is not as specified? Did you send me the wrong one?
- - - -
Am I wrong in this?

 

[Muse]

The timings look the same in cpu-z with both sticks as with just the first stick. I'm pissed off that this guy didn't send me what he said he would in the listing. I'm running an application (MyHD HDTV card and it's software) that's said to have lockup problems with mismatched RAM. Should I insist that this guy send me the specified RAM or accept a return (he has a 7 day return policy in his listing)?

How are those timings I stated a couple of posts back?

 

[dderolph]

Re: the ebay seller, yeah, I think I'd do that.

One thing about this whole thread that puzzles me a little is that you've never explained, and no one asked, exactly what multi-tasking situtations you engage in where you experience your system bogging down. What processes do you normally have running in the background (anti-virus, firewall, etc.)? What protections do you have re: spyware infestations? Do you periodically use any disk cleanup procedures?

With Win 2K, I'd think you could surely do some multi-tasking with 512MB and get along just fine. Heck, I do that with Win XP with 512MB.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: dderolph
Re: the ebay seller, yeah, I think I'd do that.

One thing about this whole thread that puzzles me a little is that you've never explained, and no one asked, exactly what multi-tasking situtations you engage in where you experience your system bogging down. What processes do you normally have running in the background (anti-virus, firewall, etc.)? What protections do you have re: spyware infestations? Do you periodically use any disk cleanup procedures?

With Win 2K, I'd think you could surely do some multi-tasking with 512MB and get along just fine. Heck, I do that with Win XP with 512MB.

Well, this box doubles as an HTPC as well as being my day to day computing machine - internet, email, some programming, DVD and CD writing, etc. I often have 20-30 or more application windows open at once or more, including browser windows.

Also, I've been running Norton AV (I'm going to switch to AVG Free 7.5, very soon I believe), and Zonealarm free firewall (just downloaded the latest version, but I'm running version 4.xxx right now, because I used to have problems with version 5.xxx).

I periodically (occasionally) run Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware. Once in a great while I defragment my partitions, of which I have several (3 HDs, all partitioned).

It's been over a year since I fresh-installed Windows 2000 and I've been thinking I'm due for at least a couple of months now. I thought things were coming to a head a couple of weeks ago, but some problems have cleared up. They were evidently due to a hardware problem, which was resolved when I swapped out my MB IDE controller's primary IDE cable (blue screens went away).


The seller hasn't answered my email. It's been less than 24 hours. I'll give him time, but I certainly have a mind to call him and put it straight to him. I want to hear his answer.