RAM questions - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

some guy

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

SPAWN CAMPING YOUR HOUSE

We Speed Clear H O H [ HsC]

01 Jul 2008 at 11:32 - 1

I'm not rly a tech geek so I have a question, and hoping the tech people here can help me out with this

So I want to upgrade my computer's RAM (1 gb DDR2). I found some old 512 DDR1s.

1st question is does DDR2 work with DDR1? I did some research on this and didn't really get clear answers.

2nd question is I know it's not good to mix and match RAM. What's the principle behind this rule.

Thx

Aera

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm]

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01 Jul 2008 at 11:53 - 2

1: No.

2: Not sure which you mean here, but different speeds have different timings and won't work together and different kinds of brands usually don't work together either for some reason.

Elder III

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio

I Will Never Join Your Guild (NTY)

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01 Jul 2008 at 11:54 - 3

NO - don't try it - even if you can get the 2 types in there together you are apt to fry your computer due to the difference in power supply to the two types of RAM. Check out www.newegg.com or www.tigerdirect.com for some cheap DDR2 RAM. You can get 512 DDR2 quite cheaply these days.

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

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01 Jul 2008 at 12:24 - 4

Thread Moved to Technician's Corner

Abedeus

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jan 2007

Niflheim

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01 Jul 2008 at 12:24 - 5

I think 1024 DDR2 cost ~$30-40. It's worth it - I've got 2x 1GB DDR2 Kingston's + dual-core intel 2160 1,8GHz and I can easily play Gears of War on medium, 1280x1024. Or same resolution, high quality Quake Wars: Enemy Territory.

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

01 Jul 2008 at 13:07 - 6

You don't have to be "tech geek" to know about PC or Mac and any other IT stuff. Stereotype is so yesterday.

To answer the question, no DDR1 won't work with DDR2.

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

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01 Jul 2008 at 18:23 - 7

DDR physically won't fit in a DDR2 slot and vice versa.

Brianna

Insane & Inhumane

Join Date: Feb 2006

01 Jul 2008 at 19:19 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

DDR physically won't fit in a DDR2 slot and vice versa.

Exactly, due to DDR being 184 pin and DDR2 being 240 pin, even if it was possible I definitely wouldn't do it.

Besides, you need to find out what kind of ram your motherboard uses before you even want to add more. For example:DDR PC 3200, DDR2 PC2 6400 or DDR3 PC3 10600, read the motherboard's manual or download CPU-Z from www.cpuid.com, run it, and go over to the SPD tab and see what it says about your RAM.

Here's two examples of mine:

You can mix and match brands with others, but don't always expect them to play nice together - sometimes they just don't. I think it would be better to buy ram that has close/if not the same specs, such as timings, voltages etc.

Admael

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

California

Xen of Heroes

01 Jul 2008 at 19:45 - 9

Not all RAM of the same specification are created equal. Some RAM are binned higher so they can withstand more voltage, and eventually, tighter timings and higher bandwidth. Stock voltage for DDR is 2.5v, DDR2 is 1.8v.

Snograt

rattus rattus

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01 Jul 2008 at 20:34 - 10

Or 2.2V for "SLI ready" DDR2 (EPP)

Snograt > u

Oh, Bree - your CPU-Z is getting a bit old

Admael

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

California

Xen of Heroes

01 Jul 2008 at 22:42 - 11

EPP/SLi Ready is just the manufacture's guarantee that they'll replace your RAM if it gets fried at that level (since it's *technically* not safe to run it at that voltage, but if they say they'll put it on their warranty, who's gonna stop you from running it at 2.2v?).

And I never look at SPD profiles anyways, since all I ever use are overclocker boards, I can manually set my timings. Never limit yourself to the SPD/EPP/SLi Ready timings, they're only a "suggestion"

Factory overclocked RAM

mushkin says I can run this RAM at 2.3v, but I'm not stupid enough to do that... again.

Lurid

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mo/

01 Jul 2008 at 23:18 - 12

Well in reality they can't usually tell what happened in order to kill off a component, short of scorch marks or modifications. It all depends on how much of the truth you wanna let slip.

Why_Me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

New Jersey

Mo/

02 Jul 2008 at 00:16 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Exactly, due to DDR being 184 pin and DDR2 being 240 pin, even if it was possible I definitely wouldn't do it. DDR2 and DDR3 are 240 pin, but again I would not put DDR3 into a DDR2 slot and vice versa, I highly doubt it would even boot with it in.

They are both 240 pin, but the physical notch in the ram is located in a different place.
ddr3
ddr2
Notice how the notch in ddr3 is located more towards the side than the notch in ddr2.

Brianna

Insane & Inhumane

Join Date: Feb 2006

02 Jul 2008 at 03:09 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why_Me

They are both 240 pin, but the physical notch in the ram is located in a different place.
ddr3
ddr2
Notice how the notch in ddr3 is located more towards the side than the notch in ddr2.

Hmm you seem to be right, the DDR2 seems closer to the middle, I learned something new then, thanks.

Edited my above post to reflect that.

manitoba1073

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

ManitobaShipyards Refit and Repair Station

(SFC)Star Fleet Command,(TDE)The Daggerfall elite,(SOoM)Secret order of Magi

02 Jul 2008 at 04:22 - 15

LOL you guys surprise me at times.

No you cant use DDR in place of either DDR2 or DDR3 as the slots are in different positions.

Yes you can mix some ram even if they are different speeds BUT both will run the speed of the lowest ram. Most its a praying job to use mixed ram. But its not really recommended. One stick is DDR3200 1gig and my second stick is DDR 2100. LOL told you guys this old one is a beast. Yes they are from different manufactuers too.

Snograt

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02 Jul 2008 at 06:34 - 16

Heh, I remembr the old days of Pentiums and before when it was customary to upgrade RAM gradually (it was shockingly expensive back then.) It was commonplace to find a rig with a 64, a 128 and a 256 installed, all different

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admael

Never limit yourself to the SPD/EPP/SLi Ready timings, they're only a "suggestion"

You seen my mega-thread in Hardware lately? The latest few posts underline my memory timings/voltage ignorance completely. Hey - you were the guy who originally got my rig running with a 10x multiplier - it's all your fault!

(j/k?)

manitoba1073

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

ManitobaShipyards Refit and Repair Station

(SFC)Star Fleet Command,(TDE)The Daggerfall elite,(SOoM)Secret order of Magi

02 Jul 2008 at 06:50 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

Heh, I remembr the old days of Pentiums and before when it was customary to upgrade RAM gradually (it was shockingly expensive back then.) It was commonplace to find a rig with a 64, a 128 and a 256 installed, all different

You seen my mega-thread in Hardware lately? The latest few posts underline my memory timings/voltage ignorance completely. Hey - you were the guy who originally got my rig running with a 10x multiplier - it's all your fault!

(j/k?)

This aint no crapium

its a AMD 2800+ with a MSI 7201 mobo. like I said a beast lol

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

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02 Jul 2008 at 08:12 - 18

Sigh - we've turned another thead into a meandering chatathon. Wonder if the OP ever found this thread again after his initial post?

Brianna

Insane & Inhumane

Join Date: Feb 2006

02 Jul 2008 at 09:01 - 19

Ok, well, I am considering buying new RAM, and since we answered the OP's question I'm going to high-jack this for a minute as I don't feel like making a whole new thread.

I was going to buy this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 my computer only has two DIMM's, and that is the exact same RAM that I have in here now, except those are 2X2 GB and these are 1X2 GB. So it is my only solution to have 4 gigs - and I have Vista 64 bit so I am taking advantage of this.

I know that not many here recommend Corsair, but I don't need SLI RAM or overclocking RAM, as I do neither of those things and I highly doubt that I will with this computer. That ram has very good reviews, so that really puts it up there for me - and the price is right.

So, what is your thoughts on 2 gigs on a single stick, it should work fast and good, right? I know you run/did run 8 gigs of RAM Snog, so 2X4 sticks, worked good?

Either way, suggestions are welcomed if anyone can find a better deal and better RAM, but I'm really liking the reviews on that one so far.

manitoba1073

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

ManitobaShipyards Refit and Repair Station

(SFC)Star Fleet Command,(TDE)The Daggerfall elite,(SOoM)Secret order of Magi

02 Jul 2008 at 09:14 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Ok, well, I am considering buying new RAM, and since we answered the OP's question I'm going to high-jack this for a minute as I don't feel like making a whole new thread.

I was going to buy this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 my computer only has two DIMM's, and that is the exact same RAM that I have in here now, except those are 2X2 GB and these are 1X2 GB. So it is my only solution to have 4 gigs - and I have Vista 64 bit so I am taking advantage of this.

I know that not many here recommend Corsair, but I don't need SLI RAM or overclocking RAM, as I do neither of those things and I highly doubt that I will with this computer. That ram has very good reviews, so that really puts it up there for me - and the price is right.

So, what is your thoughts on 2 gigs on a single stick, it should work fast and good, right? I know you run/did run 8 gigs of RAM Snog, so 2X4 sticks, worked good?

Either way, suggestions are welcomed if anyone can find a better deal and better RAM, but I'm really liking the reviews on that one so far.

It good ram. I got this ram for my other PC. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146692
Even though Ive had no problems with mine lol.
Its still good ram. not bad at all. However you should make sure to check you MOBO manufacturers info page just to be sure they are compatible.

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

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02 Jul 2008 at 09:43 - 21

I think the major problem our Obergruppenführer has with Corsair is their poor qa and use of cheapo parts. If you get good Corsair it will be good, it's just a bit of a gamble.

Yes, I ran 2x2GB quite happily at first, it was purely aesthetic switching to 4x2GB. I've said it before - it's because I can. My 8GB serves no useful purpose - I just like the fact that the board is fully populated (and the lovely Tracer LEDs have no little part in that

)

What I will say is that 2x1GB is better than 1x2GB due to dual channeling. The fact that larger capacity RAM modules generally have higher latencies than smaller ones is offset by the fact that 4GB >> 2GB, so yeah - get that pair of 2GB sticks.

(This may be the most intelligent and accurate post by Snoggy yet - please don't shatter my illusions and post flaws in my reasoning.)

Oh, and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122 - G-Skill for a cheaper initial price but with no $20 mail-in, so it's a bit more expensive.