Memory for Computer

[dcvan]

Question re memory and differences.
Someone please advise me regarding differences in memory for my computer, I am confused. I have a new Sony pcv rs530G, which calls for 3200 ddr 400 memory, that sony says should be 2.5V. I would like to add about 1 gig and have found a special deal (for August) from Kingston ("value ram"), but it seems to be 2.6V. Would this memory work?? What would happen if the wrong memory (voltage) were used?? Although my usages would be considered as normal home usage, without special games, etc., what differences would the various memories make?? I am not very computer literate and am trying to learn about all the differences, etc.. Thank you, dcvan

 

[Fern]

Hi dcvan and welcome to the forums!

Try going HERE and selecting your Sony and see if Kingston says the value ram is compatible. Other ram manufacturers offer the same kind of service (you tell them what pc you got and they tell you which of their ram products is appropriate)

Seems to me all the ram I have purchased in the last couple of years runs at 2.6volts. In overclocking, we often increase the voltage to our ram. Some will chose voltage as high as 2.9 to increase the speed of their ram (others go even higher, but many motherboards require a mod to get voltage higher than 2.9)

It is possible to damage the ram with a too high voltage. This is due to the extra heat generated by the extra voltage.

If the voltage is adjusted lower, the ram can be unstable at its rated speed. But I'm not familair with any any damage due to under-volting the ram.

I'm thinking the voltage thingy is not a problem.

IMHO, The most important things are what speed (mhz) does the ram run at (I.e., pc 3200) with the higher numbers being faster, and the ram's timings (ex. 2-2-2-5, or 2.5-3-3-6). Lowers number here mean the ram is faster than others with the same mhz (ex. pc3200).

I didn't see what timings your current ram uses. Generally, you want to get something thats just as fast. Usually slower ram will work, but it makes the faster ram slow down to match speeds.

Pentium chips, if I understand correctly really like fast ram and benefit more from it than AMD cpu's. However, you do not seem to be doing anything which reqiures expensive fast ram (like gaming, encoding etc.)

Also, if you're just doing email, web surfing and other less demanding tasks, seems to me the 512MB your pc came with may be sufficient.

Finally, your cpu seems a fast one and uses Dual Channel ram IIRC. DC generally requires that the ram be very similar, if not a "matched pair", to ensure stable running. Also It's not clear to me how adding two 512MB ram sticks will work with the two existing 2 x 256MB that I expect you have. You'd be using 4 ram slots in this case. Heck, the AMD boards I use only allow for three. Bottom line is we need a Pentium person to comment on that.

So, in effect, this is one very wordy "bump" from an AMD guy asking a forum member with P4 knowledge to help you out.

Fern

 

[dcvan]

Thanks for the info.. yes, mine is 4 stick capable, and calls for the 3200 ddr 400 and I do have 2@ 256 sticks at the present... I think that the "speed" is adequate and is something like ? cas3 whatever that is. I went to the sundry memory sites and some indicated everything would be OK, by indicating the system, etc but some also said what they offered was the 2.6V, so that is why I was concerned about other memory. From my understanding, the memory speed new or old, would adjust to whichever is slower... but would be still be compatible.. I guess the only way that I would know is to try it and see. No, I wouldn't be thinking about doing any overclocking, hey I am doing good to get the computer turned on.. without doing anything special to the machine. Whatever the outcome, I certainly thank you for coming through with your comments, and I don't know what the difference between the AMD and the Intel PC's really is, but as long as things work that is what I am looking for. Again, thanks, dcvan

 

[Fern]

dcvan,

Just ran across THIS in another forum. Looks similar to your question, apparantly he's having some problems with 2 X 256MB plus 2 X 512MB.

I'll try to get you more help.

 

[mechBgon]

My experience with the voltage question is that sometimes PC3200 memory does need to get a little more voltage than 2.5 volts or you get instability... blue-screens-of-death, lockups, weird behavior. Sony may simply be plopping their usual "2.5V DDR" blurb into their specs without thinking twice about it, I suppose.

Anyway, if I were you, I would play Crucial's game. Go to their site, look up your Sony in their configurator, and buy from them (your model's listed here as you might already have seen). If you purchase in this way, then your modules are guaranteed to work, or else, regardless of the fact that the Micron IC's on the Crucial modules are built for 2.6 volts. If there's a problem, it will be Crucial's problem

To expand on the CL or CAS ratings that you might see (CL2.5, CL2, CL3), lower is theoretically better but the differences aren't something meaningful where you would want to fret over them for your Sony.

 

[dcvan]

Thanks to both, you, mechBgon, and to Fern for your help with my dilemma. It seems as though my best solution may be to go ahead as you suggest, to let Crucial dictate the memory, which will mean waiting a while longer before purchasing, as their prices are a little more than I was expecting, and hoping for. (Maybe after the 1st of the month) At any rate I will be able to feel more at ease knowing that they will be standing behind their product. I never realized all of the complexities involved in something that seemed to be so simple at first. Like Fern found, the placement of the memory sticks in the right slots with the larger (512m) ones in the 1st/3d and the present (256m) ones in the 2/4 slots. When I get that far along I will certainly be getting back to you both with the results. The 2.5 volts thing appears to be a basic amount, and I guess if whatever I end up with doesn't work, someone (maybe at crucial) should be able to tell me how to change the volts or otherwise compensate if it is needed. Yes, in my situation, I won't be concerning myself too much with the differences of CAS 2.5/3.0. So I guess for now that just about solves things for me, at least until I get ready to go into action. I truly appreciate all of your comments. Thank you again for all of your inputs.. you don't know how good that makes me feel. dcvan

 

[legatech]

i was in a similar situation like you about 3 month ago. I was building a server with the intel 7205 chipset and the voltage for the memory was rated at 2.5 volts for the motherboard, but i went ahead and bought 2 pairs of kingston value ram, so that was 512 x 4, which was rated @ 2.6 volts, and everything worked perfect. I've built alot of systems and used kingstom memory in them and i did upgrades on brand name ps's and used kingston without a hitch. The way i see it is that ddr memory starts off at 2.5 volts, and that extra power needed, being 2.7-2.9 isn't for ordinary memory but for overclocked memory - PC3500 and up.All the new memory i've seen starts off at 2.6. Personally i dont see you having any trouble with it.

 

[dcvan]

legatech: Thank you for your input too.... it was the kingston value ram special that first intrigued me with the idea of upgrading to the point of adding the 1G set.. but then again it was also the 2.6V that scared me away too... soooo therein was my predicament.. I appreciate your input, especially re: the kingston set. Now, I guess I can either be gutsy or chicken with regard to my actions of adding the memory. At least I have much more of an understanding of what I am getting into. Maybe just bang my head against the wall a little easier than before.. thanks again.. dcvan