RAM Compatibility Question

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zippsinc
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2010/08/09 10:50:18 (permalink)

RAM Compatibility Question

Hi there

I have a RAM upgrade question. My knowledge of computer inners is not my strong point and given that I've wasted money on non-compatible RAM before, I thought I'd better bounce this off you guys first.

I have an Acer notebook (Acer Aspire 7520) which currently has 2 x 512MB sticks of DDR2 RAM in it. Running Vista 32, this sucks, hence the upgrade requirement.

The manual I have (which covers three different machines- including mine) informs me, in general terms,  that my machine may come with "up to 2GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory, upgradable to 4GB using two soDIMM modules (dual channel support)".

The two 512 MB sticks I currently have are DDR2 PC2-5300S. There was no mention on the sticks regarding MHz bandwith. Although, using a CPUID tool to analyze my system, each stick registered as being 333 MHz.

I'm not too sure of RAM compatibilties etc, hence this post. Assuming my manual is correct, would using 4GB (2x2GB) of DDR2 PC2-5300 667 MHz work in my notebook. Or, would I have to stick to 333 MHz?

Basically, am I safe to vary my bandwith selection up to 667 MHz providing I use PC2-5300 with two identical sticks (2x2GB)?

Such as two of these?


Regards

Zipps

Sonar X1d Producer/Pro Tools 9 - Win7 64bit - i7 930 2.8GHz - 6GB DDR3 RAM - RME MultifaceII - RND Portico 5012 & 5016 - Sytek MPX-4Aii - UAD2 Duo/Solo - MoFET76 - API 2500 - Dbx 160x (x2) - Dbx 166 (old revision) - FMR RNC (x2)
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    Guest
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/09 11:42:05 (permalink)
    333 is 667. You want to get DDR2 6400.
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    slartabartfast
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/09 11:57:35 (permalink)
    You could email Acer tech support and ask them. What they will probably tell you is that you should purchase ram from Acer at a grossly inflated price. The problem is that they may be right, the only way to get compatible ram without trial and error may be to buy theirs.

    Not long ago if you bought memory with the correct number of pins and roughly the right speed you were fine. As memory technology has moved along, the concept of "standard" memory has taken a hit. Some MB/chipsets have to have memory with a certain architecture, and even with certain code in the memory ROM. I have wasted a lot of time and some money trying to buy memory based on published specs in the past few years.

    A compromise would be to go to one of the major memory assembler's websites, and use one of their memory configurator databases to buy compatible memory. It will not necessarily be compatible (they can't test every machine variation) but they will usually guarantee to refund or replace the sticks if it is not. Or if your memory reseller is willing to give you a refund, and you have the time to mail stuff back and forth, just buy it and try it.

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    zippsinc
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/09 15:59:40 (permalink)
    Thank you for your replies. Much appreciated.

    @10Ten - 333 is 667? Is it that it's rated 667 but likely performs at 333 then? By the way, I once bought 6400 for a PC which was happily using 4200 and it did not work and was a waste of about £100. This was a heap of junk eMachines PC. When I phoned their tech support, they advised that the safest bet was always to use the same spec of RAM (form factor, bandwith etc) but different size (RAM-wise). Not sure if this is wholly true but my second attempt at upgrading the RAM in the afore-mentioned eMachines PC worked.

    @ Slartabartfast - I'll have to be very careful then. Kingston and Corsair's memory searches reveal DDR2 200pin 5300 - 667 MHz to be what I'm after. I'm not sure whether or not to take a punt on the one linked in my original post which is "published" spec correct, or just buy from Kingston or Corsair. I suppose I have a degree of comeback if I purchase a company's recommendation fro my machine. However, they do not sell direct and direct the buyer on to several outlets and this may diminish my position regarding returns etc. I'll have to give it some thought.

    Thanks to the two of you.


    Regards

    Zipps

    Sonar X1d Producer/Pro Tools 9 - Win7 64bit - i7 930 2.8GHz - 6GB DDR3 RAM - RME MultifaceII - RND Portico 5012 & 5016 - Sytek MPX-4Aii - UAD2 Duo/Solo - MoFET76 - API 2500 - Dbx 160x (x2) - Dbx 166 (old revision) - FMR RNC (x2)
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    slartabartfast
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/09 20:24:24 (permalink)
    they do not sell direct


    Must be because you are from one of those third world countries. From Washington State I get this link that will let me buy direct.

    http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Aspire%207520


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    johnnyV
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/09 22:09:06 (permalink)
    From what I understand as far as Acer laptops go buy a matched set that fits the slot and it will work. I just upgraded an old Acer TM 4000 and had a hell of a time finding the info about the RAM that was in it. All the info would say is it's DDR 2. Well hell, there's about 4 different pins configs for that.  I ended up ordering the chips that the picture matched mine ( no kidding) and it works great. Acer makes so  many different models they are very lazy about keeping track of details. There's a different models for each country they ship to. At any given time they might have 200 models spread all over the globe. But, hey there cheap and some of them seem to last a long time.

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    #6
    zippsinc
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/10 06:56:38 (permalink)
    slartabartfast


    Must be because you are from one of those third world countries. From Washington State I get this link that will let me buy direct.

    http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Aspire%207520


    Third world countries? Ha ha ha

    Interesting link. Weird how it also recommends PC-6400 when every other RAM manufacturer I went to only recommended PC-5300.

    Thanks Slartabartfast




    Sonar X1d Producer/Pro Tools 9 - Win7 64bit - i7 930 2.8GHz - 6GB DDR3 RAM - RME MultifaceII - RND Portico 5012 & 5016 - Sytek MPX-4Aii - UAD2 Duo/Solo - MoFET76 - API 2500 - Dbx 160x (x2) - Dbx 166 (old revision) - FMR RNC (x2)
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    zippsinc
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    Re:RAM Compatibility Question 2010/08/10 06:59:10 (permalink)
    @johnnyV

    Thanks Johnny.

    Looks like I have some deliberating to be doing.


    Sonar X1d Producer/Pro Tools 9 - Win7 64bit - i7 930 2.8GHz - 6GB DDR3 RAM - RME MultifaceII - RND Portico 5012 & 5016 - Sytek MPX-4Aii - UAD2 Duo/Solo - MoFET76 - API 2500 - Dbx 160x (x2) - Dbx 166 (old revision) - FMR RNC (x2)
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