RAM - Will it work in my computer?

Hey Lads,

I'm looking for some new RAM, and I know the basics, but when they start talking technical, I REALLY don't know what they're talking about.

SO.

Here's the RAM I'm looking at at the moment:

KVR8000D2D4P6/4GEF
4GB PC2-6400 Parity ECC REG CL6 240-Pin DIMM
ELP

I've got a regular desktop motherboard (ASRock G31M-S), and I know that most things I see in all those letters and numbers match up in terms of compatibility, but I need a way to be sure.
Also, I noticed some modules are "ECC" and some aren't. Same with "ELP"
Can someone enlighten on what this means?

Thanks a bunch.

 

Hello,

1. please do not use the term "lads" without suffixing "and ladies" or similar as it some members may think it sexist.

2. "ECC" RAM is Error Correcting Code RAM. (info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECC_RAM#Errors_and_error_correction) It basically checks for errors in the data that has been stored on the RAM by looking for "flipped bits" that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference. ECC RAM requires a motherboard that supports ECC. Most desktop motherboards do not support ECC.

I am assuming that ELP stands for Error Locator Polynomial, which is a type of error checking that I have not heard of before.

Your motherboard supports DDR2 800/667 RAM, but not ECC, or I therefore assume, ELP. Therefore you need to find non-ECC and non-ELP RAM. Non-ECC RAM is the most common type of RAM.

 

Why not simply let Crucial do the job to determine what type of RAM your computer needs? Just click on Memory Upgrades in the link below and take it from there.

http://www.crucial.com/

 

...or just check the mobo's QVL(Qualified Vendours List) list. Unless you have a server, then ECC RAM will be useless for you.

 

1. Sorry, just habit... didn't mean any harm.
2. Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

 

Sorry. I thought ECC was a term which was too uncommon to be mentioned in motherboard statistics... and I guess I just didn't think the Crucial website would have such detailed information about a part they don't make.

Got my answer now though, so thanks for that.

 

I more made this thread for the technical info about ECC, and also I don't know what a 'QVL' is.

Thanks anyway, though.