Computer memory help

disneyjoe7

Hello,

I was to upgrade my computer memory which is a desktop, how can I figure what memory to buy as in number of pins?

Shizelbs

Best way is to get the model number for your motherboard. Know what that is? Can you open up the case and find out?

MikeC78

Chek out your computer manufacturers website, they will usually tell you what exactly is needed to upgrade. Amazon also has a "memory finder" option that will list the one needed for your type of computer.

demaples

Check this site out. I've used them several times.
http://www.4allmemory.com/

disneyjoe7

The truth I built this computer 4 years ago, but I work on a lot of computers so not 100% sure what's in it as the motherboard. Is that in on MB somewhere?

tcrossma

This is a nice little program that will tell you about your mainboard, CPU and memory: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

MikeC78

Shut the computer down and take back apart. Pull the memory module out and see what the label says.

Jstas

tcrossma wrote: »

This is a nice little program that will tell you about your mainboard, CPU and memory: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Ding!

Best bet right there.


If you built the computer yourself though, wouldn't you kinda remember what you put in there?

Also, memory isn't always labeled, especially if it's generic stuff. However, SDRAM and DDR ram look similar but they should have pins numbered at the corner SDRAM doesn't have more than 168 pins and should have a 168 at one of the corners. DDR has 184 pins and should be labeled similarly. DDR2 and newer versions of DDR aren't always labeled that way though.

disneyjoe7

Well I knew it was a SLI board I remembered MSI, found MSI K8N SLI on the board. So DDR not the DDR2 chips.

Any care to tell me why memory chips / cpu pins and everything else seems to change everyday.

MKZ

http://www.crucial.com/

scan your computer there.

Systems

MKZ wrote: »

http://www.crucial.com/

scan your computer there.

What MKZ said, been using Crucial for years and they've been spot on every time with their memory. No problems at all with what they've sent me.

disneyjoe7

Ok more questions can I use a dual channel memory chips for a non dual channel computer?

Roy Munson

I'd recommend Crucial also.

Early B.

I just purchased a Crucial memory chip last week. They're great.

nadams

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Ok more questions can I use a dual channel memory chips for a non dual channel computer?

Absolutely. There's really nothing different with them other than they're a matched pair...

disneyjoe7

Thanks all for being an older computer guy up to speed a little, its amassing just how fast things change in computers. Great info guys this thread has helped me immensely.

sucks2beme

Jstas wrote: »

Ding!
Best bet right there.
If you built the computer yourself though, wouldn't you kinda remember what you put in there?

QUOTE]

I've got seven. I'm over fifty. Gas is expensive. I look, then buy.:D

disneyjoe7

So with some computer parts to update some computers around me. I had a chance to try this I put 4 simm memory slots 1g memory chips in my main computer. I did this to see if if 4g would be a nice update in the future for me. When I put 4g memory in the computer it would only see 3.25g not 4g, when I removed the first memory slot chips the computer would see 2g ok, so it see 2g 2x1g chips in 1&2 or 3&4 slots but not 4g 1,2,3, &4 slots.

So if a computer can work with 4g of memory chips 4x1g does it see it all?

bobman1235

All the 32-bit Windows versions will not recognize more than 3.25GB, so you could put 8GB in there if you wanted to, it would still show up as 3.25 (the maximum).

If you went with a 64-bit version of windows (assuming you have a 64-bit processor) then you could get 4GB, though there are a lot of problems with that solution too (such as a lot of drivers and whatnot not written for XP64 or Vista 64).

disneyjoe7

Ok I understand it's a windows 32bit issue, but I remember that even the motherboard did see 4g either but something like 3.4g is this a bottleneck too?

bobman1235

Try looking up the specs for your motherboard, see if they have a maximum. Shouldn't be too hard to find online.

disneyjoe7

MKZ wrote: »

http://www.crucial.com/

scan your computer there.

Ok so I'm at my mother in laws house with same computer model which I use for also but this one is a spare computer. The computer scaned for 2g mem possible with was to remove the 256mb stick and install to 1g sticks. The compter will not see the 1g sticks why? If the scan software says a go the computer says no go.


:mad:


Now I stuck with 256mb mem. When I pulled a 256mb stick from mine, and replaced it with 2x 512mb. That works but now I'm 85 miles away and the 256mb is home, at least I could put 512mb in there. :rolleyes:

MKZ

Sorry to hear that. It looks like your computer accept up to 1GB and Crucial messed up. What kinda computer is that? My HP workstation, I have to add as a pair of Rambus RDRAM.

McLoki

Bios update maybe? Have you checked for any firmware updates?

What memory are you trying to put in and what is in there now?

disneyjoe7

The computers are used old corporate computers Disney Compaq Evo 510 the memory is 256mb the new is Corsair DDR3200 3-3-3-8 if that makes any difference. Thanks for the Bios update thing I could try that.

I was up here to upgrade the monitor, memory, the software (many viruses and we decided to reformat and reinstall windows). I just redid the computer so I need to get some drivers to make it work as XP doesn't see everything on this computer model.

Steve

McLoki

Small form factor or convertable mini-tower? What OS are you running?

disneyjoe7

Small form factor XP Home I think it's now a "System Builder"?

McLoki

when you install the memory, do you just get beep codes, or does it give another error?

disneyjoe7

Just beep codes, I couldn't even get into bios. Bios doesn't even see the 1m stick with a 256mb stick in either slot, but this was the only way I could get into bios / setup with the stick in the computer.

McLoki

Did it work with just the 1gb stick? (or a pair of them)

McLoki

From Crucial...

Q: How much memory can my computer handle?

A: 2048MB.

Adding the maximum amount of memory will improve performance and help extend the useful life of your system as you run increasingly demanding software applications in the future.

Q: Do I have to install matching pairs?

A: No.

No, you can install modules one at a time, and you can mix different densities of modules in your computer. But if your computer supports dual-channel memory configurations, you should install in identical pairs (preferably in kits) for optimal performance.