Installing new ram?

L

Lomandriel

New Member
So basically my motherboard (Abit NF7-S v2.0) is running 512 mb ddr ram. i'll copy and paste the details of my hardware tha ti saved all so many yrs ago:

512 mb PC-3200 DDR Hyundai(now known as hynix) - $149

So basically my question is, we've got an old non-working computer(motherboard or somethign dodgy with power) and I want to use the ram there. I'm pretty sure since its about around the 2-3 yr old mark like my computer, that its DDR1 ram as well, 512mb. BUt i cant be exactly too sure.

Would there be any damage to my computer or the ram if it turns out not to be DDR? eg: something older, I doubt its ddr2 however.

Also what's the best way to remove it from that computer and put it in myn? I'm really worried since i've been warned ahead that if i stuff it up(bro doesnt trust me) and spoil the ram i'm paying for it. I wanted to use it as a cost effective boost to my system since its not being used, but if i end up paying for it it'd be much worse >.<"

so yeah is it a simple just PUll out of the slot like a pci card? Should i just hold the sides when pulling? and yeah is there any levers or Particularly WHICH way around shoudl the ram be inserted in the hole? Is their a right way around to put the ram in?

I just don't wanna screw this up since i've never put in /taken out ram before.
 
I don't think it will fit unless it's the correct socket type. Pretty sure the actual sockets changed at some point. If it is the correct type but something else is wrong then it shouldn't cause any damage, it just won't work.

To remove, push down(out) the levers at either side and pull the memory out.
To insert, push both levers down(out), put memory in the right way (it will only fit one way but look at it before trying to force it in the wrong way!) apply equal pressure to either side. It should slot in and the levers will flip up and click into the notches in the memory.
 
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Haha thanks for the speedy reply.

So yeap confirming: My motherboards for DDR ram, so any other type of incompatible ram should not fit? anyone else got an opinion on this?

Ok the levers sounds like something i can do :D i should just hold the sides of the ram? No harm with that sinc ei have no static wrist band or whatsoever :D only my pure hands haha

How exactly woudl I tell which way the ram should face since I"ve heard you have to push fairly hard to get it in? I notice some old SD ram (i think its sd? pc 133?) has one side flat with the normal circuits, but on the back it has multiple of those little black boxes/covers. Should the black boxes/covers be facing a certain way(left or right)? in other words any real way of telling if i've got the ram facing the right way before pushing it in?

Btw could i face any problems int erms of the memory slot? Since for 3 yrs nothigns been in there its probabyl dusty.. i think i have some of that pressurised air , do i needa whip that out?
 
If your board takes DDR then ONLY DDR will fit, The newer DDR2 and the older SDRAM are different form factors i.e. the bottom bits are different, so they will only fit into the corresponding sockets.

To tell which way it goes in, look at the ram itself. It will have 1 offset cutout at the bottom where the gold connectors are dividing it into a large and smaller segment. The slot on the motherboard will mirror this. So it's simply a case of making sure you're trying to put the large segment into the large section of the slot and the small into the small, not vice versa.

When inserting memory I apply pressure to the top of the memory (thin bit) at either end - slowly but gently and it will click into place.

Getting rid of the dust always helps, personally I use a vacuum cleaner as pressurised air just blows the dust somewhere else. Make sure it's going in straight!

Found you an example:

184dimm.jpg


The notches in the side are where the levers clip into when in place. See the bottom gold bit and the cutout? See how one side is longer than the other?
 
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True, i had a problem with the dust doing that.. but after you blow around abit it eventually somehow gets out of the computer :D In the end it was better than not doing anything Haha :D the only problem i have(offtopic :D) is the power supply unit inside, has its little mesh holes covered with dust, im worried spraying it away effectively will push the dust into the holes? is their a fan inside that deals iwth dust that goes in that way? or at least is it protected from dust accumulating inside the psu till it blows or something :S

anyway how do you vacuum insid ethe ram slot and little small gaps anyway? :D i have heard of a little mini usb driven cleaning thing thats really small, no idea what they are/where you can get em from tho =(

anyway back to the topic, yeah that helped. if their really is only one way the ram and the type of ram can fit in i should be able to get it worked out. The only problem im thinking is i cant actually see the ram slot (theres a heap of crap and wires above it) so I might not be able to see which end of the ram slot is for the long end etc :(

well now my biggest worry is holding it so it doesnt screw up the ram but i guess I shoudl get around that if i just proceed carefully holding the sides only :D
 
Btw read some things relating to having to put eg: 2 x 512 mb ram, or 2 x 1gb, rather than say 1 x 256 mb and a 1x 512 mb together, or is this for the old ram modules? So i can pair whatever size ram now together on ddr?

The second query was something about not mixing up different brand ram? Im pretty sure the other computer is not hynix , hopefully its not generic :D but is mixing alright?

once i chuck in the ram will my windows automatically use it? nothing i needa put into place on asoftware base or installation basis? :D
 
I just use a normal dyson hoover stick the nozzel over the top of the slot and it would suck any dust out, same with the PSU.

Don't be afraid of your computer, as long as you're not a walking static machine them you can freely handle components. Obviously make sure the machine is off before you do anything. Just move the cables out the way with your hand, unplug them if need be as long as you are comfortable with putting them back where they came from.
Once you've got a clear path, offer the memory to the slot at an angle so that you can see which way round it needs to be.

You can mix and match brands and sizes and yes windows should recognise it. Sometimes you do get memory modules that simply won't get on with each other - you might not be able to boot or might get lockups or windows errors - just take the one you put in back out again in that case.
 
WEll i did a search and i came up with this:

Users can use a vacuum to suck up dirt, dust, or hair around their computer on the outside case and on their keyboards. However, do not use a vacuum for the inside of your computer as it generates a lot of static electricity that can damage the internal components of your computer. If you need to use a vacuum to clean the inside of your computer, use a portable battery powered vacuum designed to do this job.

Don't know if its actually true though? Are you using abattery powered one /small mini usb too? Or the standard vacuum? Or perhaps someone else has a 3rd opinion? :D

alright i'll give taking the ram out a go now, hopefully all goes according to plan *switches comp off*
 
Lomandriel said:
WEll i did a search and i came up with this:

Users can use a vacuum to suck up dirt, dust, or hair around their computer on the outside case and on their keyboards. However, do not use a vacuum for the inside of your computer as it generates a lot of static electricity that can damage the internal components of your computer. If you need to use a vacuum to clean the inside of your computer, use a portable battery powered vacuum designed to do this job.

Don't know if its actually true though? Are you using abattery powered one /small mini usb too? Or the standard vacuum? Or perhaps someone else has a 3rd opinion? :D

alright i'll give taking the ram out a go now, hopefully all goes according to plan *switches comp off*
Click to expand...

I've used a normal mains powered dyson to clean pc's out for years and not had any problems.
 
haha oh well guess it isnt important, i still had my can of air anyway.. and fyi it is pretty exp for air here i was shocked, $20 from dick smiths or was it tandy in the city -__" for air.. lol but i still have a can left and part of the first can so i used that.

Anyway back to the topic.. it took me FOREVER to get those ram in i swear.. i was prepared for it to basically snap in half or the motherboard to cave downwards with the amount of pressure i had to put. at times one end would push in and the other end wouldnt, it was near impossible to push both ends in at the same time, and my locking arms dont seem to "click" in as noticeable, in fact unless your watching sometimes i didnt even know they'd partly close.

Anyway after having problems booting up and realising they werent in properly I FINALLY got them in. And i striked the jackpot at least. Inside the computer there were 2 x 256 mbs and 1 x 1gb! Woot. so obviously i stole the 1 gb and a 256, and added taht in with my 512mb :D hehe major ass boost now at least.

Anyway I'm just wondering the way my memory slots are positioned, there're Two slots close together and one by itself further away.

Anyway when i plugged the 256mb in the 3rd slot it turned on fine. I chucked the 1gb in the second slot which is close to my curretn 512mb and now i get the "Dual channel ddr enabled" when i boot up. It sounds like something good for performance, but can someone explan what this is? And have I enabled this dual channel properly since i have a 512 and a different size(1gb) running together?

The inserted ram sticks say either ddr 400 or pc3200 or a combination of both. My hynix I already had was 512mb and pc3200 so i assume their all the same speed / have no compatability issues?
 
btw with respects to the FSB speed, in memtest when i was checking over the memory sticks i had liek a fsb of 166 or 168 or something, forgot what the FSB was.. somewhere that low. Anyway basically it said DDR was running at 332 Mhz, I always thought when I overhear about DDR ram its usually involves "ddr 333" or something? did mem test just calculate it wrongly?

Anyway thats not my main concern. I assume ddr400 means 400 mhz? so effectively the memorys running at 332/333 mhz, is that how its meant to be? Or can i somehow get it up to 400 by removing some sorta bottleneck or whatever?
 
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