What to Buy?

LIL L · 04-19-2008, 10:55 PM

i currently have a 256MB DDR SDRAM PC3200 and i wan't to upgrade. do i have to buy the same kind or can i buy ddr2 or pc500 or a higher model because they look the same?

**kodi** · 04-20-2008, 12:20 AM

What make and Model Motherboard do you have?

LIL L · 04-20-2008, 06:07 PM

thankyou for responding. here is my specs.
hp pavilion 514n
2.2ghz intel celeron processor
256mb ddr sdram memory
64mb ddr sdram intergrated intel extreme graphics with up to 64mb shared video memory

here is the website's more detailed specs (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph07973)

my ram is samsung 256mb ddr pc2100 cl2.5. this is the closest i could find
(http://www.memorysuppliers.com/sam25...hannelid=NEXTA)

what i wanna know is i see ones like pc5200 and ones like this one (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1093468581193) that look exactly the same and i was wondering if it mattered if i got a higher number one even if they're identical, or will it mess up my computer or something. please need help.

Jebtall · 04-20-2008, 10:22 PM

GOTO -> www.crucial.com or www.corsair.com

But my guess is, without using the above websites, that you have to use PC3200. Relatively expensive now compared to other memory, but you can still find decent deals AR if you look.

LIL L · 04-21-2008, 09:47 AM

i don't buy online. i want to buy it from office depot but the people there are idiots and they've gave me the wrong kind twice in the past even when i brought my memory in to them. i've read that if i buy pc3200, it will only run at the speed my motherboard was set to. so i just might as well buy the cheaper pc2100 right?

Madcatz · 04-21-2008, 10:37 AM

well, PC3200 ram will clock down to 2700 or 2100 speeds, but the hp 514n has a front side bus speed of 400mhz, which is what PC3200 ram runs at. you'll want to get the 3200 ram, if you get 2100 it will only run at 266 mhz.

dai · 04-21-2008, 11:21 AM

the ram will run at whatever the slowest piece of ram in there is

**kodi** · 04-21-2008, 01:34 PM

The link you gave said that the maximum ram you could use was 1 gig PC2100

04-19-2008, 10:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
LIL L Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 245 OS: xp home edition	What to Buy? i currently have a 256MB DDR SDRAM PC3200 and i wan't to upgrade. do i have to buy the same kind or can i buy ddr2 or pc500 or a higher model because they look the same?

04-20-2008, 12:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,405 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Re: What to Buy? What make and Model Motherboard do you have? __________________ Brian

04-20-2008, 06:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
LIL L Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 245 OS: xp home edition	Re: What to Buy? thankyou for responding. here is my specs. hp pavilion 514n 2.2ghz intel celeron processor 256mb ddr sdram memory 64mb ddr sdram intergrated intel extreme graphics with up to 64mb shared video memory here is the website's more detailed specs (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph07973) my ram is samsung 256mb ddr pc2100 cl2.5. this is the closest i could find (http://www.memorysuppliers.com/sam25...hannelid=NEXTA) what i wanna know is i see ones like pc5200 and ones like this one (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1093468581193) that look exactly the same and i was wondering if it mattered if i got a higher number one even if they're identical, or will it mess up my computer or something. please need help.

04-20-2008, 10:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jebtall Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 85 OS: xp	Re: What to Buy? GOTO -> www.crucial.com or www.corsair.com But my guess is, without using the above websites, that you have to use PC3200. Relatively expensive now compared to other memory, but you can still find decent deals AR if you look.

04-21-2008, 09:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
LIL L Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 245 OS: xp home edition	Re: What to Buy? i don't buy online. i want to buy it from office depot but the people there are idiots and they've gave me the wrong kind twice in the past even when i brought my memory in to them. i've read that if i buy pc3200, it will only run at the speed my motherboard was set to. so i just might as well buy the cheaper pc2100 right? Last edited by LIL L; 04-21-2008 at 09:50 AM.

04-21-2008, 10:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,391 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: What to Buy? well, PC3200 ram will clock down to 2700 or 2100 speeds, but the hp 514n has a front side bus speed of 400mhz, which is what PC3200 ram runs at. you'll want to get the 3200 ram, if you get 2100 it will only run at 266 mhz.

04-21-2008, 11:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,678 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: What to Buy? the ram will run at whatever the slowest piece of ram in there is __________________