Laptop ram ..number mania

sillygoose

Hi,
I want to upgrade my Samsung netbook from 1gb to 2gb memory.

Easy enough, but all the memory sellers websites say the standard and upgrade memory is DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz. However looking in the slot it actually came from new with a 1gb 2Rx16 PC2-6400S-666-12-A3 module

Having trouble finding the significance of the 5300 or 6400 numbers, I understand the other is the max. clock speed.

7dayshop have these 2gb 6400 modules at a good price but its 800 clock, presume it would still work but just be running slower? its cheaper than the 667mhz 5300 modules! Confused!

Thanks for any insight.

-TangleFoot-

sillygoose wrote: »

I want to upgrade my Samsung netbook

Model number?

sillygoose

Hi,

NP-N130

-TangleFoot-

Crucial suggests something similar. You're right of course - the speed rating just tells you how fast the RAM can go.

sillygoose

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Crucial suggests something similar. You're right of course - the speed rating just tells you how fast the RAM can go.

ah! yes they do, hadn't tried Crucial. The 7 day one at £18.99 delivered looks a good bet then.

Cheers.

spakkker

PC2-5300 is DDR2 667mhz and PC2 6400 is ddr2 800mhz , they are an older way of describing ram which is still used and is based on the bandwidth or amount of throughput.
Faster ram should run at slower speeds but I wouldn't expect it to work at too much difference from rated.
As you have seen, slower ram is usually but not always cheaper and the manf. may have just stuck in ddr2 800 as it was available/cheaper. DDR2 800 was probably the most common speed before ddr3 came prevalent.
CPU-Z will tell you what is in and what slots you have - http://www.filehippo.com/download_cpuz/