computer desktop ram

dwhl

hi everyone,

much appreciated if you could help with this question

have a dell dimension 3100 computer and am looking to upgrade the ram from 256mb to 1gb
have checked on crucial and they suggest

Crucial
Part #: CT907900 • DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 128Meg x 64 • 1GB

however, i checked on play.com and realised that it was cheaper there.....but just before ordering i noticed that the spec on play said pc-5300 rather than pc2-5300.....is there a difference?

the spec for play is
Play.com Value Computer Memory / 1GB / PC5300 / DDR2 / 667Mhz / 240pin / DIMM


Will the ram from play.com work in my computer?

thanks in advance for the help
david

aliEnRIK

Can you send a link to it please? Some 1 gig ram sticks just wont work on most motherboards (The technical term is it wants to be a JEDEC standard)

(Hope I got that right )

Donnie

Download and run CPU-Z and check under SPD and Memory to see what is actually on board. I don't trust Crucial's tool.

dwhl

hi everyone,

thanks for the replies thus far....

the crucial link is http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?mfr=Dell&model=Dimension+3100

and the play one that I'm thinking about is

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3477798/Play-com-Value-Computer-Memory-1GB-PC5300-DDR2-667Mhz-240pin-DIMM/Product.html

thanks again
david

shaven-monkey

Both sticks are 240 pin, both run the same bus speed, both have lifetime warranties.

The play.com sticks should work just fine. worst case would be the stick just doesn't work in which case you send it back and get a replacement.

apparently the sticks will work better in a pair. At that price why not upgrade to 2 gig?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR2_SDRAM
pc2 is just marketing to say they've tested the stick at the speed they claim.

spud17

I bought a 1gb stick of the same spec fron Play.com, but for a laptop. It arrived 48hrs later and turned out to be Samsung, so very good value.

aliEnRIK

The thing to watch for with memory sticks (PARTICULARLY 1 gig ones) is you want LOW memory density. 'High' density ones dont work on the vast majority of motherboards (Ebay is full of them)
The play.com one seems fine

Donnie

Am I missing something? First of all, the OP mentions that Crucial recommends DDR2 PC2-5300, but when he posts the link it shows DDR2 PC2-4200.

He then links to DDR2 PC2-5300 from Play.com.

Maybe he can check as to what he actually has onboard.

PC-4200 £10.49

Conor_3

shaven-monkey wrote: »

Both sticks are 240 pin, both run the same bus speed, both have lifetime warranties.

The play.com sticks should work just fine. worst case would be the stick just doesn't work in which case you send it back and get a replacement.

...not from Play.com. They don't guarantee compatibility unlike Crucial. It's up to you to ensure its compatible whereas with Crucial, if you buy what it's recommended and it doesn't work,there's a no quibble refund policy.

SJames_3

Donnie wrote: »

Am I missing something? First of all, the OP mentions that Crucial recommends DDR2 PC2-5300, but when he posts the link it shows DDR2 PC2-4200.

He then links to DDR2 PC2-5300 from Play.com.

Maybe he can check as to what he actually has onboard.

PC-4200 £10.49

The link to the Crucial website recommends both as compatible upgrades if you scroll down to "Show All Compatible Upgrades".

dwhl, Buying 667Mhz DDR2 rather than 533Mhz DDR2 doesn't mean it'll be any faster if your PC only supports 533Mhz DDR2. It'll bump it's speed down to 533Mhz, however, 667Mhz DDR2 might possibly be more useful for any upgrades on a future machine, but isn't really a big deal.

Personally, I'd probably go for the Play.com module, it may run at lower latencies than the Crucial equivalent at 533Mhz, judging by the CL values. Or just play it safe and order from Crucial.

dwhl

thanks for all the helpful comments again everyone:beer:

will go ahead and buy the ram from play

cheers
david