A question for any resident computer gurus
- Thread starter arwen undomiel
- Start date
This is probably what your looking for DDR RAM...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147%201052107967&name=168-Pin%20SDRAM
Just to give you further info, there are 3 comon types of RAM. DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. Just make sure you are getting DDR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147%201052107967&name=168-Pin%20SDRAM
Just to give you further info, there are 3 comon types of RAM. DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. Just make sure you are getting DDR.
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I'm sorry, the link i gave you was wrong. this is the right link.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=2010170147 1052107965&name=184-Pin DDR SDRAM
With these type of ram you can go all the way up to 2GB of RAM. So if you want max performance I suggest you just get a 2GB package (which is two 1 GB sticks). If you want to keep the 512MB you have and save yourself 10 bucks or so just get a 1GB stick.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=2010170147 1052107965&name=184-Pin DDR SDRAM
With these type of ram you can go all the way up to 2GB of RAM. So if you want max performance I suggest you just get a 2GB package (which is two 1 GB sticks). If you want to keep the 512MB you have and save yourself 10 bucks or so just get a 1GB stick.
Yeah, he means GB, but he is right - you need to have either the brand and model of the computer or some basic info about the system (motherboard make/model number or motherboard chipset / processor model is usually a good start) and then it is usually pretty easy to find out what RAM configuration works.
Most DDR configs can easily handle 1 GB (another 512 stick in the other slot), however I would recommend that you put in more if possible, as you can't really go wrong with too much RAM (and it is cheap) until you get to whatever your system limit is.
Hope this helps.
Most DDR configs can easily handle 1 GB (another 512 stick in the other slot), however I would recommend that you put in more if possible, as you can't really go wrong with too much RAM (and it is cheap) until you get to whatever your system limit is.
Hope this helps.
The real hindrance would not be the amount of RAM, but its speed. An older motherboard might not have the bus speed to run the top end stuff today. Not a huge deal unless you were looking for monster performance, which I assume you are not if you have been making do wiht 512mb.
Also be careful not to combine your current RAM and new RAM (i.e. adding new RAM stick rather than replacing your old ones) or the newer stuff will probably be restricted to running at the same speed as the older stuff. By that I mena if you keep your current old RAM stick and just buy 1 new RAM stick to put in next to it, the new RAM stick should work, but it will be forced to run at the same slower speed as your old RAM stick since the computer can't handle memory operating at different speeds. Again you may or may not care about that, but just nor eason to waste money on a very fast new stick if you are goign to slow it right down by putting it next to your old 512. If that's the plan go ahead and just get an older/slower stick to put next to the 512 + will work the same way. To maximize your speed, you would find out what the top bus speed is on the motherboard, and then get two new sticks (I guess 1gb each in this case) of that speed.
Also be careful not to combine your current RAM and new RAM (i.e. adding new RAM stick rather than replacing your old ones) or the newer stuff will probably be restricted to running at the same speed as the older stuff. By that I mena if you keep your current old RAM stick and just buy 1 new RAM stick to put in next to it, the new RAM stick should work, but it will be forced to run at the same slower speed as your old RAM stick since the computer can't handle memory operating at different speeds. Again you may or may not care about that, but just nor eason to waste money on a very fast new stick if you are goign to slow it right down by putting it next to your old 512. If that's the plan go ahead and just get an older/slower stick to put next to the 512 + will work the same way. To maximize your speed, you would find out what the top bus speed is on the motherboard, and then get two new sticks (I guess 1gb each in this case) of that speed.
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Note too that cards like that have their own RAM to speed things along (the 128mb in this case).
That's not really the case. The best reason to use two identical sticks of RAM is because paired sets always internally outperform non-paired sticks due to the fact that they will undergo less data loss, memory corruption, and will always come stock with the same CAS timings.
Even if the stick of RAM in the computer right now is lower than PC3200, putting in two sticks of PC3200 mostly likely won't make the RAM run at that speed. If a, say, PC2700 stick is in her computer right now that means her CPU is running at 167 FSB, and unless s/he is planning on manually upping the FSB on her processor or applying an FBS:RAM ratio, then the effect of the speed of the RAM s/he buys is practically nil.
Although, an unlikely case could be that her processor does have an FSB of 200 and is already running on an FSB:RAM ratio with PC2700 (or lower) RAM. In that case, buying PC3200 and turning off the ratio actually would result in quite a speed increase for the whole computer. However, these types of set ups in stock computers are rare because FSB:RAM ratios almost always end in a slower computer with more problems. They were common in budget set up computers from a few years back when DDR1 first hit the scene. It was much more expensive back then and manufacturers could lower the price of their computers by throwing in slower RAM and slapping on a ratio.
Still, I'm guessing that the one stick of RAM in arwen's PC is PC3200 and that there's no ratio set up. I will echo Bricklayer's advice and tell you to make sure you buy a paired set of PC3200 RAM. Partly because it will perform at top speed for your computer no matter what, and also because PC3200 in a paired set it is often a much better value buying some slower versions of DDR1 (such as PC2700) just because it is by far the most common type.
Also, you could try out a little program called CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php). If you install it and click on the memory tab and then report back your RAM's clock speed, any one of us could tell you the exact type you have in there and if you have one of those pesky ratios on or not. But, its not all that necessary, since PC3200 will fix you up no matter what.
Even if the stick of RAM in the computer right now is lower than PC3200, putting in two sticks of PC3200 mostly likely won't make the RAM run at that speed. If a, say, PC2700 stick is in her computer right now that means her CPU is running at 167 FSB, and unless s/he is planning on manually upping the FSB on her processor or applying an FBS:RAM ratio, then the effect of the speed of the RAM s/he buys is practically nil.
Although, an unlikely case could be that her processor does have an FSB of 200 and is already running on an FSB:RAM ratio with PC2700 (or lower) RAM. In that case, buying PC3200 and turning off the ratio actually would result in quite a speed increase for the whole computer. However, these types of set ups in stock computers are rare because FSB:RAM ratios almost always end in a slower computer with more problems. They were common in budget set up computers from a few years back when DDR1 first hit the scene. It was much more expensive back then and manufacturers could lower the price of their computers by throwing in slower RAM and slapping on a ratio.
Still, I'm guessing that the one stick of RAM in arwen's PC is PC3200 and that there's no ratio set up. I will echo Bricklayer's advice and tell you to make sure you buy a paired set of PC3200 RAM. Partly because it will perform at top speed for your computer no matter what, and also because PC3200 in a paired set it is often a much better value buying some slower versions of DDR1 (such as PC2700) just because it is by far the most common type.
Also, you could try out a little program called CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php). If you install it and click on the memory tab and then report back your RAM's clock speed, any one of us could tell you the exact type you have in there and if you have one of those pesky ratios on or not. But, its not all that necessary, since PC3200 will fix you up no matter what.
No video memory is different. Since you said you have two memory slots, and you have a max mem of 2GB, your going to need to buy 2 new sticks of 1GB memory one for each slot. And, you won't be able to use the old memory if you want to move up to the max of 2GB.
But, be aware there are many versions and not all versions are compatible. There is ECC & NonECC memory, sticks with chips on both sides, and sticks with 4 chips and 8 chips on them and they're not all compatible with some motherboards. So, when you go to buy them make sure they are returnable.
But, be aware there are many versions and not all versions are compatible. There is ECC & NonECC memory, sticks with chips on both sides, and sticks with 4 chips and 8 chips on them and they're not all compatible with some motherboards. So, when you go to buy them make sure they are returnable.
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Don't let this be an overriding concern - adding a DVD burner costs about $35 at newegg.com and 15 minutes of time. For instance:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
I agree about the memory. For 2 GB add a matched pair of 1 GB DDR sticks that work at the desired speed for your computer.
Here is a list of some common speeds and the names of the modules (PCxxxx) when shopping.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-speed-tests,1807-3.html
and here is a good place to start shopping:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=17&name=Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
I agree about the memory. For 2 GB add a matched pair of 1 GB DDR sticks that work at the desired speed for your computer.
Here is a list of some common speeds and the names of the modules (PCxxxx) when shopping.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-speed-tests,1807-3.html
and here is a good place to start shopping:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=17&name=Memory