RAM Question
 

Greetings,
I think I have this whole SDR, DDR RAM thing pretty well in hand but I just want to make sure. I have a Dell 8300 with a Intel 2.6 chip. I want to add to the existing memory so I think I need DDR PC2700? Yes? It only came with 256 so I neeeeeeeeeeeed more. Thanks for your help.

Is the memory that came with your PC DDR PC2700?

Oh good god... a Dell... :p
Sorry... just too many bad experiances from the past, I hope they've improved.

anyway, from taking a quick glance at your systems specs you need "DDR 333 or 400 (non-ECC)" which is PC2700 or PC3200.

Vaya con dios.

I actually have no idea what type of memory came with my system. Is there any way to check what type of RAM I have? Or do I have to yank out the cards to see? Can I mix memory? Could I have PC3200 and PC2700 or is that verboten? Thanks.

you can go to the Dell website and it will system check your machine and tell you what you can upgrade with... handy tool

Yeah man I'm pretty sure that the one. I should really find out I have an 8300 too but I have 512 MBs.

check out relax's post. he seems to have found the specs for your system and it is pc2700 or 3200.

i THINK that the faster memory will be slowed down to the slower one.

that is, IF you add a 3200 memory, it will only function as a 2700, since the other one is a 2700.

Thank you The_Dude, tired of being ignored sometimes

Yup... the best thing is to just install 2700 or sell (or throw away or think of more creative uses, like sending it to me ;)) your old one and buy 2 PC3200 modules. Although unless you're a game freak or you need the absolute max out of your pc you probably wouldn't mention the difference.

And while I'm at it, here is a guide to how to install the RAM and stuff.

At least Dell is kind to the non-1337 users out there :p

PC2700 at least, even though a higher speed will work. It will be clocked down to the slowest RAM speed that's in the system like the other guys said, unfortunately. It still boosts system performance though, especially in games. The biggest visual increase is easily when you finally get 512 MB.

-Lasereth

Hey thanks guys you thought me a little about RAM today:D

I called Dell and they told me I had DDR PC800 RAM???? Is there even such a thing or did I miss hear? I didn't think it went that low! I have a P4 2.6 HT do those two things "play well together?" Did Dell, surprise surprise, put in the wrong type of RAM? Just wondering. Thanks

It's the correct RAM most likely; PC800 RAM is powerful as fuck. I don't know much about upgrading or cost of that type of RAM, but it is as powerful (perhaps more powerful) as low-end DDR RAM. Intel uses it a lot on their motherboards. My friend's 1.4 GHz P4 came with PC800. Anyone else know anything about PC800?

-Lasereth

Wait.........Mr. Lasereth has confused me. First I thought that that SDR was Single Data Rate and DDR was Double Date Rate thus making the twice as fast. So DDR was the faster and better RAM. Second I thought that the number 2700, 3000, 3200 corresponded with the processor speed so that if you have a P4 2.6 like I do you can use 3000 or 3200 RAM but it will act only as 2700 because of my processor speed. I would think that PC 800 RAM would fall far behind my P4 2.6. Can someone help me out of this confusion!!!

For the most part, you're still right. But PC800 RAM is different than DDR RAM. It has on average a 800 MHz bus speed, and can transfer data at 3.2 GBs per second. That's faster than PC2100 RAM, and perhaps on-par with PC2700 RAM. Combined with P4's, it yields very powerful results. PC800 RAM is the "freak" RAM, so don't let it confuse you. Everything you know about DDR RAM is correct; you just happened to get a PC that has PC800 RD-RAM instead of DDR-RAM. It's rougly the equivalent of PC2700 (that's my estimate).

-Lasereth

On further note, after checking out Relax's info posted, it seems that your model lists that it takes PC2700 RAM. I'd call Dell again and show them that, and make absolute sure you have PC800 RAM...it's not that common anymore.

-Lasereth

the confusion is due to apples and organges

PC800 you are talking about is RDRAM RIMMs and the other chips are SDRAM DIMMs

RDRAMS have a much higher memory throughput, last time i checked only RDRAMS could match the p4's bus

RDS are like 3.06GB bandwidth, and SD's are around 1.2GB maybe 1.8GB, i'd have to check up, but anyways RDs are faster.

A P4 400Mhz needs 3GB, a 533Mhz 4.2GB bandwidth.