Solved How do i determain the size of my memory

[MetalMan228]

Hi everyone,

I wish to up grade my memory in my PC and have installed Speccy which tells me i have:

3.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 535MHz (7-7-7-20)

What i need to know is the size of each memory stick and the max my PC can use. In other words i need to be able to choose the appropriate RAM, but i cannot understand all the information Speccy is telling me.

I have enclosed a screenshot for all the tech guru's to decipher.

Thanks!!

 

[Gator]

You have 3gb of ram. Windows 7 Professional can handle 192gb of ram. Your motherboard can handle only 4gb max of ram

Read more:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366778%28v=vs.85%29.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

You want to look for DDR3 1333MHz PC3-10600 ram. They are best bought in pairs so you would want to buy 2x2gb sticks.

 

[badcrc]

You have 3gb of ram. Windows 7 Professional can handle 192gb of ram.

Read more:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/li...778(v=vs.85).aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

You want to look for DDR3 1333MHz PC3-10600 ram.

It is best bought in pairs. I would say for most people, 6gb of ram will be fine. Most users wont need more than 8gb.

Pegatron 2a99 specs say

2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots Supports Dual Channel DDR3 1333/1066 MHz non-ECC, un-buffered (Max 4GB)

 

[Gator]

You have 3gb of ram. Windows 7 Professional can handle 192gb of ram.

Read more:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/li...778(v=vs.85).aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

You want to look for DDR3 1333MHz PC3-10600 ram.

It is best bought in pairs. I would say for most people, 6gb of ram will be fine. Most users wont need more than 8gb.

Pegatron 2a99 specs say

2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots Supports Dual Channel DDR3 1333/1066 MHz non-ECC, un-buffered (Max 4GB)

Good catch.

 

[MetalMan228]

Ok, Excellent info!!

Now badcrc is saying 4GB, but Gator is saying 8GB. Is my memory limit due to my motherboard since Gator is saying Win 7 PRO can handle 192GB? Can i use 8GB?

And I would choose pairs that would be 2 x 2GB or 2 x 4GB, correct?

 

[jc836]

Look at the spec's from HP for your machine. There is a table that will tell you exactly how much RAM it can have installed. As to the original question, there are 2 sticks currently that are 1Gig and 2Gig's each. You can only run in dual-channel mode with 2 identical sticks of memory/ Thus a kit of 2 stick of 2 Gig's each or possibly 4Gig's. You will not need more than 8Gig's total for most situations, except Gaming (possibly).

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ok, Excellent info!!

Now badcrc is saying 4GB, but Gator is saying 8GB. Is my memory limit due to my motherboard since Gator is saying Win 7 PRO can handle 192GB? Can i use 8GB?

And I would choose pairs that would be 2 x 2GB or 2 x 4GB, correct?

Note the "Max 4 GB" in the specs quoted by badcrc from Pegatron.

If that's accurate (I have no idea), you are limited to 4 grand total; which would best be 2 x 2 GB.

You are limited by the motherboard.

 

[Gator]

Ok, Excellent info!!

Now badcrc is saying 4GB, but Gator is saying 8GB. Is my memory limit due to my motherboard since Gator is saying Win 7 PRO can handle 192GB? Can i use 8GB?

And I would choose pairs that would be 2 x 2GB or 2 x 4GB, correct?

Note the "Max 4 GB" in the specs quoted by badcrc from Pegatron.

If that's accurate (I have no idea), you are limited to 4 grand total; which would best be 2 x 2 GB.

You are limited by the motherboard.

Yep, I was mistaken and I edited my original post.

 

[MetalMan228]

Thanks for clearing up the mild confusion.

So, for example, i went on a vendors site and picked a set of sticks with the following specs:

4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

Is this appropriate for my PC? I am still confused with the various memory speeds. I think back in the old days (XP) you choose only the specific memory speed of your PC, ie: 488, 537 etc. When i look online to buy memory i see various speeds like are in the following screen shot and the numbers are meaningless to me. I have 537, where is the 537 speeds?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If the specs quoted above from Pegatron in post 3 in this thread are correct, you need DDR3 1333, which is aka PC3-10600, with these further specifications: 240-pin DDR3 DIMM, unbuffered, non-ECC. Not sure about the voltage as it's not mentioned in post 3. Two sticks of 2 GB each.

There's 48 examples in that blue print in your last post.

 

[Berton]

I found an anomaly in SPECCY yesterday. I was given a Dell Inspiron 6000 Notebook running WinXP with 1GB RAM [2x512MB]. I ran SPECCY and it showed a maximum of 4GB possible but Crucial said 2GB maximum. Having some compatible modules I gave 4GB [2x2GB] a try but some would show only 2GB, one pair would flash the screen and immediately shut down while another pair wouldn't boot at all. It's happy with 2GB [2x1GB matched].

 

[jc836]

In case anyone has forgotten - RAM speed in this case is not an issue. The OP can use faster modules if he/she wants. One can verify what can be put in using the Crucial website, which I have found to be very accurate. Just my 2 cents.

 

[MetalMan228]

I think i am getting a picture of the memory i would need. Still not sure of the various speeds, but ignatzatsonic told me what speed I need. I ran the Crucial test, just to see what it showed, see screen shot.

The only other question is: Does different memory work with different CPU's? I ran into this while looking at memory:

"...compatible with Dual Channel Intel Core i5 CPU for P55 chipset motherboard, Dual Channel Core i7 CPU for P55 chipset motherboard."

I have an AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 220 Processor. Or is memory stupid and does not care what CPU you have?

 

[Berton]

The CPU doesn't really care as long as the motherboard supports the modules. I've used the same modules on motherboards for the Intel CPU and the AMD CPU.

A note on the speed: I've always been able to use the faster in slower slots, e.g. PC2-6400 in slots that called for PC2-4200 or PC2-5300. Seems the modules will 'fall back' to slower speeds or run at the same speed as the slowest in use. As Crucial says it's usually best to use the modules in matched pairs.

Some brands aren't compatible with other brands so maybe having all modules from the same vendor is best.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Memory requirements are driven by the motherboard. Likewise, only certain CPUs can be installed on any given motherboard.

If you built your own PC and used an Acme model X motherboard, you'd go to the Acme website and look up up their model X motherboard to see what RAM it required and buy accordingly. Acme probably would have a compatible RAM list, although some RAM not listed would also work if the primary specs matched.

The Crucial configurator is quite accurate, with very few errors.

 

[MetalMan228]

I just looked deeper into the Speccy report and found out that as installed, my sticks are PC3-10700!! See screenshot. Do i still need to stay with 10600 as ignatzatsonic stated earlier? I am confused again.

Could i use PC3 10660? or only PC3 10600? (both listed as 1333mhz) What is the difference here?


And what is the result of using sticks with differing voltages, ie; 1.35 or 1.6 instead of the 1.5v nom.

And do i need to stay with the 7-7-7-20 timing? Why or why not.

 

[Berton]

And what is the result of using sticks with differing voltages, ie; 1.35 or 1.6 instead of the 1.5v nom

You can use only the voltages supported by the motherboard, doing otherwise risks damage to the module or board, or both.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

It matters less what you have now, since they are going to be replaced.

Pegatron 2a99 specs say only this, apparently:

2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots Supports Dual Channel DDR3 1333/1066 MHz non-ECC, un-buffered (Max 4GB)

No reference to voltage.

You can Google trying to find info on recommended voltage, but may not have any luck.

Timings aren't critical. Lower numbers are better, but you'd be hard pressed to tell. If you buy a matched pair, each stick will have the same timings.

If you can't find over-riding evidence to the contrary, I'd trust what the Crucial configurator recommends and I'd probably buy from them. Buy whatever voltages are on their list for your board.

I recall reading about 10600 versus 10660, but I wouldn't get in a lather about it. Stay with a matched pair from Crucial's list unless it outright conflicts with the Pegatron 2a99 specs of:

2 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots Supports Dual Channel DDR3 1333/1066 MHz non-ECC, un-buffered (Max 4GB)

 

[MetalMan228]

Yes, after researching it i agree, the 10600, 10666, 10700's are basically the same:

"Different manufacturers label their DDR3 1333MHz RAM with different theoretical maximum bandwidth numbers. 10600/10660/10666 all mean the same 1333MHz speed, so it doesn't matter which kind you get."

I will stay with 1.5v.

But the Crucial configurator recommends PC3-12800 memory (which is a DDR3-1600). (post #13)

Why is this when everyone here is recommending PC3-106xxx

I read that:

"PC3-10600 is also known as DDR3-1333 (clocked at 1333MHz)
PC3-12800 is DDR3-1600

Most DDR3-1600 should be capable of falling back to DDR3-1333, often with better timings, as if the memory chips can do CL9 at 1600, they can usually do CL7 at 1333

You will find many sites suggesting RAM that is one step higher speed than is actually used by the system."

So is the PC3-12800 a better stick, i mean faster than the 1333/106xxx

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yes, after researching it i agree, the 10600, 10666, 10700's are basically the same:

"Different manufacturers label their DDR3 1333MHz RAM with different theoretical maximum bandwidth numbers. 10600/10660/10666 all mean the same 1333MHz speed, so it doesn't matter which kind you get."

I will stay with 1.5v.

But the Crucial configurator recommends PC-12800 memory though. (post #13)

Why is this when everyone here is recommending PC3-106....

The Crucial configurator may be wrong.

The specs quoted earlier in this thread for your alleged Pegatron board could be wrong. Maybe you don't in fact have that motherboard. Maybe you do.

You need to decide for yourself what motherboard you have and then do your best to research it, down to the board revision number level.

If that conflicts with Crucial, I would call Crucial and mention your documentation and ask what gives. I've dealt with their customer support before and had good luck.

I've never heard of anyone not being able to return RAM to them if the configurator is wrong.

They may or may not have a suitable answer. I'd like to tell you to always rely on the manufacturer's web site, but I suppose that could be wrong too.

It of course is possible the board would run fine on either of the choices.