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Buying compatible RAM?

USMC1889

Junior Member
I'm looking to upgrade my RAM from 4GB for BF3 and I'm wondering what do I need to look for when trying to purchase RAM that is compatible with my system?

I know it takes DDR2 but that is the extent of my knowledge.

I'm trying to decide whether to upgrade to 6GB or 10GB. Currently I have 4 x 1 GB sticks in dual-channel. So, I was planning on getting either 2 x 2GB sticks or maybe 2 x 4GB sticks. This meaning that I would try and keep two of my current 1GB sticks and replace the other two if that is possible.

Option #1: Purchase 2 x 2GB sticks and keep 2 X 1GB sticks = 6GB

Option #2: Purchase 2 x 4GB sticks and keep 2 x 1GB sticks = 10GB

Do I need to do any matching to make this work outside of purchasing DDR2 RAM? For example, do I have to match the current brand, speed, cas latency, voltage, or timing of the current RAM?

Here's a link to the RAM I was looking at purchasing: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122


As a side note: Why is DDR2 so much more expensive than DDR3? Isn't DDR3 the "new" technology?

Thank you in advance!
 
DDR2 is phased out. DDR3 is the new standard. More factories making DDR3, fewer (or close to zero) making DDR2.... lower supply of DDR2 = higher prices

You don't have to match everything exactly, but not matching might make some fussy mobos not POST...

It might be worth it to sell your current board+cpu+ddr2, get a new DDR3 setup

there are people who might want your stuff (when their stuff dies, they don't /can't replace the entire system)
 
Provided your motherboard supports more than 4GB total memory (some DDR2 motherboards do not), I would suggest these modules, which cost about the same:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147082

I especially like the fact they're made with chips that can be identified (Samsung k4t1g084qf-bcf7), meaning they've passed the highest testing standards and are not mystery chips of unknown quality that were tested only in motherboards, as are most cowardly RAM chips that hide under heatsinks.
 
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