RAM question

[makotech222]

I plan on buying more ram for my pc (dell 9100) and i needed to know how i could tell if the ram im buying is compatible with it(im buying from newegg) Also, i need to know how to install it onto my computer. Thanks

[zen_master]

Umm you need either a manual or go online or look at the memory you have and see what is it, "SO DIMM 200-pin" maybe, im not sure exaclty what you have, Installation , just plug it in and make sure its locked in, your bios may do automatic memory check, its too hard to tell. Why not give some more information about your current system, current memory etc.,

[shinmajin]

well it looks like from what i can tell thay make more than one pc with that number so a model or seral would be a good start to find out what you need.

[makotech222]

alrightyy...

Dell 9100
Pentium D Processor 2.8ghz 64bit+dual core
512mb of DDr2 ram (thats all i know about it)
Ati Radeon x600 w/hypermemory 256mb

Edit: here i found this on the dell website

"Memory

Type
dual-channel 400-, 533-, and 667-MHz DDR2

Memory connectors
four

Memory capacities
256 MB, 512 MB, or 1 GB

Minimum memory
512 MB

Maximum memory
4 GB

BIOS address
F0000h"
Source: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1053343

i found some ram at newegg:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227006

is it good?

[shinmajin]

i would guess 240 pin 667 ddr2 would be the best you can put in it.

[masque]

use Cpu-z. (direct download)

Go to the SPD tab, and click through the slots until you find one thats filled. Check under max bandwidth and it should tell you the PC???? designation for your Ram. Buy that kind. (note: your motherboard may be able to handle faster, but this will tell you what Dell put in)

[makotech222]

thanks you for that. I found out its running at 266 mhz. I read that the computer will use that ram at the lowest speed thats installed, so if i buy faster ram, will it still run at 266?

[cooliscool]

Yes.. typically it's set in the BIOS (even on OEM PCs, such as your Dell). If you put any RAM in it now, it'll run at 266MHz (533MHz DDR).

[masque]

while you can force it slower, doesn't the PC autodetect the speed? I checked my BIOS any almost everything is set to auto.

[fireblaster_lyz]

All RAMs installed will follow the slowest speed of the RAM installed.
Depending on the chipset, it determines the RAM speed supported.

[makotech222]

Actually i noticed i need pc4300 and so im looking at this one: http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...82E16820144324

I was wondering if this is a good brand and if it would work on my motherboard (reviews say it wont work on certain boards)

[makotech222]

one last thing, if the ram doesnt workk on my computer (not compatible) can i get a refund from newegg? plus, is that one i picked decent?

[masque]

I've seen Geil memory offered as the "budget" RAM in gaming systems. Don't know much about it past that.

[makotech222]

One more Question, does the cas latency and timing have to be the same as well? thanks

[makotech222]

Ok so i use CPU-z to figure out what my ram is and it says i have pc4300. But, if i go on dell websites or others, i search up my computer (dell 9100) and it says i haave pc4200. Then i look at the faq for cpu-z, and it says there could be some kind of error with ram or something. So, should i buy 4200 or 4300? thanks

[Clements]

They are the same thing:

4200/8 = 525.0MHz
4300/8 = 537.5MHz

Actual speed = 533.3MHz effective, thus it's really PC4266.7. It can be rounded up and down and this made things confusing.

[makotech222]

thanks for clearing that up. And what is ECC?

[Clements]

Stands for Error-correcting code. It uses 9-bit-per-byte instead of 8-bit-per-byte of non-ECC RAM to allow for correction. Normally this RAM is used in servers, and is not required in desktop scenarios (although there are people who insist on paying the extra for ECC even with desktops).

[makotech222]

thanks