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Topic: upgrade ram |
John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 6:22 am |
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I want to upgrade to more memory in two computers. The specs say they support a max of 2.5v PC2700 DDR333, 184 pin memory sticks. This is getting hard to find and some of the newer memory can be found on special, at cheaper prices.
Will my computers support the newer ram such as PC3200 or above?
One computer is a VIA KT400 board w/amd 1.8ghz processor. One is an emachine D2823 w/celeron 2.4mhz processor. |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 6:28 am
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John;
I assume that you made a typo with the 2.5v and meant 2 GigaBytes.
You can substitute faster RAM when adding as long as it is compatable with your motherboard. If you have PC2700 RAM now and add PC3200 the new RAM will clock slower, at the 333 Mhz bus speed. It will not get the same level of performance as it would in a 400 Mhz system, but other than that it should work fine.
I happen to have a web page full of details about RAM types and speeds and links to search tools to identify which RAM is best suited to various motherboards, and how much you they can use, on my RAM page.
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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 23 March 2006 at 06:30 AM.] |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 7:00 am
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Thanks, Wiz. I will check your page.
No, that is not a typo. The ram specs list "2.5v power level".
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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 11:32 am
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John;
My RAM page has links to online memory advisors for Crucial and Kingson, two top memory companies. Use the advisor tools to lookup your motherboard and/or computer make/model. They will tell you how many RAM modules you can install, what the maximum capacity is, and what clock speed is recommended. If you are going to do a large upgrade you might want to consider buying a matched pair. Some motherboards support running matched pairs in what is known as dual channel mode, which doubles the effective performance over standard single channel mode.
I hope that wasn't too confusing.
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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here. [This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 23 March 2006 at 11:34 AM.] |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 1:22 pm
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Thanks again Wiz. No, that is not confusing. I use a little program (Belarc Advisor) to show my computer specs. It is a great little helper.
I just want to go to 512mb. I do not play games with my computer, just basic programs, audio and internet. I am running XP Pro w/SP2.
I have a friend who is into computers, bigtime, has servers and an internet business. He told me that with his applications, he can't notice a difference between 512mb and 1 gb of ram.
At the present time I am thinking I should take advantage of some specials on PC3200 DDR400, Latency=3 (cheaper than PC2700). This memory will have to clock back to 266 mhz. That is the bus speed that "advisor" found on my computer. I thought it was capable of 333mhz. |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 1:32 pm
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I personally put in as much RAM as my motherboard will support, on any computer I build. The one I am using to compose this message has 2 Gb of matched PC3200 running in dual channel mode. When I first built it I only had 512 Mb. I am here to tell you that you definitely can tell the difference when you double or quadruple your RAM, as long as it is matched modules.
The memory advisors are great tools ain't they? I personally usually buy Crucial RAM for my computers, and I avoid mixing brands when upgrading. I remove the old RAM and install brand new RAM in my computer, in matched part numbers, or as matched pairs.
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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 23 March 2006 at 01:33 PM.] |
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Will Holtz
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 2:34 pm
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| Quote: |
| am here to tell you that you definitely can tell the difference when you double or quadruple your RAM, as long as it is matched modules. |
There is certainly a limit to this. Everybody only runs so many applications and has so much data. Eventually there will be unused RAM that does nothing to increase performance. I know most of the time 512MB is enough for me. Sometimes I could use 1GB. I doubt my current usage patterns would ever hit the 2GB mark.[This message was edited by Will Holtz on 23 March 2006 at 02:35 PM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 3:02 pm
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I was considering upgrading (again), but last month I bought an "off-lease" computer a little over a year old, with the following specs...
---HP Pavilion model a730n---
3Ghz Intel P4 processor
800 Mhz FS Buss
1 gig ram
200-gig HD
CD-ROM Drive
DVD-CD Combo Writer
128 meg Intel GL video
On-Board LAN
Wi-Fi card
IEEE-1394 Firewire (whatever that is)
2 front and 2 back usb ports
Front and rear headphone, mike, earphone jacks
Media port (takes about any kind of memory device)
Keyboard
Infra-red mouse
Pair of Altec-Lansing powered speakers
The price? less than $400, and the guy had dozens of different machines to choose from.
With deals like this available, I think my days of major upgrading are over. 
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Dave Potter
From:
Texas
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 4:46 pm
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| Quote: |
| I know most of the time 512MB is enough for me. Sometimes I could use 1GB. I doubt my current usage patterns would ever hit the 2GB mark. |
I think I'm in that usage arena, too. Even with all the bloat-ware we're forced to run these days, I'm not convinced we've reached a 2GB minimum RAM level....yet. |
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erik
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 4:53 pm
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Yeah, "matched modules" as Wiz said. I believe that. I was running double using 2 different modules and it didn't do a thing. At certain times it would slow down or create errors. Gotta put that on my "to do" list, max my memory. And NO! I won't give up my PIII Win 98 machine just yet! ;-)
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-johnson
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Ben Slaughter
From:
Madera, California
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Posted 23 Mar 2006 9:29 pm
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| I'm not convinced we've reached a 2GB minimum RAM level....yet. |
Try recording multiple audio tracks, editing video, running AutoCAD, or GIS software. 2GB starts getting pretty skinny.
Depends on the application, I guess. |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2006 4:51 am
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Ben, You're a real slave driver. I think you should give your computer a day off, so it can rest.
With the applications you're running, I can see why you need lots of RAM.
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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37
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Dave Potter
From:
Texas
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Posted 25 Mar 2006 5:18 am
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| Quote: |
| Try recording multiple audio tracks, editing video, running AutoCAD, or GIS software. 2GB starts getting pretty skinny. |
1GB has served me quite well running Adobe Premiere, AfterEffects, Sony Vegas 5.0 NLE, Adobe Audition 2.0, etc, etc.
Granted I have not attempted to run "dozens" of audio tracks simultaneously, haven't had the need to do so. But, 1 gig of RAM has worked well for me with my P4 3.2.
I'm using a 2.0Ghz laptop in the music room running Adobe Audition 2.0, recording steel, backing tracks, etc, and it only has 512MB of RAM. It works. I am upgrading it to 1 gig, but, as someone noted earlier, there is some point at which adding RAM stops adding performance, variable with applications running at the time.[This message was edited by Dave Potter on 25 March 2006 at 05:19 AM.] |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2006 7:04 am
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I have received a lot of useful information here. Thanks, guys.
The reason I am concerned with overspending $$$ on computer upgrades is the fact that systems become obsolete so quickly. It seems like the motherboards/processors/bios change so fast that the ram chips I buy today, may not work in a board I buy a year from now.
Another good reason is, I'm a poor boy.
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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37
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