Members shniggens Posted July 31, 2005 Members Share Posted July 31, 2005 My motherboard doesn't like the new 512MB of SDRAM (133MHZ DIMM) I installed. Manufacturer support advises that I need the same brand, size, etc. of the 512MB SDRAM that I already have installed for it to work properly. (Trying to get a GB of RAM). How do I determine what brand of SDRAM I already have installed? I checked the card itself, but it doesn't have it printed anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hanshananigan Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 These guys knew exactly what I needed: http://memorysuppliers.cnetchannel.com/ When I upgraded RAM, I went to Dell to get the instructions for properly adding the memory, and memorysuppliers.com told me exactly what I needed for my computer. What was really interesting is that Dell kept touting that only THEIR RAM would work. I bought (I think it was...) Samsung RAM for about half of what Dell was asking, and sure enough, when I opened the computer case, what was already in there was, in fact, Samsung!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 I've heard that the web sites for the major RAM suppliers (Kingston, PNY, Crucial, etc.) have charts that show which of their RAM works with which motherboards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dylan Walters Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 If your computer is a name brand PC then you can go to www.crucial.com to find out what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shniggens Posted August 1, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 Thanks for the info, but it still hasn't answered my question. I'm trying to determine the brand (manufacturer) of the RAM I CURRENTLY have installed, so I can try to go find the same RAM to match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hanshananigan Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 sniggens, you can go to your manufacturer's website and/or go to one of the suggested sites to find the proper RAM that should match your motherboard's needs. do you really need to know what's in there now? if so, I wish you luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shniggens Posted August 1, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 Originally posted by Hanshananigan sniggens, do you really need to know what's in there now? if so, I wish you luck. Yes. I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members russrags Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 Take the old RAM out of your computer.There should be a sticker on it that will tell you everything you need to know. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Slowly Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 I use CPU-Z. Give you all the info you need. Slowly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dylan Walters Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 It's hard to tell the make and model unless it is clearly marked on the stick. Most majors like Crucial, Kingston, etc., will put the serial #, model, and make on a sticker, but others don't. You could try googling any numbers on the stick... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shniggens Posted August 1, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 Originally posted by Slowly I use CPU-Z. Give you all the info you need. Slowly Nice. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members franknputer Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 Have you tried removing the factory RAM & installing your new chip alone, to see if it works? I call bull{censored} on what they're telling you. I've mixed various RAM chips before, and the only huge problem I've run across is with eMachines - for some reason, their (cheap-ass) motherboards will not work with most major brands of RAM. However, I've had no problems with major manufacturers' boards, mixing 128, 256, and 512 MB chips from different manufacturers. I'm not saying every combination will work, but as long as the parts are mainstream you should not have major issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members franknputer Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 CPU-Z is a very cool tool, though - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dylan Walters Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 I've had problems mixing and matching RAM on all kinds of systems, but mostly newer boards that use dual channel memory. My Asus Socket A board couldn't mix and match two 512 sticks of DDR 333 even when dual channel support was disabled. If your only running 128 now, then you might consider biting the bullet and just ordering 1GB (2X512) and be done with it. It's less than $100 now, and you could sell the old stick on e-bay for some beer money or give it to a friend that could use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members franknputer Posted August 1, 2005 Members Share Posted August 1, 2005 Well, I'll give ya that. I've done it on a lot of older boards, but not with the newer ones. Although, we did have some here that had Crucial & Kingston in them, and they ran OK. For the most part, though, we don't mix them here. We just use Crucial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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