Upgrading RAM to an old DDR2 Intel motherboard?

[firebirdude]

Yeah yeah. It's old. I get it. Of course, I'm trying to be as cheap as possible with this. I have several PCs in my house and one has an Intel DQ45CB motherboard in which I'd like to swap in 8GB worth of RAM.

Here's some info on the motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121357
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/motherboards/desktop-motherboards/desktop-board-dq45cb.html
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/16958/eng/DQ45CB_SpecUpdate07.pdf
(^^ Part 1.5 shows some very specifics on what type of RAM is supported)

Now, I thought this would be as easy as picking up some of the fastest DDR2 the motherboard supports (800) that's reasonably priced. But popping some basic info into eBay shows me some RAM labeled as "AMD only" or "Server memory" in which I didn't know there were any differences in this. I thought DDR2 was a standard that everyone abides by (# of pins, notch location, etc)?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...X8gb+ddr2+800.TRS2&_nkw=8gb+ddr2+800&_sacat=0

 

[bradly1101]

Server memory is likely ECC, which you don't need. As far as I know brand specific memory doesn't matter. But sometimes the Mobo maker recommends specific kits. I've gone off the list without problems.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/dq45cb/sb/CS-029529.htm

 

[VirtualLarry]

Don't buy any of the cheap Chinese "AMD Only" x4 RAM for that board. Doesn't work. Been there, tried that.

 

[firebirdude]

What about the cheap Chinese non-AMD only x4 RAM?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-4x2GB-P...775?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a52b2472f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hynix-HYMP1...179?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487fc5f963
(^^think that might be x8? Don't know the difference anyway...)

 

[postmortemIA]

get standard 1.8V DDR2 800. Intel boards are notorious for not liking RAM that is outside of standard.

8GB of decent DDR2 will cost you near $100.