Installing more RAM on a computer

**sadio8** · 08-24-2005, 03:58 PM

I'm interested in installing some more RAM onto my computer. However, I'm totally clueless as to how about I should go with the process. I know there are many different types of RAM. I just took a browse through a computer store and there was like dual channel ram, ddr ram, ddr2 ram, and whatnot. This is all pretty confusing for me. So can anyone give me some advice on where I should start in regards to adding more RAM on my computer? Not so much with the actual installation, but in the sense of how do I know what kind/type of RAM to get for my computer since there are so many choices out there. Like what information do I need to know about my computer and the ram currently exsisting on my computer, before i can decide on what kind of ram to purchase to add-on to my computer?

DS · 08-24-2005, 05:40 PM

What kind of motherboard do you have? Unless your computer is pretty old or you're running a high Intel, you're probably going to need DDR SDRAM.

Old computers run on plain DDR, Intels are the only ones that run DDR2 (right now), and majority of the boards today run DDR SDRAM.

**sadio8** · 08-24-2005, 05:46 PM

Well its a pretty old computer, its for a Intel Pentium 3 computer.

G · 08-24-2005, 06:41 PM

Most electronic retail stores (Circuit City, Staples...) have memory finders on the computers throughout the stores. I'm sure any computer associate could help you find the right one for you.

G · 08-24-2005, 06:42 PM

That might just be the easiest and most accurate way of finding out for yourself.

**sadio8** · 08-25-2005, 12:17 AM

Thank you very much, I'll give that a try and see what happens. So if I just give them some computer specs about my computer they will be able to help me find the best RAM that will be compitable for my computer? If that is the case, what basic information should I give them, or should I give them as much info about my computer as possible? Sorry for the silly questions guys!

G · 08-25-2005, 08:56 AM

All you need is the exact model number of your system, which is on a sticker somewhere on your tower, usually on the back.

http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/resou...ory/index.html

See if that works, it's to the memory finder on Staples.com. If it doesn't just go to their website and look under Computer Accessories > Memory Wizard, which should be in the lower right corner.

**sadio8** · 08-25-2005, 12:02 PM

Alrighty I Just did a test on some software to see if I could get any information about my motherboard from my computer. It seems like I got a lot of information but I wanna make sure I got everything I need. Only reason I ask is chances are just to be on the safe side, when I go to get the ram, I'll show this info to the salesperson or whatever to make sure I get the right information. So this was the info the software collected:

Report 1: http://www.geocities.com/smotani@rogers.com/Report.htm
Report 2: http://www.geocities.com/smotani@rogers.com/Report2.htm

Is that the info I need?

G · 08-25-2005, 01:06 PM

Yeah, that's more than enough.

**sadio8** · 08-25-2005, 01:15 PM

Thank you very much Mr.G

You've been more than helpful and I thank you once again!

G · 08-25-2005, 01:22 PM

**CREDO** · 08-28-2005, 12:49 AM

heres a thought, if in doubt, just whip out a stick of your own ram and show it to them, they will look and the pins and notches and (if they have a brain) tell you right away that you need SDRAM for an old PIII, downside of this is that they dont manufacture SDRAM anymore and the price is rising all the time.

its getting to the point that you might as well just shell out for a cheap new motherboard, CPU and DDR RAM. Or go hunting second hand stores and recycle stores for some ram out of an old PC
A new HDD wouldnt go astray either for a bit of a speed boost.

I just couldnt work on a PIII as my main rig anymore.. it would piss me off no end.

08-24-2005, 03:58 PM	#1
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	Installing more RAM on a computer I'm interested in installing some more RAM onto my computer. However, I'm totally clueless as to how about I should go with the process. I know there are many different types of RAM. I just took a browse through a computer store and there was like dual channel ram, ddr ram, ddr2 ram, and whatnot. This is all pretty confusing for me. So can anyone give me some advice on where I should start in regards to adding more RAM on my computer? Not so much with the actual installation, but in the sense of how do I know what kind/type of RAM to get for my computer since there are so many choices out there. Like what information do I need to know about my computer and the ram currently exsisting on my computer, before i can decide on what kind of ram to purchase to add-on to my computer? Last edited by sadio8; 08-24-2005 at 04:36 PM.

08-24-2005, 05:40 PM	#2
DS look at that hat Posts: 4,520	What kind of motherboard do you have? Unless your computer is pretty old or you're running a high Intel, you're probably going to need DDR SDRAM. Old computers run on plain DDR, Intels are the only ones that run DDR2 (right now), and majority of the boards today run DDR SDRAM.

08-24-2005, 05:46 PM	#3
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	Well its a pretty old computer, its for a Intel Pentium 3 computer.

08-24-2005, 06:41 PM	#4
G Selectively Social Posts: 16,336	Most electronic retail stores (Circuit City, Staples...) have memory finders on the computers throughout the stores. I'm sure any computer associate could help you find the right one for you.

08-24-2005, 06:42 PM	#5
G Selectively Social Posts: 16,336	That might just be the easiest and most accurate way of finding out for yourself.

08-25-2005, 12:17 AM	#6
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	Thank you very much, I'll give that a try and see what happens. So if I just give them some computer specs about my computer they will be able to help me find the best RAM that will be compitable for my computer? If that is the case, what basic information should I give them, or should I give them as much info about my computer as possible? Sorry for the silly questions guys!

08-25-2005, 08:56 AM	#7
G Selectively Social Posts: 16,336	All you need is the exact model number of your system, which is on a sticker somewhere on your tower, usually on the back. http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/resou...ory/index.html See if that works, it's to the memory finder on Staples.com. If it doesn't just go to their website and look under Computer Accessories > Memory Wizard, which should be in the lower right corner.

08-25-2005, 12:02 PM	#8
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	Alrighty I Just did a test on some software to see if I could get any information about my motherboard from my computer. It seems like I got a lot of information but I wanna make sure I got everything I need. Only reason I ask is chances are just to be on the safe side, when I go to get the ram, I'll show this info to the salesperson or whatever to make sure I get the right information. So this was the info the software collected: Report 1: http://www.geocities.com/smotani@rogers.com/Report.htm Report 2: http://www.geocities.com/smotani@rogers.com/Report2.htm Is that the info I need?

08-25-2005, 01:06 PM	#9
G Selectively Social Posts: 16,336	Yeah, that's more than enough.

08-25-2005, 01:15 PM	#10
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	Thank you very much Mr.G You've been more than helpful and I thank you once again!

08-28-2005, 12:49 AM	#12
CREDO Gruddammit! Posts: 6,075	heres a thought, if in doubt, just whip out a stick of your own ram and show it to them, they will look and the pins and notches and (if they have a brain) tell you right away that you need SDRAM for an old PIII, downside of this is that they dont manufacture SDRAM anymore and the price is rising all the time. its getting to the point that you might as well just shell out for a cheap new motherboard, CPU and DDR RAM. Or go hunting second hand stores and recycle stores for some ram out of an old PC A new HDD wouldnt go astray either for a bit of a speed boost. I just couldnt work on a PIII as my main rig anymore.. it would piss me off no end.