Need help regarding Ram for computer.

anotherquestion

Hi there folks, 
I have a Pcspecialist pc that is over 11 years old, has had a few upgrades in its time, runs pretty fast with an SSD. have a quad core CPU, at the moment I am quite happy with the perforrmance, but probably would like to add some more memory (it has 4GB Ram 2 sticks of 2gb each I believe, with two spare slots) 
The motherboard is an  Asus M4A785TD-V EVO, I am looking at this memory on ebay, do you think this might do the trick to bring the total memory up to 8GB buying two sticks of 2GB each.
Memory Ram 4 Asus Motherboard Desktop M4A785TD-M EVO M4A785TD-V New 2x Lot | eBay
Thanks for any advice if this memory is ok?
Here are further details from Speccy software.

RAM

Memory slots

Total memory slots 4

Used memory slots 2

Free memory slots 2

Memory

Type DDR3

Size 4096 MBytes

Channels # Dual

DRAM Frequency 535.7 MHz

CAS# Latency (CL) 7 clocks

RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 7 clocks

RAS# Precharge (tRP) 7 clocks

Cycle Time (tRAS) 20 clocks

Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 27 clocks

Command Rate (CR) 1T

Physical Memory

Memory Usage 71 %

Total Physical 4.00 GB

Available Physical 1.14 GB

Total Virtual 7.25 GB

Available Virtual 2.58 GB

SPD

Number Of SPD Modules 2

Slot #1
And the Motherboard deals are,

Motherboard

Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.

Model M4A785TD-V EVO (AM3)

Version Rev X.0x

Chipset Vendor AMD

Chipset Model 785G

Chipset Revision 00

Southbridge Vendor AMD

Southbridge Model SB700

Southbridge Revision 00

System Temperature 52 °C

BIOS

Brand American Megatrends Inc.

Version 2105

Date 23/07/2010

Voltage

CPU CORE 1.344 V

+3.3V 3.344 V

+12V 12.864 V

-12V -6.272 V

PCI Data

Slot PCI-E

Slot Type PCI-E

Slot Usage Available

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCIE1X_1

Characteristics 3.3V, Shared, PME

Slot Number 0

Slot PCI-E x16

Slot Type PCI-E x16

Slot Usage In Use

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCIE16X_1

Characteristics 3.3V, Shared, PME

Slot Number 1

Slot PCI

Slot Type PCI

Slot Usage Available

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCI1

Characteristics 3.3V, Shared, PME

Slot Number 2

Slot PCI

Slot Type PCI

Slot Usage Available

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCI2

Characteristics 3.3V, Shared, PME

Slot Number 3

Slot PCI

Slot Type PCI

Slot Usage In Use

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCI3

Characteristics 3.3V, Shared, PME

Slot Number 4

Slot PCI-E x16

Slot Type PCI-E x16

Slot Usage Available

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCIE16X_2

Characteristics 3.3V, Shared, PME

Slot Number 5

CPU

AMD Phenom II X4 945 49 °C

Deneb 45nm Technology

RAM

4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 535MHz (7-7-7-20)

Motherboard

ASUSTeK Computer INC. M4A785TD-V EVO (AM3) 49 °C

Graphics

W2261 (1280x960@60Hz)

2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (ASUStek Computer Inc) 41 °C

Storage

1863GB Western Digital WDC WD20EZRX-00DC0B0 ATA Device (SATA ) 29 °C

465GB Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB ATA Device (SATA (SSD)) 34 °C

2794GB Western Digital WDC WD30EZRX-00D8PB0 ATA Device (SATA ) 29 °C

Optical Drives

Optiarc DVD RW AD-5240S ATA Device

Audio

High Definition Audio Device

bob_a_builder

What does the Crucial scanner say 
https://uk.crucial.com/

anotherquestion

Thanks here is the link to the Crucial scan result, I do like the price though on ebay provided it is the right memory.
https://uk.crucial.com/scanview/FEFE93D631D926C3

getmore4less

Check CEX they are often the cheapest.
Might need to go local to check spec of any stock.

[Deleted User]

It's worth a go for £10.99 but just be aware of a few things. Normally I'd only ever put all matching brand / speed / spec chips in each slot for maximum compatibility. That is not to say mixed brand / speed / spec won't work but there is a chance that they won't play nice - your motherboard manual agrees with me:


1. So on the CAS matter, the modules you are buying are CL9 @ 1333Mhz = 13.5ns but the existing ram is CL7 @ 1066Mhz = 13.125ns so they are very closely matched so should be ok but does make me feel a bit woozy without knowing the full underlying spec.

2. The new RAM will only run at the slower speed of the old RAM - so existing is 1066 and new is 1333 but will only run at 1066 speed. The motherboard will support 1600 speed RAM so you aren't getting the best out of the chips.

3. It is best practice to put the matched pairs in the same channel - for your board that will mean putting your old ram (if not already) in slots A1 and B1 and the new ones in A2 and B2.


4. I note that the manual says the following, however the crucial ram advisor report is showing the 2GB modules as 256 megabit just like the eBay ones as well so I'm a bit confused by this but it is another potential pitfall:


Personally I wouldn't but I'm probably a bit of a perfectionist with RAM chips and can't sleep properly unless they are all from the same batch, but for £10.99 you may give it a try bearing in mind everything I've said above.

If your budget can stretch, I'd get 2x4GB 1600Mhz chips and sell your existing ones. That way you will get the full benefit of 50% extra speed and no worries about compatibility.

anotherquestion

Thank you very much for the detailed in depth reply. Lots of things for me to consider here, I take it I can't damage the motherboard if the new Ram doesn't work? will have a good think about the best way to go forward with this.

Zandoni

The bottom line is if you get it from Crucial you can be pretty sure it will work.

HereToday

Zandoni said:

The bottom line is if you get it from Crucial you can be pretty sure it will work.

How is that the bottom line?? Crucial's bottom line perhaps; since you will be paying at least double.
If you want to be 100% sure, without breaking the bank; better to buy from the manufacturers approved list. Example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174782219024

If you are going to pay Crucial prices then better to spend the money upgrading the CPU to a six core.

anotherquestion

Thanks a lot everybody, so very tempted to get it off ebay, can I just ask though, as long as these Ram chips fit in motherboard, is there any way I could damage the motherboard by trying to run them?

[Deleted User]

anotherquestion said:

Thanks a lot everybody, so very tempted to get it off ebay, can I just ask though, as long as these Ram chips fit in motherboard, is there any way I could damage the motherboard by trying to run them?

No, won't do any harm to the hardware. You'll find out pretty quickly if they are incompatible, I'd say 99% they'll work, the main takeaway from my long post above is that they won't be running at rated speed but you will find benefit in having 8GB total RAM.

Just one final suggestion - 2x 4GB 1600 RAM are as little as £20 - just think whether you want to spend an extra tenner and get the higher speed and no compatibility worries.

HereToday

anotherquestion said:

Thanks a lot everybody, so very tempted to get it off ebay, can I just ask though, as long as these Ram chips fit in motherboard, is there any way I could damage the motherboard by trying to run them?

Just buy the ones that I have indicated and follow tallmansix's guide on the configuration.