I need help on buying RAM.

[kirakun2]

Hello, i am planning to upgrade my RAM as follows:

I currently have 2gb ram, a ddr2 stick.
I want a 4gb one but using a dual channel.
The problem is i don't know if my motherboard supports DDR3 memory, i hear DDR3 is less power hungry and more efficient. Is there a way to find if its compatible with my motherboard?
Else ill just get two identical DDR2 2gb ram sticks.
Thanks

 

[BlackFish]

not to advertise but you could try Crucial

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You need to use the type of RAM your motherboard supports. Period.

It's highly unlikely you can use DDR3. You likely need DDR 2.

If you want 4 gigs total, buy another 2 gb stick.

If you want 8 gigs total, buy two new 4 gig sticks.

If you have a 2 gb stick and a 4 gb stick, I'm not sure they will run in dual channel mode.

But 6 gb in single channel (2 plus 4) is better than 4 in dual channel (2 plus 2) if you actually need more than 4 gb.

 

[whs]

Run the Crucial System scanner and you will know what fits and how much it costs. Use the Crucial System Scanner software to find out what type of memory is in your computer

 

[cmmtch]

This link Msi 2A78H Mainboard Specs indicates your MB only supports DDR2. Couldn't find the MB on the MSI site, sometimes the manufacterers site will have a chart showing compatible memory, cpu's, etc... The model of MB wasn't found on MSI.com. Maybe another poster has a better link.

Found another site, http://www.mrmemory.co.uk/memory-ram-upgrades/model/MSI+%2528Micro%252DStar%2529~Motherboard~2A78h

 

[mrmah]

If you know your motherboard type search for its specs in google however it is unlikely that your motherboard will take ddr3

 

[bobkn]

Hello, i am planning to upgrade my RAM as follows:

I currently have 2gb ram, a ddr2 stick.
I want a 4gb one but using a dual channel.
The problem is i don't know if my motherboard supports DDR3 memory, i hear DDR3 is less power hungry and more efficient. Is there a way to find if its compatible with my motherboard?
Else ill just get two identical DDR2 2gb ram sticks.
Thanks

From the technical reference for the DX1000:

For proper system operation, the DDR2-SDRAM DIMMs must be:​

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industry-standard 240-pin​

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unbuffered PC2-6400 800 MHz-compliant​

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1.8 volt DDR2-SDRAM DIMMs
The DDR2-SDRAM DIMMs must also:​

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support CAS latency 5 DDR2 800 Mhz (5-5-5 timing) and CAS latency 6 DDR2 800 Mhz (6-6-6
timing)​

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contain the mandatory JEDEC SPD information
In addition, the computer supports:​

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512Mbit and 1Gbit non-ECC memory technologies​

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single-sided and double-sided DIMMs​

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DIMMs constructed with x8 and x16 DDR devices; DIMMs constructed with x4 SDRAM are not supported

DDR3 and DDR2 are the same size and have the same number of pins, but they have different notch locations. They are physically and electrically incompatible.​

 

[linnemeyerhere]

You also need to tell us if your OS is 32 or 64 bit. I suspect it's 32 bit so adding another 2 gb's of ram will net you maybe 3.2-3.5 gb total at best. I would add another 2 gb or ddr2 ram to match your current rams specs and then begin saving for a new mobo and cpu upgrade or a complete new rig.

 

[kirakun2]

Yes thnx guys,

Its DDR2 compatible only, and supports up to 4gigs
Just trying to smoothen the machine a bit, its 32-bit btw but i'll install the 64-bit probably after i upgrade. Should i get only one 2gb card or two identical ones cause the current one is manufatured by "nanya technology" (idk what that is).
If i use 2 identical , i hear that dual channeling is better, rather than 2 different cards.
My idle system uses nearly one gig, so i'm left with 1 gig which sometimes isn't sufficient.

 

[kirakun2]

Hello, i am planning to upgrade my RAM as follows:

I currently have 2gb ram, a ddr2 stick.
I want a 4gb one but using a dual channel.
The problem is i don't know if my motherboard supports DDR3 memory, i hear DDR3 is less power hungry and more efficient. Is there a way to find if its compatible with my motherboard?
Else ill just get two identical DDR2 2gb ram sticks.
Thanks

From the technical reference for the DX1000:

For proper system operation, the DDR2-SDRAM DIMMs must be:​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

industry-standard 240-pin​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

unbuffered PC2-6400 800 MHz-compliant​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

1.8 volt DDR2-SDRAM DIMMs
The DDR2-SDRAM DIMMs must also:​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

support CAS latency 5 DDR2 800 Mhz (5-5-5 timing) and CAS latency 6 DDR2 800 Mhz (6-6-6
timing)​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

contain the mandatory JEDEC SPD information
In addition, the computer supports:​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

512Mbit and 1Gbit non-ECC memory technologies​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

single-sided and double-sided DIMMs​

●​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

DIMMs constructed with x8 and x16 DDR devices; DIMMs constructed with x4 SDRAM are not supported

DDR3 and DDR2 are the same size and have the same number of pins, but they have different notch locations. They are physically and electrically incompatible.​

Should i just give that list to the shop i'm buying them or can i check these on the labels?

 

[tlarseth]

Personally I use either Corsair or G-Skill. G-Skill has surprised me numerous times for being cheap and stable/reliable.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Unfortunately DDR2 ram hasn't price dropped like DDR3. I would use the great Crucial ram tool and then purchase one more stick of 1 or 2 gb and be done. Spending the extra for two more sticks in my opinion is spending good money for marginal return.
RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, SSD at Crucial.com