Upgrading ram help

[Psychobob777]

Hello Computer Forum,

I am considering upgrading my current 512Mbs of ram to 1GB and last time I tried to upgrade I ordered the wrong size of ram how do I know if the ram I order will be the right size?

This is the ram I have picked out (nothing special just cheap)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820340018

 

[Cromewell]

Do you know what motherboard you have? We can tell you what RAM will work then.

 

[PC eye]

GARBAGE NOT JUST "CHEAP"!

The first thing to be looking at is what your board supports for memory as far as speed and type. The make seen at the link is low grade as well as low priced! This is one thing to look at as well. What would be needed here is the make and model board you are running for a look at the specifications. Brands like Kingston, Corsair, Crucial, and some others have good value memory to consider when going to choose a good reliable make.

 

[The_Other_One]

Something like CPUz should tell you what type of RAM your system has.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

 

[Psychobob777]

I used CPU-Z, it says I have : "DDR"

And my MoBo is:

MSI
moddle: MS-6747
Chipset: VIA

 

[Cromewell]

SO you probably want to get some DDR400 (PC3200) it's probably what you have installed now. What you have linked is DDR2 and will not fit.

Something like this would work http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220063

 

[PC eye]

It will certainly run 2gb of DDR333 PC2700 memory for sure but 400? But the memory you picked out at newegg was DDR2 240pin memory and not the DDR 184pin memory correct for the older MSI model there as Cromewell pointed out. Locating the actual specifications has been some fun. No MSI information or even vendor so far.

A few system information tools for actually seeing the detailed information on your system are found at http://www.testmyhardware.com/msi.html for the free tool there. And the best one found is SIW 1.67 available at http://www.gtopala.com/ All you need for this one is to create a desktop shortcut.

 

[Psychobob777]

I just want to make sure I get the right size because I really don't want to have to send it back again, isn't there some program out there that can tell me exactly what kind of ram I am using?

 

[lion149]

If you are just concerned with getting a stick that will work purchase here...

www.memory4all.com

 

[Cromewell]

CPUz will tell you DDR and PC3200 or whatever happens to be installed. Since it says DDR, the RAM I linked will fit, it may be a different speed then what you have but that's not a problem because the system will automatically run them at the slower speed.

 

[PC eye]

Hopefully anyways. Sometimes boards are flaky and simply won't support DDR400 while newer boards will 266, 333, 400. The type and latency could be more of a problem rather then dropping PC3200 on a PC2700 board. Buying a good brand even at a slightly higher price will also be a concern.

Cheap generic memory made by off brands can cause more problems unless the same company also makes a name brand and simply sells cheaper under a differnent name for more direct purpose to bypass the usual distributors.