RAM Compatibility

How do you know whether your system can handle a certain type of ram?nuokyaliV

You could check your motherboard manual or manufacturer's website. Alternatively, download CPU-Z, it'll tell you what type of RAM your motherboard has eg. DDR2, DDR. it'll also have the speed of your current RAM so it's prolly best to get the same speed. In most cases faster RAM will also work, although it will be clocked down to match the speed of existing RAM or the maximum speed the motherboard supports.

Well this is the current ram im using.

Manufacturer : Nanya Technology

Part Number : M2U25664DS88C3G-5T
Serial Number : 942A2C0B
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC-3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 256 MB (1 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module SLi Ready (EPP) : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Prefetch Buffer : 2-bit
Manufacture : Week 19 of 2005
Supported Frequencies : 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz
I am looking to purchase

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-1GB-PC3200-400MHZ-DDR-RAM-MEMORY-184PIN-PC-3200-400_W0QQitemZ330247222622QQihZ014QQcategoryZ44936QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Well this is the current ram im using.

Manufacturer : Nanya Technology

Part Number : M2U25664DS88C3G-5T
Serial Number : 942A2C0B
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC-3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 256 MB (1 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module SLi Ready (EPP) : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Prefetch Buffer : 2-bit
Manufacture : Week 19 of 2005
Supported Frequencies : 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz
I am looking to purchase

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-1GB-PC3200-400MHZ-DDR-RAM-MEMORY-184PIN-PC-3200-400_W0QQitemZ330247222622QQihZ014QQcategoryZ44936QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

nuokyaliV

Well that RAM would probably work as it's DDR400 like your existing RAM. However, it is high-density RAM, and that's the RAM to stay away from. it's basically cheap generic crap and often has issues with stability and performance or may not even post with some motherboards. Look for low-density DDR400 and you shouldn't have any problems, an easy way to tell is if the chip configuration is 64m, if its 128m bits, then it's high density.

Since you obviously have an old system and most likely running xp or older, I would suggest a 1gb kit of RAM. Something like this would work. Take out your current 256mb stick and put these in corresponding coloured RAM slots so they run in dual channel for better performance.

Would it be better to get 1GB stick or 512x2? And manufacturer of RAM would you recommend?nuokyaliV

I would say 2x 512mb since it'll run in dual channel vs 1gb in one channel, however performance gains are marginal. As for the brand, best to stick with reputable brands such as, corsair, kingston, ocz, patriot, crucial.

Here are a bunch of sites

http://www.pricespy.com.au/pno_2156.html

Just curious though, what are the rest of your system specs? Like CPU etc.

Mainboard : Unspecified SiS-661
Chipset : SiS 661FX/GX
Processor : Intel Pentium 4 @ 2800 MHz
Physical Memory : 256 MB (1 x 256 DDR-SDRAM )
Video Card : ATI Technologies Inc Radeon 9600 XT (V350)
Hard Disk : WDC (80 GB)
CD-Rom Drive : HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8526B
DVD-Rom Drive : TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-W162Z
Monitor Type : BenQ BenQ FP737s-D - 17 inches
Network Card : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS900 10/100 Ethernet Adapter
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2
DirectX : Version 9.0c

Well I found this one. Question : How do you know if its dual channel?

Mainboard : Unspecified SiS-661
Chipset : SiS 661FX/GX
Processor : Intel Pentium 4 @ 2800 MHz
Physical Memory : 256 MB (1 x 256 DDR-SDRAM )
Video Card : ATI Technologies Inc Radeon 9600 XT (V350)
Hard Disk : WDC (80 GB)
CD-Rom Drive : HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8526B
DVD-Rom Drive : TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-W162Z
Monitor Type : BenQ BenQ FP737s-D - 17 inches
Network Card : Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) SiS900 10/100 Ethernet Adapter
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2
DirectX : Version 9.0c

Well I found this one. Question : How do you know if its dual channel?

nuokyaliV

Yes, that would be a good choice. You can run pretty much any RAM in dual channel, as long as they are the same sitcks. In this case you get 2x 512mb sticks in a kit, which ensures best compatibility.

Since dual channel only works in pairs, you'll need to take your 256mb stick out and just use your 2 new 512mb sticks.

So you motherboard will look something like this, you would put a 512mb stick in each of the blue slots to run them in dual channel.

Is there any other way to check if its low density? I found another ram im interested in.

Click Here

Is there any other way to check if its low density? I found another ram im interested in.

Click Here

nuokyaliV

Yes, that's low density. Pretty much only the generic no-brand RAM are high density often found cheap on ebay. As long as you stick to the reputable brand names like the ones I mentioned, you'll be right.

[QUOTE="nuokyaliV"]

Is there any other way to check if its low density? I found another ram im interested in.

Click Here

andyroo08

Yes, that's low density. Pretty much only the generic no-brand RAM are high density often found cheap on ebay. As long as you stick to the reputable brand names like the ones I mentioned, you'll be right.

Thats not really true. I just bought 1GB of RAM from Ebay for $18 w/ shipping, it didnt have a brand. It was also advertized as "low-density".

[QUOTE="andyroo08"][QUOTE="nuokyaliV"]

Is there any other way to check if its low density? I found another ram im interested in.

Click Here

crazy-player

Yes, that's low density. Pretty much only the generic no-brand RAM are high density often found cheap on ebay. As long as you stick to the reputable brand names like the ones I mentioned, you'll be right.

Thats not really true. I just bought 1GB of RAM from Ebay for $18 w/ shipping, it didnt have a brand. It was also advertized as "low-density".

Where in my post did I say all the no-brand RAM is high-density? It was a generalisation and it's true.

Just one last question. Okay i got my ram and installed it successfully. Well when viewing the speed section of CPUZ. I click on all 4 slots and it seems to be that only slot 1 is taken.. And when i select the other 3 slots. Its all blank?

Here you go