mberran
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RAM Upgrade: How do I tell if my PC supports 2700 vs 2100 AND is it better to use a pair of 512 or a single 1 GB RAM?
I wanted to upgrade my RAM in my Sony Vaio PCV RS 411 desktop (comes with 256MBx2 of RAM). Like I have done in the past, I went out and used the system scanner/advisor tool on crucial.com. It said I had 4 slots with a max of 2GB and recommeded some PC2700 RAM. I wanted it quick so I went to BestBuy and bought a single Kingston module (1GB, 333Mhz, PC2700, DDR, CL2.5). When I got home, I actually only had 2 slots (already filled). The original RAM was 256MB of PC2100 266Mhz. I replaced one of them with the new 1GB module I bought. So, now I have a total of 1.25GB, but mixed of 2100 and 2700. I've read that the lower of the two modules will be used. I also later saw that my PC will only support 1GB max of RAM (even though all 1.25 are showing up when I look at the My Computer properties). So, here are my questions.
1. If my PC came with PC2100 RAM, how can I tell if it supports PC2700 RAM? I added more information about my desktop below.
2. Assuming 1GB maximum, is it better to use a pair of 512MB modules or a single 1GB module? Does it matter if the 1GB is 2700 and the 512MB are 2100, or vice versa?
Thanks for you help.
Matt
1. If my PC came with PC2100 RAM, how can I tell if it supports PC2700 RAM? I added more information about my desktop below.
2. Assuming 1GB maximum, is it better to use a pair of 512MB modules or a single 1GB module? Does it matter if the 1GB is 2700 and the 512MB are 2100, or vice versa?
Thanks for you help.
Matt
SOLUTION
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The bus speed on that board is 533 MHz, i.e. quad-pumped 133 MHz. So, you'd want to run PC2100 (266 MHz, double-pumped 133 MHz) so that everything is using the same base timings (133 MHz). The PC2700, if coupled with a PC2100 module, will throttle back to 266 MHz. Do you overclock?
Good advice/information above.
One piece of advice - get the proper RAM and install the maximum amount as soon as you can afford it. It will only get more expensive. On an old PC that had EDO ram I waited to long to upgrade - the available supply diminished and the price went through the roof.
One piece of advice - get the proper RAM and install the maximum amount as soon as you can afford it. It will only get more expensive. On an old PC that had EDO ram I waited to long to upgrade - the available supply diminished and the price went through the roof.
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If the memory is showing up in Windows, it's being supported. Whether it's being supported reliably or not is another story. You'll want to run a memory test, such as memtest86+ (http://www.memtest.org/). If you get errors, run it again with the original memory. If not, you're pretty much good to go. The documentation for your computer may have been written before 1 GB chips were common, so the most that's officially supported, and tested as working, was two 512 MB chips.
Whether your system supports dual channel or not, 1.25 GB of single channel will be much faster than 256 MB of dual channel.
As far as the speed's concerned, garycase is correct. The speed on a memory chip is the *maximum* speed at which it is rated. Putting RAM rated faster than your system's bus speed is like driving a sports car on a Los Angeles freeway in rush hour. The car will work just fine, but it might be overkill. If you can get the faster RAM for the same price, or even less than, the slower RAM, get the faster RAM. On the other hand, don't spend twice as much for memory that's faster than what you need.
http://www.crucial.com/crucial/pvtcontent/memorytype.asp?model=&memtype=CHOOSE#speed confirms this by the way, which says, "it's okay to mix the speed of the memory in a system. Just keep in mind that your computer is made to handle a specific memory speed, so even if you add a faster speed memory, your computer will only allow it to run at the speed your computer was made to handle."
Whether your system supports dual channel or not, 1.25 GB of single channel will be much faster than 256 MB of dual channel.
As far as the speed's concerned, garycase is correct. The speed on a memory chip is the *maximum* speed at which it is rated. Putting RAM rated faster than your system's bus speed is like driving a sports car on a Los Angeles freeway in rush hour. The car will work just fine, but it might be overkill. If you can get the faster RAM for the same price, or even less than, the slower RAM, get the faster RAM. On the other hand, don't spend twice as much for memory that's faster than what you need.
http://www.crucial.com/crucial/pvtcontent/memorytype.asp?model=&memtype=CHOOSE#speed confirms this by the way, which says, "it's okay to mix the speed of the memory in a system. Just keep in mind that your computer is made to handle a specific memory speed, so even if you add a faster speed memory, your computer will only allow it to run at the speed your computer was made to handle."