Malakidreams
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CPU memory question?
How do I know what kind of memory I need. I want to get 1 gig stick. my computer is compaq presario. I cant figure out what series. It doesnt say anywhere. Its about 2.5-3 years old
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RobertB
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/27 19:42:21
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What's the model number? It might be on the back. Should be something like P1120a (as an example) If nothing else, take the existing RAM with you to the store. Unplug the PC before you remove it. The motherboard still has power if you simply turn it off.
post edited by RobertB - 2010/06/27 19:46:55
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kine321
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/27 21:23:57
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You can usually go on HP's site and search for your particular model. You can then find out all the specs for your system. You could also open the case and check the motherboard model and find what memory it supports.
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Beagle
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/27 21:37:54
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unfortunately, a lot of times the low end compaqs and dells only have a couple of slots and they fill both of them.
hopefully yours is not one of those.
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Guitarhacker
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/28 07:20:07
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they often do as Beagle mentions, but you can usually buy the larger capacity memory sticks for them.
call HP customer support/sales dept, and they can tell you.... you can also call some of the other folks like egghead and compusa, and tiger, and they should also be able to tell you...and sell it to you cheaper than HP.
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Beagle
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/28 08:38:04
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right - sometimes you can buy bigger sticks and replace them.
on my last dell I had only 2 slots filled with 2 sticks of 256M in each (on a WinXP machine @ 2.4GHz). I replaced both of them with 1G sticks - which was the maximum for that board. I had to find out the maximum of that board by entering the Dell service number into Dell's website and looking at the specs.
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planetearth
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/28 11:51:33
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Once you find your model number, order your RAM on-line from a place like newegg.com. If your computer is almost three years old, RAM will cost quite a bit more in a local store (if they even have it) than it will on-line.
Make sure you get two sticks of the same RAM, if that's all your motherboard will hold. Newegg actually sells two, 1 GB sticks cheaper as a 2 GB-pack than if you were to try to buy them separately. Getting two sticks of the same type means you don't have to worry about mixing timing speeds.
And even if you you have four RAM slots on your motherboard, don't be tempted to get 4 GB of RAM unless you have a 64-bit version of Windows. You'd only be able to access 3 GB of it. (You can buy 3 GB of new RAM by mixing 1 GB and 512 MB sticks. Just make sure you match the CAS/speed settings. Newegg shows you what they are.)
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Robomusic
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/28 13:32:14
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From my understanding of ram, if you mix a 1 gig and a 512 you will cause the ram to revert to Sdr from DDr or in other words it will act s a single round ram stick so you really accomplish nothing Always match ram speed and size to gain the benefit of the ddr or double round speed feature.
I had a 1 gig and a 512 and the computer actually speed up when i removed the 512
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planetearth
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Re:CPU memory question?
2010/06/28 14:22:42
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From my understanding of ram, if you mix a 1 gig and a 512 you will cause the ram to revert to Sdr from DDr or in other words it will act s a single round ram stick so you really accomplish nothing.
With all due respect Robo, I'm not sure where you got that information, but it's not entirely correct. While you should always match the RAM as closely as you can, you can mix amounts. Mixing speeds can cause the data rate to drop from double to single, but mixing amounts should have no effect.
Some motherboards work "better" if you keep the RAM the same in the Northbridge or Southbridge, but you don't necessarily have to keep all the sticks the same amount.
Just be sure to match the speed and CAS latency and you should be fine.
(I have no idea how the formatting in this got all screwed up!)
post edited by planetearth - 2010/06/28 14:24:46
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