RAM MEMORY BRANDS [time-sensitive!] ;o)

[Gina Stevenson]

Forgot to post this days ago and, since tomorrow [Saturday, 12 May 07] is the last sale day of some decent prices at a couple of places [& recent graphics project drove me crazy with "low/insufficient-memory" notices--wouldn't even let me save what I'd done sometimes, so I'd have to do it over!], I've got to ask if there's an extreme difference --- or even some --- between Kingston & PNY.

Thanks!!

[Joel Merrill]

I'm not an expert but I have been told not to mix brands. If you already have Kindston, for instance, and you want to add another card, get Kingston again. Also put the highest number in the number one slot.

Joel

[Gina Stevenson]

I'm not an expert but I have been told not to mix brands. If you already have Kindston, for instance, and you want to add another card, get Kingston again. Also put the highest number in the number one slot.

Joel

Thank you, Joel. However, I'm not sure what sort of original memory this thing has in it so I may match it! I'm going now to the manufacturer's website and see what they use, but they just might put different brands in from time to time, just so they have the amount in it that they say. Oh, dear! We'll find out soon, I hope.

Seeing the reminder re not mixing brands makes me tempted to splurge, & just buy two new strips, rather than one to mix. Also, I tho't I could take and add one-GIG of memory to the already-there 512MB. Not so! That 512 is in the only two slots in the form of 256MB each, I'm told when I called customer service (forgetting to ask them re brand now inside, if they even know--see above). Therefore, if I bo't an on-sale GIG, I'd just have 1.25 gig, and not 1.5 gig, due to having to take some OUT to put it in. Bummer!

As I said, it tempts me to splurge $$-wise (but I'm saving for a vehicle now), and get two GIG strips, to make sure I not only have the same brand in both slots, but a LOT of memory so I don't get those low-memory notices when doing graphics! Ho-hum ......................

[Jim Stonelake]

Between those two, Kingston by far. If you could either a) tell me the manufacture of your computer or b) the make and model of your motherboard that would allow us to help you choose wisely.

Crucial's website (Crucial makes some of the best RAM/memory in the world) has a wonderful free tool that can analyze your motherboard to tell you exactly what kind and how much your motherboard can handle. The only issue is you need to know the make and model of the motherboard.

[Bob Wright]

Something that might be of interest to Naznetters is a site that will analyze your system and gives recommendations on how to upgrade the ram. You do not need to buy from them; they just tell you what kind and how much you can put in the slots (with options). It is www.goldenram.com. If you have a manufactured, rather than custom built computer, I would also recommend buying from Crucial www.crucial.com. If you select your exact Brand and Model, they will give options and sell you a memory upgrade that will be excellent. They have specs on every possible brand and model you can think of and they know memory! The prices are reasonable and of excellent quality. I have had both PNY and Kingston and I really don't have a recommendation. There are so many types of ram it is difficult to judge ram by manufacturer alone. I think both have decent warranties. I think where the comment about mixing brands comes from might be the fact that there are many different response times. It also makes a difference whether the boards are single sided or double sided. I'd say to be safe, I would not only use the same brand, but also the exact same type. I'm no expert, but these are just some of my observations.

[Gina Stevenson]

Thanks so much, guys! The Kingston is $5 less than the PNY, so that's good! ;) Also, we'll keep these analyzing sites bookmarked.

As for buying on-line from either place, seems they're always more than a sale at a local computer place. When a gig on-line is $169, and it's $64-69 on sale in the store (Kingston-$64, PNY-$69), one saves $100, and buys locally! (well, they do if they aren't loaded with $$).

Also, since buying two gig would be a bit much, but mixing original with these other brands isn't suggested, I asked (in a live chat thing I found on-line with a techie) if leaving one slot empty would be OK, or if that would be bad, as well (would too much dust get in that if one put some in there later, it might not work right??). They said I could, without problems, work with an empty slot, so as to not mix brands of memory. 'Sound right??

Thanks so much, again, people. ;)

[Jim Stonelake]

You could get sticks of RAM in 512 and if you got two that would give you 1 Gig -- place each in their own slot. I would then keep your 256 sticks "just in case." Just make sure your motherboard can utilize the RAM you will be purchasing.

If you are going to put the RAM in yourself (remember to turn off and unplugged your PC) make sure you have NO static electricity because a little spark can absolutely ruin your motherboard. Touch your power supply and then remove your old RAM and place in your new RAM. Don't force the sticks but make sure they are placed in firmly.

As for dust, you can buy cans of air (I kid you not!) that takes care of dust. If you ever use it just make sure the compter is off and unplugged and NEVER shake the can.

[Gina Stevenson]

You could get sticks of RAM in 512 and if you got two that would give you 1 Gig -- place each in their own slot. I would then keep your 256 sticks "just in case." Just make sure your motherboard can utilize the RAM you will be purchasing.

Yes, they told me that I need to make sure it's 133MHz, as that's the only kind my computer can handle. (makes me curious as to how high these MHz can go in a computer)

If you are going to put the RAM in yourself (remember to turn off and unplugged your PC) make sure you have NO static electricity because a little spark can absolutely ruin your motherboard. Touch your power supply and then remove your old RAM and place in your new RAM. Don't force the sticks but make sure they are placed in firmly.Thank you for the static electricity reminder. I have put parts (drives, memory, fan replacement) into a computer, but it's been a long time.

As for dust, you can buy cans of air (I kid you not!) that takes care of dust. If you ever use it just make sure the computer is off and unplugged and NEVER shake the can.Oops! Too late! Probably have shaken a can before, since I've gotten a couple of them a long time ago (free with rebate deals ;)). Since that's what one usually does with such a can (thinking whipped cream), probably have. What you mean, tho', is that one doesn't want to spray into the insides of their computer, as it would be more forceful than meant to be? Hope you didn't mean that the can might blow, and I was spared that?? :eek:

Thanks again for the reminders/help.

[Jim Stonelake]

You don't want to shake the cans because of moisture buildup. Moisture can wreck havoc on a system. And, yes, you can spray the inside. I just sprayed the inside of both my computers getting rid of all kinds of dust build-up.

[Gina Stevenson]

You don't want to shake the cans because of moisture buildup. Moisture can wreck havoc on a system. And, yes, you can spray the inside. I just sprayed the inside of both my computers getting rid of all kinds of dust build-up.

When I said you might not want to spray the inside, I didn't mean that 100% of the time; I meant one might not want to after shaking it. Yes, i've used that air inside before, too. But, still wasn't sure if leaving a memory slot empty would be good (especially in a humid climate like MI), in case things happened from moisture, too.

[Jim Stonelake]

Leaving that slot open will not hurt at all.

[Gina Stevenson]

Boy, am I glad I didn't rush out Saturday, tho' I was tempted [since it seemed a decent price]. Crucial.com didn't list my computer, so I didn't pick any and let it just do its thing. Well, along with suggesting 2700, 3200 or 4000 memory (too many choices, I'd say), it said in the slot where it was supposed to find how much memory's already in here, "0". So, I tho't if it couldn't find the memory correctly, it might just be wrong elsewhere. It said it could only handle one gig total, too.

Well, yesterday I found some papers on it, entered in a search engine "Cisnet 74"+400MHz, and it brought up actual info on it. Any other time if I just tried "Cisnet" alone, it would bring up some CISNET ISP. "Cisnet computer," that I think I did try, didn't do any better.

So, we've found that it will take two gig, for sure! Much better than just one. So, now I'm tempted again to really splurge. Tho't it should take two, so mentioned that earlier, I think, but then wondered when Crucial.com said just one. Here's the info it brought up:

10021

NOW, we've got to watch for the exact kind it mentioned ... unless, say, the 4000 suggested as one option by crucial.com (rather than 3200) would be OK, tho' wouldn't work any faster than processor would allow it, and then one would have these nice, huge memory stick in a few years when a computer upgrade might need the 4000 and no lower ... ???

Thanks!

[Gina Stevenson]

Oh, my goodness! After I tho't everything was all cleared up, and was told that the most important # was that 2700 or 3200, then I find---while searching around the web re memory (for a "deal," actually ;))---there are those with the same 4-digit # that has either 184 or 200 pins! Whoa! Will either of these fit, or what!?

Do we now have to find how many pins our present memory/memory-slots have, or is the 184-pin memory piece something that just leaves 16 pins out of contact, but the entire things works, anyway, or are they actually different sizes where one won't fit where the other one will?

Do we also have to make sure and get either 184-pin or 200-pin? HELP!! :eek:

Came back to say that just now I found some memory listed with the 4-digit #, with *NO* # of pins mentioned! AAAARRRGGGGGGHHH!!! What do we do re this "pin" thing, huh? Yes, there's 184-pin 2700, and 200-pin 2700, and then 184-pin 3200 I've seen, tho' I'm not sure yet re any 200-pin 3200. Yipes!

Thanks!

[Jim Stonelake]

1. You want the 184 pin RAM in PC 3200; this is also known as DDR 400 memory. (the newer memory out is DDR2; you cannot use DDR2)

2. You want to make sure that the memory you buy is not dual channel. The memory will say whether or not it is dual channel.

3. Here is a link to excellent memory. It is a 1 Gigabyte stick. New Egg is the best online retailer in the market.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146545

Here is more excellent RAM for your need. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141307

[Gina Stevenson]

OK, since that Memory-up place has a scan like Crucial, I tried it there. THIS is what it told me there:


Analysis Complete
Memory-Up has finished checking your system (Time: 1.00 seconds)

Here is some information about your system...

Computer Information
Manufacturer: VIA (why not CISNET, I don't know)
Model: P4M800-8237 (CISNET says model is 74)


System Information
Chipset: VIA P4M800
VIA Standard Host Bridge Motherboard: P4M800-8237 CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz

Memory Information
Total Slots: 2 (says "total" here; is it "total filled",
Installed: 446.42MB rather than total-total???)
(Configuration)
Some systems may not report the correct information.
1: Available Slot (wonder re above "2"
2: Available Slot as this says 1 & 2 are
still "available" down here.)

*********************************

Almost tempted to just open it up, but didn't want to do that until I had the memory here to put in. I just know that long ago, in a hand-me-down or two, the memory slots (since folks with memory they could no longer use would send me some to try) were more than just two; some did have 4, so tho't one could still have that many today!) KEEPS GETTING MORE CONFUSING, rather than LESS!! :basic04

OR, has someone figured that things move better through memory if there are only two slots now instead of four??? 'Still confused a bit! :rolleyes:

[Gina Stevenson]

OK, since that Memory-up place has a scan like Crucial, I tried it there. THIS is what it told me there:


Analysis Complete
Memory-Up has finished checking your system (Time: 1.00 seconds)

Here is some information about your system...

Computer Information
Manufacturer: VIA (why not CISNET, I don't know)
Model: P4M800-8237 (CISNET says model is 74)


System Information
Chipset: VIA P4M800
VIA Standard Host Bridge Motherboard: P4M800-8237 CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz

Memory Information
Total Slots: 2 (says "total" here; is it "total filled",
Installed: 446.42MB rather than total-total???)
(Configuration)
Some systems may not report the correct information.
1: Available Slot (wonder re above "2"
2: Available Slot as this says 1 & 2 are
still "available" down here.)

*********************************

Almost tempted to just open it up, but didn't want to do that until I had the memory here to put in. I just know that long ago, in a hand-me-down or two, the memory slots (since folks with memory they could no longer use would send me some to try) were more than just two; some did have 4, so tho't one could still have that many today!) KEEPS GETTING MORE CONFUSING, rather than LESS!! :basic04

OR, has someone figured that things move better through memory if there are only two slots now instead of four??? 'Still confused a bit! :rolleyes: You see, if there are two filled & two "available," as the note sounds, then I'll buy differently if I can add, rather than have to pull out to put anymore in.

[Jim Stonelake]

Cisnet is your computer manufacturer. VIA is the chipset used on the motherboard. Other chipset makers are Intel and SIS. Chipsets have nothing to do with memory.

If you are running XP it cannot utilize more than 2.5 gigs of RAM. It will not recognize 4 Gigs. For what you need you do not need more than 2 Gigs of RAM; in fact since you only have two slots you cannot fit more than 2 gigs. It sounds like of the 512 you have installed some of it is being dedicated to your video. Is your video integrated (i.e., no video card because it is integrated on your motherboard)?

You can configure your RAM in these configurations:

1. One stick of 256.

2. Two sticks of 256.

3. One stick of 512.

4. Two sticks of 512.

5. One stick of 1 Gig.

6. Two sticks of 1 Gig each.

* As I said in my previous post: You need the 184 pin RAM @ PC 3200. The provided links took you to both Crucial and Kingston offerings.

[Mike Schutz]

Big welcome to Jim Stonelake - fellow Philadelphia District pastor, another ENC alum, and a good friend!

Welcome Jim!

[Jim Stonelake]

Thanks, Mike, for the welcome. :)

[Gina Stevenson]

Thank you so much! ;)