RAM expand question!

Hi!

I've been transferred to here from the Welcome Center!

Ok so here's what happened, I had 512mb ram, then one of them broke, so now I only have 256mb ram!

I DL'ed the EVEREST Ultimate Edition trial version, to try and check my specifications but ended up even more confused!

I'm in doubt about what I need to buy, what I need to be looking for, like the
MHz, is it 133, 166 or 333? Is it DIMM, SDRAM or DDR ram? Will a 256mb go
with a 1024mb?

And you know, I just want to go on the net and buy it, but it just ain't that
easy, because I really don't know what I'm looking for!

Here's the specifications:

Code:

CPU Type	           Intel Pentium 4, 1600 MHz (16 x 100)
Motherboard Name	   Asus P4S333  (6 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 ACR, 3 DDR DIMM)
Motherboard Chipset	   SiS 645
Video Adapter              NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 (128 MB)
3D Accelerator             nVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Network Adapter	           Speedstream Ethernet USB Adapter
Printer	                   Canon PIXMA iP2000

BIOS Properties	
Warning	Accuracy of DMI data cannot be guaranteed
Vendor                          Award Software, Inc.
Version	                        ASUS P4S333 ACPI BIOS Revision 1007C
Release Date                    08/09/2002
Size	                        256 KB
Boot Devices	                Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, CD-ROM
Capabilities	                Flash BIOS, Shadow BIOS, Selectable Boot, EDD
Supported Standards	        DMI, APM, ACPI, ESCD, PnP
Expansion Capabilities          PCI, AGP, USB

Memory Controller Properties	
Error Detection Method	               None
Error Correction                       None
Supported Memory Speeds	               70ns, 60ns, 50ns
Supported Memory Types	               DIMM, SDRAM
Supported Memory Voltages	       3.3V
Maximum Memory Module Size             1024 MB
Memory Slots	                       3

Physical Memory	
Total	                          [ TRIAL VERSION ]
Used	                          [ TRIAL VERSION ]
Free	                          24 MB
Utilization	                  [ TRIAL VERSION ]
	
Swap Space	
Total	                          489 MB
Used	                          413 MB
Free	                          76 MB
Utilization	                  84 %
	
Virtual Memory	
Total	                          745 MB
Used	                          644 MB
Free	                          100 MB
Utilization	                  86 %
	
Physical Address Extension                 (PAE)	
Supported by Operating System	            Yes
Supported by CPU	                    Yes
Active	                                    No
	
Problems & Suggestions	
Suggestion	Install more system memory to improve applications 
performance.

Device Description
                                     DIMM1: 256 MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM
Memory Module Properties	
Serial Number	                    None
Module Size	                    256 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type	                    Unbuffered
Memory Type	                    DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed	                    PC2700 (166 MHz)
Module Width	                    64 bit
Module Voltage	                    SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method	            None
Refresh Rate	                    Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh
	
Memory Timings	
                              @ 166 MHz	2.5-3-3-7  (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
                              @ 133 MHz	2.0-3-3-6  (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
	
Memory Module Features	
Early RAS# Precharge                        Not Supported
Auto-Precharge                              Not Supported
Precharge All	                            Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst	                    Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs	            Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs           Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock)	                    Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs	                    Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs	                    Not Supported
Differential Clock Input	                Supported
Redundant Row Address	                    Not Supported

Wrenchman

 

It seems to be saying you currently have one stick of DDR SDRAM - PC2700 (166 MHz), but it doesn't say what brand it is. Within Everest, I think there is a function that can tell you more details of the RAM.

I think the 2700 refers to the frequency of the RAM. So if you were to put in some which was PC2300, all the RAM would run at the lower frequency. As far as I know, it doesn't do any harm to mix RAM of different capacities (ie 256 plus a 512mb), as long as the frequency is the same.

Some of the newer motherboards are more sensitive to what brands of RAM they will work with.
I had problems with an MSI board and ended up getting more RAM from the company that built it.

You could run a scan from Crucial, which appears to read the computer hardware and tell you what memory modules will be compatible.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=P4S333
(click the "Scan My System" link, part way down the page.

 

I've seen these products for sale by the same vendor:
1GB DDR 333MHZ PC 2700 Memory 135 R$
1GB DDR 400MHZ PC 3200 Memory 95 R$

From www.crucial.com
Q: What memory goes into my computer, and will a faster speed be
backward-compatible?
A: DDR memory with support for DDR PC2700,DDR PC3200,DDR PC4000
speeds.
Because DDR memory is backward-compatible, you can safely upgrade your
system with any of the guaranteed-compatible DDR speeds listed below,
even if your manual calls for PC1600 or PC2100 speeds.

Looks like it will be a better deal to buy the 400MHZ PC 3200 Memory, it's
cheaper and faster! (even if I have to take out the 256 I have installed)

Any ideas as of why the 400 MHz is cheaper?

If you can give me the heads-up, I'll buy it, thanks!



Wrenchman

 

The mother board is from around 1999, so it's not exactly brand new! :cool

I completely for got to tell you about this message:
"Your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your
virtual memory paging file." It keeps popping up but unless there's some
other problem that's causing this, I'd say it's the ram!?

So what's your advice, do I buy the "1GB DDR 400MHZ PC 3200 Memory"?



Wrenchman

 

1GB DDR2 533MHZ PC2 4200 SAMSUNG
1GB DDR2 800 PC6400 Markvision

Will these work with P4S333 or is it only until DDR PC4000

In that case I will stay with the 1GB DDR 400MHZ PC 3200 Memory

I'm trying to eliminate the last doubt, all help appreciated!



Wrenchman

 

Quote:
"Just need a bit of clarification to my question, thanks"

I'll repeat the question for easy reference:

Will a "1GB DDR 400MHZ PC 3200 Memory" work in a "P4S333" motherboard?



Wrenchman

 

It will probably work. Whether it will run at full speed is another matter... memory is designed to be backward compatible within its own little niche (DDR to DDR, but not DDR2 to DDR), so when they no longer make DDR-333 memory, you can take faster parts and install in your board, and they will just slow down to that speed and run as if they were DDR-333. You may want to look into how fast your board can run memory, before you spend your money, since there's no point in paying extra for the speed, if the speed is never utilized.

 

Thanks Mimsy!

1GB DDR 333MHZ PC 2700 Memory 135 R$
1GB DDR 400MHZ PC 3200 Memory 95 R$

The 333 is actually more expensive than the 400

Yeah, good idea, can EVEREST Ultimate Edition do that?

I had a quick look on the EVEREST Ultimate Edition, that
I have installed, it says:

Supported Memory Speeds: 70ns, 60ns, 50ns

I don't know if that has anything to do with it, you know,
I'm kinda green :confused



Wrenchman

 

After looking up your mother board on crucial.com, where you were looking, I'm guessing that's because the DDR-333 you're looking at is their Ballistix performance memory, whereas the DDR-400 one is not. Basically you're looking at the sportscar edition of DDR-333, and you're being charged accordingly. Most likely, you don't need the sportscar.

I dunno, I've never used it. I prefer Belarc. Your motherboard manual probably knows though, if you can find it online.