Correct RAM Specs?

grc123 · Dec 1, 2009

I'm looking to upgrade (add) RAM. I did a search here (and elsewhere), and I've been through this before, but I am as confused now as I was then, as there seem to be many differing "specs" in reference to the correct RAM. I do understand "backward compatibility" which is a good thing (as well, I understand that the system will only be as good as the lowest denominator ... only as good as the weakest link ... i.e., "bottleneck").

As I have (many times too many) bought something one day, and then at some point in the future found that I could have got more for less money, Though I did a scan at crucial.com --> http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Dimension 4500S Series I am trying to determine exactly which RAM is (which specs are) best for this particular machine?

This is what they sent me a couple three years ago --> 1GB 184-PIN UNBUFF DIMM 128MX64 DDR.

I have a very basic understanding of most of that, except the 128X64 part. Interesting note: this RAM (sold/bought in December 2006) cost about 75% more then than it does now.

I think I'm mainly hung-up on the difference between "PC2700" & "PC3200" ... the difference between "266 MHz" & "333 MHz" ... as well as the aforementioned "128X64"?

Different scanner tools offer some of the same - and some differing - info, when I run them on this machine.

Thanks in advance...

PS ~ I'd rather not go through cracking-open the case and looking to see exactly what's in there until I get the new RAM. I also understand that I have 1.25 GB now, have a MAX capacity of 2GB for this machine, and will have to remove/replace the 256MB stick in order to upgrade.

DavidGP · Dec 1, 2009

Hi Glenn

Yes your max is 2GB and sadly yes you will have to loose the 256mb chip from one of the memory slots you have to gain the max 2GB, its also likely as their scanner is good that it would be best to get the recomended 1GB 184-pin DIMM DDR PC2700 over the other PC3200 as its likely scanned the chips you already have.

But to just double check what you have attach us an Everest log

Install Everest and run
Click Report (top menu) > Report Wizard > Next
Choose System Summary Only > Next
Choose Plain Text > Finish and wait for report to generate
Click Save to File and leave the File Name as Report, then click the Save as Type dropdown and choose Report files (*txt) and click Save (n.b. Save to desktop is best as easy place to find it, use Browse to locate desktop)

Then attach your log to your next post as per these instructions HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post
Click to expand...

I did use the Crucial scanner a few weeks back when I wanted to max out my netbooks ram to 2GB and the scanner is perfect as is Crucials customer service and delivery. As DomLuc says and I would agree try not to get yourself too hung up on the differences too much, once you post your everest log we can advise on the ram to match your existing 1GB.

But to just give the info anyways

Unbufferered ram is basically where the rams controller can acess the memory directly where as buffered caches the data up first, note is not all motherboards can handle buffered ram.

DIMM is basically Dual Inline Memory Module, good write up here

128MX64 is the memory module size density as in it uses 128megabit x 64bits which = 1GB ram chip size, only ram where is can be an issue in having the density is RIMMs and in RDRAM where they need to be same type, size and density BUT you no need to worry about that as you dont have RDRAM.

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Correct RAM Specs?

grc123 MajorGeek

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member