DDR2 Question
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From: Johanna on 4 Oct 2006 13:12 I am looking to get some more RAM (1GB) and am bewildered by all the different configurations. I don't know how to make sure I get the best RAM for me, without paying over the odds. I already have 1 GB (512x2) .I got these at different times. One is Samsung, the other a cheap brand from PC World. Now I want to use the Dual Ram functionality with the new RAM that I am getting. The most demanding application I use is Adobe Photohop when I do web development which I am learning right now. My motherboard manual didn't explicitly mention what RAM to get, so I looked online for some reviews for my motherboard: Asrock 939 Dual SATA2 (that's the popular board which can run AGP and PSI-e at the same time). http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/09/16/asrock_939dual/ I found that the reviewers were using DDR2 400 Mhz if I understood correctly. I don't know whether it matters what freqquency it is. Tom's hardware used Corsair; one guy used OCZ Platinum (he had some problems with that) and another said he was using value RAM which worked very well. I was looking at this site : http://www.cclonline.com/product-categories.asp?category_id=105 then I realised that I wasn't sure what to get - what would be compatible. I really don't want fancy RAM ! I just want good value, and for it to work in the machine.... I don't want to splash out on this at all as it is not a planned purchase and as I am budget-girl right now as I am not working :-) ! Ideally I want' to get it right the first timel, so that I don't have to exchange the RAM - that's such a hassle! Can you help me with a recommendation? Jo
From: Chris Hill on 4 Oct 2006 13:43 On Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:12:16 +0100, Johanna <johanna(a)nospam.org> wrote: >I am looking to get some more RAM (1GB) and am bewildered by all the >different configurations. >I don't know how to make sure I get the best RAM for me, without paying >over the odds. > >I already have 1 GB (512x2) .I got these at different times. One is >Samsung, the other a cheap brand from PC World. > >Now I want to use the Dual Ram functionality with the new RAM that I am >getting. >The most demanding application I use is Adobe Photohop when I do web >development which I am learning right now. > >My motherboard manual didn't explicitly mention what RAM to get, so I >looked online for some reviews for my motherboard: Asrock 939 Dual >SATA2 (that's the popular board which can run AGP and PSI-e at the >same time). http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/09/16/asrock_939dual/ > >I found that the reviewers were using DDR2 400 Mhz if I understood You must've gotten that incorrect. As far as I know, no socket 939 boards use ddr2.
From: John Doe on 4 Oct 2006 14:01 Chris Hill <chill_mapsfree_000(a)centurytel.net> wrote: > On Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:12:16 +0100, Johanna <johanna(a)nospam.org> > wrote: > >>I am looking to get some more RAM (1GB) and am bewildered by all >>the different configurations. >>I don't know how to make sure I get the best RAM for me, without >>paying over the odds. >> >>I already have 1 GB (512x2) .I got these at different times. One >>is Samsung, the other a cheap brand from PC World. >> >>Now I want to use the Dual Ram functionality with the new RAM that >>I am getting. >>The most demanding application I use is Adobe Photohop when I do >>web development which I am learning right now. >> >>My motherboard manual didn't explicitly mention what RAM to get, >>so I looked online for some reviews for my motherboard: Asrock >>939 Dual SATA2 (that's the popular board which can run AGP and >>PSI-e at the same time). >>http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/09/16/asrock_939dual/ >> >>I found that the reviewers were using DDR2 400 Mhz if I >>understood > > You must've gotten that incorrect. As far as I know, no socket > 939 boards use ddr2. > Right. If you're talking about the ASRock 939Dual-VSTA that has AGP and PCI Express x16 video card slots. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157097 (Click on Specifications) That mainboard uses 184 pin PC3200 (DDR400), not DDR2. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80097-50 Buy two sticks and refer to the mainboard manual for which slots to put them in. Good luck and have fun.
From: Johanna on 4 Oct 2006 14:56 Hi, Thanks for the tip - perfect. It was that motherboard. I. wasn't sure at all about what RAM to get - don't know the difference between DDR and DDR2 actually. Thanks for checking for me though! Just one thing: Isn't Corsair the "Gucci" of RAM...? I wanted GAP..... ! But the price was reasonable, so I don't think I'll fuss about it. Seems the models on sale here in the UK are silver coloured rather than black like on the link that you posted. Jo John Doe wrote: > Chris Hill <chill_mapsfree_000(a)centurytel.net> wrote: > > >>On Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:12:16 +0100, Johanna <johanna(a)nospam.org> >>wrote: >> >> >>>I am looking to get some more RAM (1GB) and am bewildered by all >>>the different configurations. >>>I don't know how to make sure I get the best RAM for me, without >>>paying over the odds. >>> >>>I already have 1 GB (512x2) .I got these at different times. One >>>is Samsung, the other a cheap brand from PC World. >>> >>>Now I want to use the Dual Ram functionality with the new RAM that >>>I am getting. >>>The most demanding application I use is Adobe Photohop when I do >>>web development which I am learning right now. >>> >>>My motherboard manual didn't explicitly mention what RAM to get, >>>so I looked online for some reviews for my motherboard: Asrock >>>939 Dual SATA2 (that's the popular board which can run AGP and >>>PSI-e at the same time). >>>http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/09/16/asrock_939dual/ >>> >>>I found that the reviewers were using DDR2 400 Mhz if I >>>understood >> >>You must've gotten that incorrect. As far as I know, no socket >>939 boards use ddr2. >> > > > Right. > > If you're talking about the ASRock 939Dual-VSTA that has AGP and PCI > Express x16 video card slots. > > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157097 > (Click on Specifications) > > That mainboard uses 184 pin PC3200 (DDR400), not DDR2. > > http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80097-50 > > Buy two sticks and refer to the mainboard manual for which slots to > put them in. > > Good luck and have fun. > > >
From: Paul William on 4 Oct 2006 15:30
Re: >> I don't know whether it matters what freqquency it is... Answer: the higher the frequency, the more expensive, so it does matter. Your ram WILL need to be DDR2. 400 Mhz used to be expensive, state of the art, but is now quite the opposite, so you should be able to get some for a good value. Part of the problem with choosing the RAM, and I blame this on the idiotic nerd guys who are responsible for marketing the stuff, is that there are two different systems for denoting the speed of the ram. On the one hand we have terms like "400 MHz" and on the other hand we have terms like "PC3200". For some reason motherboard manufacturers specify the ram speed in MHz and the ram manufacturers tend to use PCXXXX. The key piece of information you need, is a crosswalk that goes from MHz to PCXXXX terms, so here is the missing link: 400 MHz = PC3200. 333 MHZ = PC2700. 200 MHZ = PC2100? I would recomend the 400MHZ PC3200 RAM personally, but you could use any speed DDR2 ram, but above 400 MHz and you are wasting money, and below 333MHz, well, whats the point, unless you want to make your computer slow on purpose... Can someone else fill in the crosswalk above 400 MHz? My knowledge base stops there! - Paul W. > > My motherboard manual didn't explicitly mention what RAM to get, so I > looked online for some reviews for my motherboard: Asrock 939 Dual > SATA2 (that's the popular board which can run AGP and PSI-e at the > same time). http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/09/16/asrock_939dual/ > > I found that the reviewers were using DDR2 400 Mhz if I understood > correctly. Johanna wrote: > I am looking to get some more RAM (1GB) and am bewildered by all the > different configurations. > I don't know how to make sure I get the best RAM for me, without paying > over the odds. > > I already have 1 GB (512x2) .I got these at different times. One is > Samsung, the other a cheap brand from PC World. > > Now I want to use the Dual Ram functionality with the new RAM that I am > getting. > The most demanding application I use is Adobe Photohop when I do web > development which I am learning right now. > > My motherboard manual didn't explicitly mention what RAM to get, so I > looked online for some reviews for my motherboard: Asrock 939 Dual > SATA2 (that's the popular board which can run AGP and PSI-e at the > same time). http://tomshardware.co.uk/2005/09/16/asrock_939dual/ > > I found that the reviewers were using DDR2 400 Mhz if I understood > correctly. > I don't know whether it matters what freqquency it is. > Tom's hardware used Corsair; one guy used OCZ Platinum (he had some > problems with that) and another said he was using value RAM which worked > very well. > > I was looking at this site : > http://www.cclonline.com/product-categories.asp?category_id=105 > then I realised that I wasn't sure what to get - what would be compatible. > > I really don't want fancy RAM ! > I just want good value, and for it to work in the machine.... > I don't want to splash out on this at all as it is not a planned > purchase and as I am budget-girl right now as I am not working :-) ! > > Ideally I want' to get it right the first timel, so that I don't have to > exchange the RAM - that's such a hassle! > > Can you help me with a recommendation? > Jo |