A Buyer’s Guide to PC Memory

Posted by on 04/27 at 08:00 AM Permalink
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If there’s one thing that most desktop computers and laptop computers can do with, it’s more memory (often called RAM). No matter how much you have, it’s never quite enough. Newer computers come loaded with 512 MB or 1 GB of memory. That’s OK for basic work, but if you’re doing anything with graphics, gaming, or running Windows Vista, then you’ll definitely need more memory. And if you have a slightly older computer, then a little extra RAM goes a long way.

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    Posted by Ray  on  04/27  at  08:55 AM

  1. Memory is a topic that needs to be talked about alot. There are so many types of memory out there. One thing you did not touch on is Low & High Density Memory. I have found it is very important with SD Ram Memory on older laptops & Desktops...8 chips...16 chips of memory.....

    2. Posted by Buddy Davis  on  04/27  at  10:30 AM

  2. would like to know where to place the ram on the motherboard.if you have 4 spots, but 2 modules of ramm, where do you place the?

    3. Posted by Dave  on  04/27  at  11:20 AM

  3. I’ve successfully added MORE memory than Crucial or the computer manual or manufacturer has said I can.

    I have an old Sony VAIO laptop that is supposed to be maxed out at 256 megs--it was a dog with XP.

    I took out one of the 128 and added 256 megs and it runs fine--and much much faster--it’s not supposed to. I’ve done it with other laptops too.

    4. Posted by Maurice Lampl  on  04/27  at  12:34 PM

  4. I have 2014 MB Memory.  Your system scanner does not indicate whether I need more memory or not, but my CPU reader on my desktop reaches maximum on startup and stays there for several minutes, so I’m thinking there’s a bottleneck and possible need for more RAM memory.  What’s your take????  I have AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X 2 Dual Core processor 5200+ 2.61 Ghz…

    5. Posted by Wayne Cooney  on  04/27  at  07:26 PM

  5. I wonder why Geeks only carries ~ Pretty much Junk RAM ~ Almost all is Refurbushed ~ I only buy the Best RAM ~ Quality - And quite honestly most of your products are sub-standard and/or refurbushed or re-certificed.

    Please excuse the typo’s - it seems when I get frustrated from your site - I seem to loose the ability to spell correctly…

    6. Posted by jack  on  04/27  at  10:13 PM

  6. any way you could put a “Print” notice on your articles to enable printing without having to print all the advertisements, etc? Thanks.

    7. Posted by Bob  on  04/28  at  03:33 AM

  7. Great article, BUT.... I usually get stuck trying to reverse engineer a memory stick. Someone will hand me a stick and in many cases there is not even a vendor logo on it let alone any clues as to determining the specs. Is there any site that will let me input chip markings and with a bit of math determine the capacity, speed, etc?

    8. Posted by Bob Lentine  on  04/28  at  05:19 AM

  8. Scott:
    This Tech-Tip was both timely and informative to me. You answered all the questions and concerns I had about updating the memory in my computer.
    Keep up the good work, and thanks again!

    Regards.

    Bob Lentine

    9. Posted by joseph T. Flasinski  on  04/28  at  05:28 AM

  9. I am wondering if you folks have started a new thing when you send out teck tips!? The last two that I have gotten I was unable to download the pictures in the artical so I could print it and save for a look at.I get the adds on both sides of the artical but not with the artical.

    10. Posted by O Nolan  on  04/28  at  08:35 AM

  10. good info

    11. Posted by Ken  on  04/28  at  08:42 AM

  11. How do you replace memory in a Laptop.

    12. Posted by GeekMike  on  04/28  at  09:22 AM

  12. @jack - all our Tech Tips are available in printable .pdf format.  These will print without any of the banner advertising.

    http://www.geeks.com/techtips/techtip-viewall.asp

    Hope this helps…

    -GM

    13. Posted by Jerry  on  04/28  at  07:14 PM

  13. I use a free download called Belarc at belarc.com to give me an xray view of my computer.  It will tell how many slots you have for memory and what it is filled with without having to take apart your computer.Everyting you ever wanted to know about the computer from motherboard to programs installed and upgrades don’t escapes its scrutiny.

    14. Posted by CUcomputerguy  on  04/28  at  07:20 PM

  14. Thanks for the helpful info. A chart with the transfer rates matched to the type/peak data transfer rate (e.g. DDR266=PC2100) would be a helpful reference tool. Thanks.

    15. Posted by Todd Fringer  on  04/29  at  10:59 AM

  15. Thanks for your simplistic explanation.

    16. Posted by Jeff  on  04/29  at  04:10 PM

  16. Great Info!!, I was wondering who to ask about ram, your article has explained it well, Thanks for all the info tips lately

    17. Posted by ElectricRage  on  10/07  at  08:07 AM

  17. Dear Sirs,
    I have purchased a E-msachine T3642 AMD Athlon 4000+ Desktop CPU and wish to replace the 2 512 MB sticks with 2 one Gig sticks..what type of memory should I purchase? PC5300 DDR..or what?  Thanks!

    18. Posted by chris  on  11/09  at  06:51 PM

  18. I recently put 4GB of Ram in my Gate laptop and I was going to switch the old 2 GB into my 5 yrar old Compaq Presario Laptop but I noticed that the vertical slot 1/3 of the way in the card was slightly a different width and could not get the ram card in the slot of the Compaq.

    Was this common for DDR memory?

    thanks

    19. Posted by Meow  on  01/27  at  10:27 PM

  19. ElectricRage,

    A search on Google seemed to show that DDR2 is used in that model, so if your motherboard supports it then it should be good to go. Yes, PC2-5300 seemed to be the chip that was used.

    20. Posted by ElectricRage  on  01/28  at  10:17 AM

  20. Thanks for the help regarding that but as you can see by the date of my original posting...I have been able since then to contact the ACER company and get the proper type of memory that it is used with. BTW..even now with 2 GIGS (the max it can handle) it was very slow with Win VISTA and playing my MMOG City of Heroes so I had to get a flash dive to up the RAM through a USB port...it runs now on 6 GIGS of RAM so the rig runs very smooth now...VISTA is a huge RAM hog!

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