MEMORY

[aaronjbc1234]

I just bought http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883103034 today and recieved it. It only comes with 512 ram, I thought no biggie I have 1.5gigs in my old comp. But apparently the 1gig nor the 512 fits into it no matter how hard I jam. So, I'm not very smart about these things, but how do I figure out what RAM I could buy that could fit into this computer...thank you

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
I just bought http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883103034 today and recieved it. It only comes with 512 ram, I thought no biggie I have 1.5gigs in my old comp. But apparently the 1gig nor the 512 fits into it no matter how hard I jam. So, I'm not very smart about these things, but how do I figure out what RAM I could buy that could fit into this computer...thank you

I hope you didn't mean that literally....

It is listed as DDR2. Look in your BIOS to see exactly what speed DDR2 you need.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ah my BIOS yes of course, just for the people here who dont know what that is could you explain it?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
Ah my BIOS yes of course, just for the people here who dont know what that is could you explain it?

Sure...

BIOS -- all you should need to know...

RAM -- good for finding out about different types...

 

[aaronjbc1234]

I see thousands of lines of information in my system information..but I dont know how to use any of it. Would any DDR2 RAM work fine? or does it have to be specific pin or what

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
I see thousands of lines of information in my system information..but I dont know how to use any of it. Would any DDR2 RAM work fine? or does it have to be specific pin or what

All DDR2 is 240-pin. But there are different speeds...

DDR2 @ Newegg

Current mobos are using DDR2-667 & DDR2-800. Yours very well could use DDR2-400 or DDR2-533. DDR2-800 is faster than DDR2-533, but it is also more expensive. And there isn't much sense in getting 800 if you need 400, unless you plan on doing some hardcore overclocking....

You could likely get some DDR2-533 and be alright, or wait for someone to post that has that kind of setup, and see what they have. I'll dig around and see what I can find...

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Hmmm. Every search I do on "Sempron 3400" comes up with a socket 754 motherboard, which only supports DDR 400. But a search for "GeForce 6100" comes up with mobos using DDR2-800 and DDR-667 memory, but they all use a socket AM2 processor. So I'm not sure what that machine of yours has.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

The RAM in my new system has the little notch in the exact center it looks like, while my other RAM I cant use has it alittle offcenter, could you decipher that description ?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
The RAM in my new system has the little notch in the exact center it looks like, while my other RAM I cant use has it alittle offcenter, could you decipher that description ?

Sure... So it looks like the RAM in the picture in this DDR2 article and not the RAM in this DDR article?

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ah yes but the first one still looks alittle off center, its probably just me though. It's definetely closer than the second one

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
Ah yes but the first one still looks alittle off center, its probably just me though. It's definetely closer than the second one

Okay, then you should be okay with either DDR2-667 or DDR2-800.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ah ok, one more general question, would it be better to get the same speed as the one that is in mine right now?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
Ah ok, one more general question, would it be better to get the same speed as the one that is in mine right now?

Yes. If I were you, I'd get the same brand, speed, and size. Just my $.02 however.

EDIT: Here, download Hard Info, and it should be able to tell you more information about your RAM... Or you could get 2 sticks, and replace the RAM you have altogether, although that doesn't exactly tell you what speed your machine is running currently.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ah ok thanks alot

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ah one more quickie, would there be any difference between getting 2x 512 or just getting a one gig?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
Ah one more quickie, would there be any difference between getting 2x 512 or just getting a one gig?

That depends on a few things: what OS do you have (windows 95, 98, XP, ME, etc), and what you use your computer for...

 

[aaronjbc1234]

XP, mainly for gaming, and I used that Hard Info but for Memory Speed it says Unknown

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
XP, mainly for gaming, and I used that Hard Info but for Memory Speed it says Unknown

Okay, this is of course my opinion, and you should take it as such, but I prefer minimum 1gb, and preferrably 2gb on an XP machine, especially one that is going to be for gaming, or any other use that will get some work out of the machine.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ok, thanks alot. Does the speed mean alot, like 667 or 800, is that a big step between them? And how bad would it be to mix say a 800 with a lesser one

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
Ok, thanks alot. Does the speed mean alot, like 667 or 800, is that a big step between them? And how bad would it be to mix say a 800 with a lesser one

There is some debate about that, and honestly, it highly depends upon such a long list of factors: mobo, mobo chipset, OCing, etc, etc, etc. If you aren't going to be OCing, and aren't going to push for max performance, then no, it likely won't matter very much.

In reference to operating with different speeds of memory, the faster RAM will clock down to the slower RAM. Ideally, you should have matching sticks of RAM to aviod issues & incompatibilities, but it should work despite being different speeds. You can if you need to kinda thing, but it's generally considered best to have as close to matching as you can get.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Ok cool, and last thing, like I said the hard info just gave me Unknown for memory speed, is there another way to do it? The system information didnt give me speed either.

Also I have 4 slots near the other RAM piece , 2 are purple and 2 are orange, they seem to be the same but do you have any idea what thats about

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: aaronjbc1234
Ok cool, and last thing, like I said the hard info just gave me Unknown for memory speed, is there another way to do it? The system information didnt give me speed either.

You could always go into your BIOS and check. When the computer boots, there should be a message that says something to the effect of "Press 'F1' to enter setup", although instead of F1, it might say F2, F10, F12, or delete.

Out of morbid curiosity, does the computer have a manual? Because it *should* say in there... RTFM is always good advice--too bad you don't have a mobo manual, because it's almost always in there...

EDIT: Can you find your machine in this list? If so, it has what memory your machine uses....

 

[Roguestar]

Matching sticks of RAM can also work in delicious Dual-Channel mode, depending on your motherboard. Make sure if you've just got two sticks that they're in two slots of the same colour for bonus performance.

All of Fullmetal Chocobo's advice is sound.

Good luck to aaronjbc1234, I hope "someone" didn't break into his house in the middle of the night and try to force DDR sticks into a DDR2 slot...

 

[aaronjbc1234]

Agh I cant find my memory speed or anything anywhere. Its an AST and its not on that list you showed me, and in my BIOS I cant find any memory information ;/
All I know is that it's DIMM


Also, I have 512 in my comp right now. Apparently I have dual channel ^, so would it be faster to buy package of 2x 512 or 1 stick of 1gig to add