Compatible RAM

Hi,

I'm building a pc and purchased a barebones at TigerDirect. It comes with Ultra 512MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz CL3 Memory and an additional stick will cost $40.00 at Tiger Direct. I surfed the net and eBay and checked out different RAM and found a few that seem compatible but I'm not sure. Are any of these the exact same memory that I got at Tiger Direct? I'm not sure what MT16 and non-ECC mean, and these are a lot cheaper:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kingston-PC3200...72QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1481QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/MICRON-512MB-DD...5QQihZ009QQcategoryZ44938QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/512MB-PC3200-DD...7QQihZ019QQcategoryZ44938QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Denise

 

Please check it out . . . it can save me at least $25

Denise

 

I personally would be leary about buying memory from Ebay!! I know everybody isn't made of money (including myself) but I will only buy memory from a reputable retailer!!

If you are looking to take advantage of the dual channel capabilities while using the stick that came with the system, then you will have to get two identical sticks together, like this...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=84386&CatId=1354

Whereas buying them together in pairs like that assure that each stick is specifically identical to the fullest extent, which is the trick to using dual channel!! And ofcourse you can get them in capacities, like 512mb total, which is two matching pairs of 256mb, or like a total of 1024mb, which is two 512mb sticks.

If you aren't concerned about the dual channel capabilities, then something like this will work for you...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=586829&CatId=1304

Once again...I understand that money is an issue, but at the same time, you know you are getting a new product that has been tested, etc., and they have a less hassling customer return policy!! And after the mail in rebate...that is a good price!!

I know that is probably not the answer you were looking for, but that is just my personal opinion about buying electronic products from ebay!! But if you want to chance it, then...of the three you showed above, I would stay away from the one that looks like it is Gateway, but of the other two I would go with the Kingston, and according to the specs, you should be fine!!

Roger

 

Hi Roger,

Thanks for coming to my aid again. The pc comes with one of these

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...829&CatId=1304

Are you saying that if I buy another one, the exact same brand with the exact same specifications, I can't take advantage of the dual core? That makes the RAM that comes with the system useless and it wasted $30.00 of my money (after rebate). No wonder people on eBay are selling them for around $30.00, in order to get rid of them and buy a pair that come together.

Thanks Roger . . . I appreciate it a lot.

Denise

 

I'm back . . . like the plague, I'm hard to shake

Is Corsair a good brand name? I want 2 512Mb of RAM but Kingston has only 2 256Mb.

Doing anything next weekend? Could use a hand putting all of this together

Denise

 

You being able to find an identical match to the stick that came with the pc, will prove to be quite a head ache, IF it is even possible that you will find one, as they have to match down to the "t", not just size and speed, in order to use the dual channel capabilities.

Crucial is a good brand!! Thay are up there with Kingston, Mushkin, Ultra, and Corsair which are all also some pretty good brands.

Your link in your last post is showing to be to a page at Tiger Direct that is apparently no longer listed.

But here is couple that you could consider, just to show you what you need to look for...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1002469&CatId=1838

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=84387&CatId=1838

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=669365&CatId=1838

Hope that helps a little bit!! I know it's getting expensive, but after all you are getting 1gig of PC 3200. Plus you could look a Newegg.com, or Zipzoomfly.com, just to name a couple. I just always naturally think of Tiger Direct first since their store and warehouse is right down the road form me, so I'm sure you can guess that is where I do my shopping since I can walk out with it!!!

Roger

 

Thanks, Roger, for the info.

If I installed the stick of RAM that I got with the system, will it give the pc an extra boost, or will it just sit there with nothing to do since I'll have the other two installed? If the benefit will be large, I'll keep it but if the benefit is nominal, I'll sell it at eBay . . . I should easily be able to get at least $20 for it, if not more.

I've been shopping eBay for about 5 years now and except for a few problems, my transactions have gone very well. Sometimes I make out like a bandit because sellers want to keep their feedback as good as possible so they're willing to do what it takes to make a person happy, and 99% of the sellers are very honest because of the Honesty and Security Program at eBay. I look at eBay as a bargain basement store but there's nothing wrong with the merchandise and, if there is, the person states it up-front.

Denise

 

Will OCZ Technology™ 1GB DDR PC 4200 (2x 512MB) be compatible? The original RAM is PC 3700.

Some RAM packages say "Unbuffered." Does it make a difference for my pc?

Denise

 

That will not work...PC4200 is DDR2 and your new motherboard is only up to PC3200 DDR 400.

You want unbuffered.

Roger

 

Thanks Roger.

I'll give up on eBay because I don't know enough about RAM and I'll choose one of the options you gave me below, either

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...387&CatId=1838 or

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...365&CatId=1838

Roger, you said that the only other things I might need are a floppy drive, a modem if I'm on dial-up, and additional memory. Why is this called a barebones if it has everything? I understand that it comes without an os and a DVD/CD R/RW burner and I have those already, but all I'll be doing is putting it together, and getting a floppy drive and the additional memory.

Everything came in the mail but I haven't opened it yet. It's sitting on my cofee table and everytime I look at it, I get a sinking feeling in my stomach . . . what did I get myself into?!?

I have another question . . . I have 8 ext hds that are compatible with my existing 32-bit pc. Will they be compatible with the new 64-bit system?

Denise

 

Typically a barebones system (depending on where you get it from and what brand) is pretty much the system minus the add in peripherals, such as your modem and/or NIC card. Sometimes they come with memory and sometimes they don't.

As far as your OS goes...you have to buy a 64bit version of windows xp in order to fully use the 64bit platform. Otherwise, if you install the your existing OS (which I'm assuming is the 32bit version of XP) then you will be runing in 32 bit, so therefore, your extra drive should be just as compatible as they are now!!

However...there are other factors that play into the performance increase/decrease other than just the fact of whether the system is 64 bit or 32 bit.

You just got to dive in head first and swim your way out!! You'll be surprised of how many "geeks" have learned what they know now just by this same technique!! Dive in head first and swim you way to the top!! If you have problems, then there will be someone here to help you!!

Trial and error buddy...trial and error!!

Just keep in mind...when you do a new system build...you need to reset the CMOS by pulling the battery out while the system is unplugged, and if you are going to use the primary hard drive from the old PC, as the primary bootable hard drive on the new PC...you will have to do either a repair install or a new clean install of the OS!!

Roger
Roger

 

I originally purchased a new hard drive for my existing pc but because I'm having so many problems with it and it's 4 years old, a few months ago I decided to buy a new pc and install the hd in it. It's probably not the fastest or the best, or the most compatible with the new pc but it'll do me for a while, until I'm ready to start thinking about SATA. New hd specs:

Do I still need to. . .

. . . if so, where is it located?


I purchased an OEM Windows Pro XP 64-bit disk.


Will my external hard drives that I'm currently using work with the new pc?


Warning: I'm planning on networking my old pc with the new one. I'll be living at Major Geeks for the next few months.

Denise