How do I know what RAM is compatible with my mobo?

[SquirrelMan]

^topic^. I'm not really sure what kind of RAM to buy, as I tried Dell (who made my computer) but they cancelled my order... so who should I buy it from?

[Sentrosi]

www.crucial.com will have a series of questions about your motherboard. It even has the correct RAM to buy if you have your Dell model #. Makes it easy and simple. I have recommended crucial.com to everyone. Great support. :thumbsup:

[Electrofreak]

...that, or you can go to your motherboard manufacturer's website and look for your mobo there, you should be able to find a compatibility list.

[SquirrelMan]

www.crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com/) will have a series of questions about your motherboard. It even has the correct RAM to buy if you have your Dell model #. Makes it easy and simple. I have recommended crucial.com to everyone. Great support. :thumbsup:
uh oh.


They didn't have anything for it

I have a Dell Dimension 8250 533 FSB with RDRAM... nothin doin there. Thanks for the help tho.

[dscytherulez]

Well there is your answer man, you have RDRAM. You have to buy two sticks of matching RDRAM, that's what's compatible.

Edit: I'd recommend 1066 over 800. In fact, I'd highly recommend it.

[Vitter]

If you need RDRAM i have 4 sticks of 256mb im looking to get rid of. Ill let em go for cheap.

Oh, yeah. And they are Kingston. Got them with my alienware about a year and a half ago, so they are certaintly not crappy sticks.

[sandiman]

or just go on on the web nd go 2 somwhere like komplett they hav rahmbus(i think!)..... that stuff is ausome shame it costs so f**ing much

[Vitter]

Which is exactly the point.. I have 4 Kingston sticks that are just a year old and i dont need them anymore. Kingston makes really good memory, plus im selling them cheap.

[SquirrelMan]

Well there is your answer man, you have RDRAM. You have to buy two sticks of matching RDRAM, that's what's compatible.

Edit: I'd recommend 1066 over 800. In fact, I'd highly recommend it.
Oh. So, any RAM that's RDRAM I could install in my computer?

and, what's the best RAM that's out there right now? (I don't want to have to replace it soon or anythin...)

[dscytherulez]

Mushkin, by far, but you wouldn't like the pricetag.

Check out Corsair and Kingston. They are both good RAM manufacturers, and they have good prices.

[keaoi]

go to pricewatch (http://www.pricewatch.com) to compare prices, but be careful what you buy there. Some of it may be "Bob's RAM" (not seriously), the kinda crap to watch out for.

What I did get though is from a company called AIB. Good RAM, to the best of my knowledge its just relabeled Kingston, etc. But since it is RAMBUS, you'll have to dig around.

[SquirrelMan]

Alrightee...

Kingston only sells 800 512 memory, and Corsair doesn't seem to have RDRAM at all.

Also, the PC1200 and PC800 and things like that are speed, right?

[Vitter]

Well im withdrawing my offer from the table.

The 1 gig of mem I have was bleeding edge less than a year ago and i was going to let it go for a pitance.. but forget it.

I think i'll donate it to my neighbor who builds PC's.

[dscytherulez]

Alrightee...

Kingston only sells 800 512 memory, and Corsair doesn't seem to have RDRAM at all.

Also, the PC1200 and PC800 and things like that are speed, right?

It's either 800mhz RAMBUS or 1066mhz RAMBUS. Look for 1066 if you want REALLY good RAM. And I'm pretty sure both Kingston and Corsair sell RDRAM.

[SquirrelMan]

Alrightee... Kingston is selling:

KVR800A16-16/512 512MB PC800-40 Non-ECC 16-Device RIMM $267.00
KVR800A18-16/512 512MB PC800-40 ECC 16-Device RIMM $273.00
KVR800A32-8/256 256MB RIMM3200 800MHz 32-bit RIMM $112.00
KVR800X16-16/512 512MB 800MHz Non-ECC 16-Device RIMM $267.00
KVR800X18-16/512 512MB 800MHz ECC 16-Device RIMM $273.00

and Corsair:

CM616DR512-800E 800 MHz 512MB 256Mx16 184 RIMM 16Mx16http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/images/spacer.gif
CM618DR512-800 800 MHz 512MB 256Mx18 184 RIMM 16Mx18http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/images/spacer.gif
CM616DR256A-800E 800 MHz 256MB 128Mx16 184 RIMM 16Mx16http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/images/spacer.gif
CM618DR256A-800 800 MHz 256MB 128Mx18 184 RIMM 32Mx18http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/images/spacer.gif
CM616DR128A-800E 800 MHz 128MB 64Mx16 184 RIMM 16Mx16http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/images/spacer.gif
CM618DR128A-800 800 MHz 128MB 64Mx18 184 RIMM 32Mx18

Which one do you suggest I buy? Corsair doesn't seem to sell them on their own and dont list any price

[dscytherulez]

How much RAM do you have now? Are you planning on replacing that and buying 2 512 sticks?

[SquirrelMan]

How much RAM do you have now? Are you planning on replacing that and buying 2 512 sticks?I have 2 256MB sticks, should I get 2 512 or 2 256 (you have to buy them in pairs, right?)

[dscytherulez]

Yes, you must buy them in pairs. And the only reason I would see it necessary to buy 2 512 sticks is if you don't have 4 slots, which I'm sure you probably do with RDRAM.

You would still be up to a gig by adding two 256 sticks, and it would be cheaper.

[SquirrelMan]

Alright, let me get it straight.

I can buy ANY RDRAM, RAMBUS, RIMM, etc. RAM, as long as it is in pairs, right? And, what does ECC/ Non ECC mean?

heheh, sorry, i'm sort of muddled when it comes to upgrades...

P.S: C&C Generals recently started to lag, hiccuping and such. What should I do about that?

[Electrofreak]

ECC means Error Checking... something. Its slower and more expensive than normal RAM, and usually is only used in machines that really need to be more stable or something I think... like maybe servers or computers used for scientific work I'm guessing. Basically, don't worry about it. You don't need it. That or Registered RAM. Go for unbuffered non-ECC RAM.

[Rbstr]

Error correcting code i think