wat RAM should i buy? (1 Viewer)

[Rahul]

i've looked around at the different sorts and types. wat is the diff between ddr 2100, 2700 and 3200? i got that was from arc comps. also 333 and 433Mhz?

 

[Rahul]

oh btw, looking for 256 ddrRAM

 

[Huy]

what mainboard do you have?

see your user manual, for which types of ram modules your pc uses

pc3500 = 433mhz
pc3200 = 400mhz
pc2700 = 333mhz
pc2100 = 266mhz

 

[Rahul]

oh so pc_ _ _ _ is the kind of mainboard u have.

is there someway i can check the mainboard i have thru my comp?

 

[Huy]

pcxx00 is the type of ram modules that your computer will take,

they are backward compatible though,
for example
if you buy a pc3200 (DDR400) module, then you can use it in a pc2700 mainboard (which supports a maximum of DDR333, however the ram modules, rated at DDR400 (ie 400mhz) will only run at 333mhz (because of the limitation of that mainboard)

i suggest you find out what mainboard you have, before you purchase ram, if it's fairly recent, then it should support pc3200 (ddr400) -- if not, then go for pc2100 (266mhz)

if you're using a pentium4, it'll use rambus/RDRAM, but the p4's these days run on pcxx00, so that will work too.

go to
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php#download

download cpu-z 1.19c
and you'll find out from there

or you could take a look in your device manager (though i doubt it will tell you anything but the manufacturer of the mainboard)

so your best bet will be cpuid.com
download it, run it and go to your 'mainboard tab'

it will tell you things about your processor, your current mainboard and the type of ram installed, so you'll know from there

to answer your question,
the brand/model of your mainboard will determine the type of memory that you're able to run.

e.g. if you have an asus mobo for amd cpu's,
then you'll likely be running pc2100 or 2700 ram (266/333mhz)

but if you are using a new p4
then it'll be any mainboard, (intel, abit, asus, etc.)
and you'll be using pc3200/ddr400

first things first, find out your mainboard
take a look at the online manual for it
and find out what type of ram modules your mainboard can use.

if your computer is REALLY old, then it will run SDRAM, not DDR.

 

[freaking_out]

hey, i downloaded the cpu-z program and under the cpu tab it says that the specification is pentium 4 2.66 ghz, but under core speeds it says 2159.7Mhz i don't get why the values are different?

 

[Huy]

where did you get your cpu?
did you buy your computer, or did you build it?

(i doubt that you would have "under-clocked" your cpu)

i tend to think that if you paid for a 2.66ghz, and received a 2.2ghz instead, you were jipped

what does it say under the rest?
bus speed, fsb, multiplier

right click my computer, properties
what does it say there?

intel(r) pentium(r) 4 cpu 2.xghz
2.xghz
xGB of ram

did you buy a boxed cpu? did it have 2.6ghz on it?
did you try reloading cpu-z?

or have you tried wcpuid?
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html

see what that displays,
have you changed the multiplier (if not locked)
or the fsb?
i don't think you've been tampering with it though
ie over/underclocking your cpu

but make sure everything is right

 

[Beaky]

Ummm if all those Rams are compatible with your comp go for DDR 333 for the simple reasons

1. It has just official recieved recoginition by the JEDEC so it has basically become a standard...
2. DDR400 can give you some eratic performance and is not the most stable RAM on the market...
3. It costs more compared the perfomance gain. DDR333 perfomance is quite close to DDR400...

Other than that... its up to u!!!

 

[freaking_out]

i have attached the what it says on my computer!! oh yeah i got it from this computer store and the guy told me 2.6 ghz!! do u reckon i got ripped (but i better make sure)?

 

[freaking_out]

this is my cpu-z screen shot!!!!

 

[Huy]

freaking_out:

now that is unusual. the cpu has been identified as being a 2.66GHz but it is only running at 2.16GHz?

Just a quick question,
going from your CPU-Z screenie, what type of ram are you using?
why do I ask? because you have a strange FSB (front side bus), and it's a northwood .13u cpu. (it must be fairly recent as well).

your cpu doesn't have HT (hyperthreading), so it isn't brand new i gather, however under "clocks" it seems a little off.

e.g. you have a 2.66GHz, and it is specified,
your multiplier is 20x, which is fine,
but when you take a look at your FSB, it is only 100mhz?

which leads me to the memory question,
what type of ram are you using?
how much ram do you have?
what brand?

because my system bus runs at 1GHz (overclocked my 800mhz p4 with HT), but i have my FSB at 270mhz (memory dependent, clocked at 2-2-2-5, dual channel 2x512MB ddr400)

-- so the reason you see 2.16GHz, instead of "2.66GHz" is because of your ram (narrowed down to the FSB)

the previous p4's were quad-pumped,
so they operated at a 533mhz bus
looking at yours, you have very strange numbers at 431.9mhz
go and take a look at your memory (RAM) modules, if they are not ddr, then that would be it. - or do you own an intel p4 mainboard which supports SDRAM, which would explain a lot of things.

 

[freaking_out]

hey, this is my ram-specifications. also this computer is only 3 days old!!!!!!

 

[Huy]

that screenshot only tells me how much ram you have,
256 -1/4 of a GB of memory

use cpu-z
in the 'memory' tab, take a picture of that
show the 'modules information'

 

[freaking_out]

oops...i attached the wrong snapshot.....here the memory tab from cpuz...

 

[Huy]

That is really weird.
If it is 3 days old,

I would want to bring it back and "check" to see if:
a) You have got the right memory
b) You have got the right CPU.

I know this can happen with AMD CPUs,
e.g. XP1900+ not registering the correct core clock speed.

What is strange is that it doesn't show any brands.
Ask about the type of ram installed (I see one stick of 256MB installed)

Also talk to him/her about any boxes you might have received,
but try not to say "YOU RIPPED ME OFF!" blatantly.

Just ask politely, wondering why it says "2.16" instead of "2.66"
(500MHz is a significant increase).

If my trials weren't around the corner, I would do more research for you on the matter.

 

[freaking_out]

if my trials weren't around the corner, I would do more research for you on the matter.

na, its ok you have given me enough information man...btw, should i (or u) post this problem up in another computer forum??

 

[Huy]

Just an update to freaking_out:

Your FSB needs to be adjusted (via the BIOS or on the board itself).

It has to be changed from 108 to 133MHz.
Because 133 x 20 (multiplier setting) = 2660 MHz = 2.66GHz

At present, it is set to 108MHz
Therefore, 108 * 20 = 2160MHz

Whereas 133 * 20 = 2660MHz



Also, your bus speed:

At the moment: 108 * 4 = 432MHz
Once changed to 133 * 4 = 533 MHz

Which is what you want

2.66GHz + 533 FSB (133 bus, quad-pumped (x4))

 

[Rahul]

wtf???!

the information for the mainboard is not there.....i included the screenshots. maybe i missed it.

altho there was a warning before cpuid opened, "An error occured when opening the driver. CPU-Z will launch but all information won't be available"

 

[Rahul]

hmmm....better include the screenshots aye!!!

 

[freaking_out]

Originally posted by Huy
Just an update to freaking_out:

Your FSB needs to be adjusted (via the BIOS or on the board itself).

hey, is this easy to do by my self or should i take it back to the shop??