Gateway RAM

[Terminator14]

I have 3 questions:

1. Do Gateway computers need a specific kind of gateway RAM, or can you use a stick of DDR ram?

2. If I have a Gateway 831GM computer, and want a compatible 1 GB stick or RAM, what kind of RAM should I be looking for?

I'm pretty sure that the answer to this question is no but here it is:

3. Is the A-Data V-Series DDR Ram with the Model Number: VDBGC1A16 compatible with the Gateway 831GM computer?

 

[PC eye]

Specifications
Part Number: 5021Gateway 831GM Media Center Computer
Model: 831GM
Gateway® 831GM Media Center Computer SpecificationsProcessorIntel® Pentium® 4 630 with Hyper-Threading Technology

• 3.0 GHz
• 800 MHz FSB
• 2 MB cache on die Level 2

System ChipsetIntel 915G Express ChipsetMemoryInstalled: 512 MB PC3200 DDR-SDRAM (2 - 256 MB modules)
Expandable up to 2 GB
Support for dual channel memory mode

http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/R/5021/5021sp3.shtml

Specifications are the thing to go by when adding any new hardware like memory. The memory supported is DDR400 PC3200 upto 2gb. The memory configuration to enable dual channel mode can be looked over here,

[SIZE=-1]Dimm Capacity[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Configuration[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]SDRAM
Density[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]SDRAM Organization
Front-Side/Back-Side[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Number of
SDRAM Devices[/SIZE]128 MBSS256 Mbit16 M × 16/empty4256 MBSS256 Mbit32 M × 8/empty8256 MBSS512 Mbit32 M × 16/empty4512 MBDS256 Mbit32 M × 8/32 M × 816512 MBSS512 Mbit64 M × 8/empty8512 MBSS1 Gbit64 M × 16/empty41024 MBDS512 Mbit64 M × 8/64 M × 8/161024 MBSS1 Gbit128 M × 8/empty82048 MBDS1 Gbit128 M × 8/128 M × 8/16
http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Intel2/102007/102007faq40.shtml

From the chart you can see that 2 1gb DDR400 PC3200 dimms can be run on the board installed in that model.

 

[Terminator14]

Thanks for the info.

 

[PC eye]

The best place to go is direct to the manufacturer. Sometimes you can find a page that will list the recommended brands of memory already tested for a particular model board. Kingston, Corsair, Crucial, Mushkin, and a few others will usually see good results.