[SOLVED] New Ram Questions

Kgkev · 07-13-2007, 01:27 PM

I thought it would be easy to buy new ram for my system but am now confused.

I have read the sticky about high & low density ram but still don't know what to get.

I have a P4P800S & 512MB of PC3200 (see system spec for full details)

i have upto £40 to spend and don't know what to get. My system no longer seems to capture video from my DV camera and become jumpy as the ram usage gets maxed out.

See - http://www.techsupportforum.com/micr...ker-probs.html

I don't play online games and the system is fast enough otherwise - How much ram do I need?

Crucial recommend 512 for about £22 or 1GB for £40
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/list...?model=P4P800S

Just noticed the 512mb & 2GB recommend @ PC3200 but the 1GB is PC2700? Is this just crucial recommending what they have in stock? or is there a genuine reason why I should use PC2700? What would the effect be with my PC3200 stick I already have?

scan.co.uk will do 1GB for £34
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=97647

and on ebay I can get 2GB for £40
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...DME:L:RTQ:UK:1

Which is the best deal? or is there a better supplier for the UK?

Whats non-ECC and unbuffered?

Please help

~~Shirtmax~~ · 07-14-2007, 01:27 AM

It's important to get the right ram for your motherboard. I am assuming you will keep the 512mb ram you have now and add a 1ghz card for a total of 1.5ghz.

Turn off your computer and take out that ram and look at it. Find the brand that it is. I recommend buying that brand. This will rule out ram compatibility issues should you have computer problems in the future.

Differing brands of ram might fight each other and crash your system, so I've heard. However, I have added some ram to a computer in the past that was a different brand and had no problems. But that was when computers were slower 700mhz.

Lastly, the ram that you buy for the outdated machine you have now will be practically worthless in a short time. Consider buying another 512mb to get you by for now and save the rest for a new computer in the future.

Kgkev · 07-14-2007, 05:26 AM

This makes no sense - If I have crucial memory it doesn't matter what crucial memory I buy it will work? I dont think so

I'd prefer an answer from someone who knows the difference between gb & ghz.

Worthless machine??

**Kalim** · 07-14-2007, 06:26 AM

Hi Kgkev

It seems speedster hasn't replied to your previous thread after the diagnostics he advised which I don't usually run.

Anyway, yes, RAM makes a difference for a new or old machine. On your system it'll depend on what your FSB is. If your CPU FSB is 400MHz, the RAM will run at PC2100. If it's 533MHz, the RAM will run at PC2700/PC2100. If it's 800MHz FSB then your RAM will run at any of the 2 including PC3200.

I'm not sure which you have, but it looks most likely as 533MHz FSB, in which case your system will default to running all PC3200 RAM at PC2700.

Your system only has 2x DIMM single channel slots, which run PC3200/PC2700/PC2100 RAM (2 x 1GB maximum).

Crucial recommend on what they retail. 1GB PC3200 RAM will also be compatible, as long as it's low density, isn't composed of double sided x16 chips, and has no issues alongside the older stick of RAM. To check if it is compatible, the manual has to be seen with the MB QVL.

The Micron stick will probably run, it will run alone anyway. I'm not sure if it'll run alongside your previous RAM stick though as we need to know the model# of the previous RAM to see if they're both compatible alongside each other.

Here's your MB Qualified Vendor List (RAM that is tested compatible by ASUS to run): P24: http://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...98_p4p800s.pdf

Any one of those is tested to work.

Scan.co.uk is a very good retailer, and so is yoyotech.co.uk and overclockers.co.uk.

The eBay link item has expired but it will not work, since it's cheap, low quality high density RAM --> hence the price.

ECC is just parity RAM - you don't need that.

1.5GB is plenty for you IMO.

Kgkev · 07-15-2007, 03:55 AM

My system FSB is 800Mhz

I'll try to get a 1GB stick of ram in the next couple of weeks see if that sorts my video probs.

Thanks for your help

**Kalim** · 07-15-2007, 04:59 AM

Then the RAM will run at PC3200. IGB Micron will most likely work but not the eBay linked sort (no high density).

I am always never comfortable with purchasing two different brand/model sticks of RAM in the same motherboard. Experience teaches that the problem can arise out of no where and you end up being angry at the money loss and time wasted. For that reason, it is usually best to avoid this error syndrome and get *two* of the same RAM sticks, same size and latencies and avoid all such possible problems.

You're welcome.

Kgkev · 07-15-2007, 02:13 PM

can i find all the necissary info about my ram without taking the cover off?

**Kalim** · 07-15-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgkev

can i find all the necissary info about my ram without taking the cover off?

Use CPU-Z, under the SPD tab, take a screenshot of all the info and attach it back. It may be possible, but it may not.

Kgkev · 07-16-2007, 03:31 PM

No Manufacturer so I suppose I have to take it apart?

07-13-2007, 01:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kgkev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 220 OS: XP My System	[SOLVED] New Ram Questions I thought it would be easy to buy new ram for my system but am now confused. I have read the sticky about high & low density ram but still don't know what to get. I have a P4P800S & 512MB of PC3200 (see system spec for full details) i have upto £40 to spend and don't know what to get. My system no longer seems to capture video from my DV camera and become jumpy as the ram usage gets maxed out. See - http://www.techsupportforum.com/micr...ker-probs.html I don't play online games and the system is fast enough otherwise - How much ram do I need? Crucial recommend 512 for about £22 or 1GB for £40 http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/list...?model=P4P800S Just noticed the 512mb & 2GB recommend @ PC3200 but the 1GB is PC2700? Is this just crucial recommending what they have in stock? or is there a genuine reason why I should use PC2700? What would the effect be with my PC3200 stick I already have? scan.co.uk will do 1GB for £34 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=97647 and on ebay I can get 2GB for £40 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...DME:L:RTQ:UK:1 Which is the best deal? or is there a better supplier for the UK? Whats non-ECC and unbuffered? Please help Last edited by Kgkev : 07-13-2007 at 01:39 PM.

07-14-2007, 01:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~Shirtmax~~ Register user Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California Posts: 11 OS: XP	Re: New Ram Questions It's important to get the right ram for your motherboard. I am assuming you will keep the 512mb ram you have now and add a 1ghz card for a total of 1.5ghz. Turn off your computer and take out that ram and look at it. Find the brand that it is. I recommend buying that brand. This will rule out ram compatibility issues should you have computer problems in the future. Differing brands of ram might fight each other and crash your system, so I've heard. However, I have added some ram to a computer in the past that was a different brand and had no problems. But that was when computers were slower 700mhz. Lastly, the ram that you buy for the outdated machine you have now will be practically worthless in a short time. Consider buying another 512mb to get you by for now and save the rest for a new computer in the future.

07-14-2007, 05:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kgkev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 220 OS: XP My System	Re: New Ram Questions This makes no sense - If I have crucial memory it doesn't matter what crucial memory I buy it will work? I dont think so I'd prefer an answer from someone who knows the difference between gb & ghz. Worthless machine??

07-14-2007, 06:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,611 OS: Many	Re: New Ram Questions Hi Kgkev It seems speedster hasn't replied to your previous thread after the diagnostics he advised which I don't usually run. Anyway, yes, RAM makes a difference for a new or old machine. On your system it'll depend on what your FSB is. If your CPU FSB is 400MHz, the RAM will run at PC2100. If it's 533MHz, the RAM will run at PC2700/PC2100. If it's 800MHz FSB then your RAM will run at any of the 2 including PC3200. I'm not sure which you have, but it looks most likely as 533MHz FSB, in which case your system will default to running all PC3200 RAM at PC2700. Your system only has 2x DIMM single channel slots, which run PC3200/PC2700/PC2100 RAM (2 x 1GB maximum). Crucial recommend on what they retail. 1GB PC3200 RAM will also be compatible, as long as it's low density, isn't composed of double sided x16 chips, and has no issues alongside the older stick of RAM. To check if it is compatible, the manual has to be seen with the MB QVL. The Micron stick will probably run, it will run alone anyway. I'm not sure if it'll run alongside your previous RAM stick though as we need to know the model# of the previous RAM to see if they're both compatible alongside each other. Here's your MB Qualified Vendor List (RAM that is tested compatible by ASUS to run): P24: http://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/...98_p4p800s.pdf Any one of those is tested to work. Scan.co.uk is a very good retailer, and so is yoyotech.co.uk and overclockers.co.uk. The eBay link item has expired but it will not work, since it's cheap, low quality high density RAM --> hence the price. ECC is just parity RAM - you don't need that. 1.5GB is plenty for you IMO. Last edited by Kalim : 07-14-2007 at 06:27 AM.

07-15-2007, 03:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kgkev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 220 OS: XP My System	Re: New Ram Questions My system FSB is 800Mhz I'll try to get a 1GB stick of ram in the next couple of weeks see if that sorts my video probs. Thanks for your help

07-15-2007, 04:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,611 OS: Many	Re: New Ram Questions Then the RAM will run at PC3200. IGB Micron will most likely work but not the eBay linked sort (no high density). I am always never comfortable with purchasing two different brand/model sticks of RAM in the same motherboard. Experience teaches that the problem can arise out of no where and you end up being angry at the money loss and time wasted. For that reason, it is usually best to avoid this error syndrome and get two of the same RAM sticks, same size and latencies and avoid all such possible problems. You're welcome.

07-15-2007, 02:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kgkev Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 220 OS: XP My System	Re: New Ram Questions can i find all the necissary info about my ram without taking the cover off?