What RAM should I buy?

adaadat

I want to upgrade my paltry 1 GB (2 x 512 MB) RAM to a single 2 GB stick, but I don't really know what the differences are between all the types.

At some point I'd like to add another 2 GB, so should I choose a make that will still be around in a year's time, or doesn't it matter - it's all the same?

I ran Crucial's scanner and was told:
...........................
Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-6400,DDR2 PC2-8500,DDR2 PC2-5300 with a maximum of 2GB per slot.*
*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.
...........................

Donnie

What is the brand name and model of your computer?

Hammyman

Buy what the Crucial memory scanner recommends from their site. Its guaranteed compatible with lifetime guarantee and because of the free postage, is no dearer than getting decent stuff elsewhere.

calvinac

What OS you are using?

fwor

Two other things to consider:

If your motherboard supports dual-channel memory access then you will get better performance with two modules of the same size than a single larger one. The effect is not thought to be very large (5-10% perhaps) but is worth considering.

If you're getting another module later, don't worry about getting the same make, but try to make sure that it has the same timing (CAS latency, etc) as the first one, as typically slower memory will bring down access speed for the whole system if mixed with memory that can run faster.

Donnie

Hammyman wrote: »

Buy what the Crucial memory scanner recommends from their site. Its guaranteed compatible with lifetime guarantee and because of the free postage, is no dearer than getting decent stuff elsewhere.

This, of course, is pure nonsense.

Crucial is consistently more expensive than other reliable sources and secondly and more importantly; even Crucial recommends that you check with your Manufacturer specification before you buy.

The is a MoneySaving website, lest you need to be reminded.

totalsolutions

Try Kingston as well. Memory prices can rise as well as go down. Purchase all your memory now as it may not be available later and it will be a matched pair. You will make better use of it now. PS Windows 32 bit will only use 3GB not the max 4GB.

adaadat

My P.C. was a system build, specified and bought online, so it is pretty generic.

Crucial states:
Guaranteed-compatible memory upgrades for your M2V Motherboard .
We were not able to determine the manufacturer and/or model of your PC, but we were able to complete our scan with information from your motherboard.

The motherboard, supposedly, supports dual channel memory and, for my sins, I'm still on 32-bit XP.

EEC or non-EEC?

I was considering scrapping the 2 x 512MB, replacing them with 2x1GB and then dumping these, at a later date, for 2x2GB, or plumping for the 2x2GB now. Obviously, in the long run, the latter would be cheaper, but ~£100 is pretty steep.

weegie.geek

ECC is for server hardware, you probably don't need that sort.

£76 at Play for 2x2GB DDR2 800

Richie-from-the-Boro

"" I want to upgrade my paltry 1 GB (2 x 512 MB) RAM to a single 2 GB stick, but I don't really know what the differences are between all the types ""

> not the best idea, but the line below explains why you thought it was, as fwor says you should choose according to your
> motherboard chipset needs and the availability of memory slots on the motherboard

At some point I'd like to add another 2 GB, so should I choose a make that will still be around in a year's time, or doesn't it matter - it's all the same?

> not the best idea, if you only have two slots and you want to upgrade later, you will have to throw away your old and your newly purchased memory

Get this ( cpu-z_1.54-setup-en.exe ) , click on the mainboard tab and tell the group what your :

- manufacturer & model is, then click on the memory tab and tell us
- what memory is is and if its dual channel, then click on the SPD tab and tell us
- look where it says SLOT #1 and it will tell you haw many slots in total and if they are populated
- it will even tell you the brand of your memory [ if it is a branded variety ]

NOTE your MV2 MOBO will almost certainly be an ASUS and if your staying with WinXP O/S you will not benefit from 4GIG

weegie.geek

4 slots by the look of it, so I'd probably just fire in another 2x512MB, or 2x1GB along with the 2x512MB that are already there.