Ram

[Lwek]

How do you find out what type of ram your computer can use?
How do you find out how much ram your computer can hold?
What is the difference between each of the different ram types(DDR, DDwhatever...)?

[Sicloan]

all of these specifications depend on your motherboard.. you'll have to look in the documentation or online for that info.

DDR = double data rate
SDRAM = single data rate
DDR2 = quadruple data rate.. (fastest of course, also new technology so i doubt your motherboard will take this)

they are not backwards compatable with each other.

[Lwek]

Alright, I found out my ram type and capacity on a site. Next question - What if I go over the maximum memory? What would happen?

[Gimmi]

Originally Posted by Lwek

Alright, I found out my ram type and capacity on a site. Next question - What if I go over the maximum memory? What would happen?

dont you know how microwaves were made?
what do you mean go over the maximim memory? like change soem files telling ur comp you have 1g when you have 512mb? or putting 1gig in a mobo that only can hold (whatever teh word should be) 512mb?

[Lwek]

Maximum memory allowed (for my computer) is 1 gigabyte but I want to upgrade it to 2 gigabyte.

[raDixGhost]

Originally Posted by Lwek

Maximum memory allowed (for my computer) is 1 gigabyte but I want to upgrade it to 2 gigabyte.

for that you would need to get a new motherboard.

[jd-inflames]

Ok, let's say you have 2 DIMM slots and your motherboard supports one gig. If you put a 1gb chip, your computer will read 1gb of ram (Just suggesting the board can support the chip). If you try and put an extra chip in the other slot, it's only going to access one gig of that memory, even if it is getting it from both chips.

Back in the day, motherboards couldn't support the "new" 256 chips (go ahead and laugh, I'm old.) so if you put one in, it would only register it at a 128mb chip. It wouldn't run like a 256mb chip either. Is this making any sense, sir? Just go by what your documentation tells you.

Oh, and contrary to popular belief, DDR speeds ARE backwards compatible (Not referring to DDR2, which is what Sicloan was referring to). For example, my motherboard only supports DDR266 (2100) yet I have DDR333 (2700) installed. It only runs at 266mhz and is being bottlenecked, but it still works indeed.

[Korittke]

Originally Posted by jd-inflames

Oh, and contrary to popular belief, DDR speeds ARE backwards compatible (Not referring to DDR2, which is what Sicloan was referring to). For example, my motherboard only supports DDR266 (2100) yet I have DDR333 (2700) installed. It only runs at 266mhz and is being bottlenecked, but it still works indeed.

But it's a waste of money and performance.

[jd-inflames]

It's not a waste of performance...it doesn't really act any different than when you are using the proper speeds. The only reason I have that right now is because I'm not going to be keeping this motherboard forever, and 2700 just happened to be all I had sitting around

[RaidenMZX]

SDRAM = single data rate

Actually SDRAM = Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory.

Anyway, as posted above make sure you check your motherboard's specifications and documentation to determine how many sticks it can hold, and what types it supports, and the other good stuff.

It's also important to buy RAM that was the correct amount of pins, having 120 pins on a RAM stick won't exactly fit in a 108 pin slot.

Also keep in mind that you cannot mix RAM types, such as DDR and SDRAM; HOWEVER, you CAN mix RAM speeds, such as DDR PC2100 and DDR PC2300, the DDR PC2300 will be underclocked to the speed of the DDR PC2100 though, so only mix speeds if you are unable to find the more appropriate type.

Edit: Everest Home Edition, available at http://www.lavalys.com is also a good tool for finding out information on your PCs Hardware. I hope I've been of help!

[jd-inflames]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have 3 slots and you load one with PC2100 and the other two with PC3200, won't it read all 3 as 266Mhz even though the board will support 400?

[Sicloan]

yea it cant determine the fastest speed. So if your motherboard can support 2 gigs pc3200 and you have 1 gig pc2700 and 1 gig pc3200... both are gunna run at pc2700 speeds.

And sdram is also backwards compatable.. meaning you can put 133 mhz sdram in a 100 mhz board and it will run at 100 mhz. same with DDR...

what i mean about being backwards compatable before is that DDR / sdram / DDR2 dont have the same types of slots (pins) so they generally arent on the same board (unless you get boards when ddr was first coming out)