OT: Question about Adding Ram to Computer for those in the know

[scottie]

Sorry not sure where exactly to post this. Well the number of pics we take is quickly growing and I want to increase the Ram in my computer (along with a new HD but that is another story).
OK here is where I am totally lost… My Dell Dimension 8200 has a 533 Front Side Bus. The ram I am looking at runs at 400 but is compatible with a 533 FSB. I would venture a guess the ram in there now is 533 since it came with the system but not sure. From reading it sounds like if I put 400 in with the existing 533 it will all run at 400. What in the world does this all mean as I have no clue and will I be ok/notice much of anything?
The reason I am not buying the 533 memory is due to a double price difference.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I reccomend going to crucial for a scan of your system to see what will work, what is reccomended and what deals they have.

It is a recommended place to buy as well.

copy the specs they return and post them here if you still have questions. I did when I was upgrading, hehehehehee
Mikeeee

 

[scottie]

Here is what Cruicial has to say about my computer below. I have checked this site and many others and they want $225++ for 512MB of memory. I can get the 400/533mhz compatibale memory on ebay for $85 so I really want to try to avoid spending $175 or so more if I can avoid it.

Dell Dimension 8200 Series (533MHz Front Side Bus)
Maximum Memory Capacity: 2048MB
Currently Installed Memory: 256MB
Available Memory Slots: 2
Number of Banks: 4
Dual Channel Support: No
CPU Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
CPU Family: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz Model 2, Stepping 4
533MhzFSB
CPU Speed: 2386 MHz
Installed in pairs of modules.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Here is what Cruicial has to say about my computer below. I have checked this site and many others and they want $225++ for 512MB of memory. I can get the 400/533mhz compatibale memory on ebay for $85 so I really want to try to avoid spending $175 or so more if I can avoid it.

Dell Dimension 8200 Series (533MHz Front Side Bus)
Maximum Memory Capacity: 2048MB
Currently Installed Memory: 256MB
Available Memory Slots: 2
Number of Banks: 4
Dual Channel Support: No
CPU Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
CPU Family: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz Model 2, Stepping 4
533MhzFSB
CPU Speed: 2386 MHz
Installed in pairs of modules.

So the 400/533 means it will work but it will run slower. I went the other way and got faster memory that was compatable with my slower system, since they don't make my slow memory anymore. But it stil only runs at my slower speed.

Who are you buying it from at eBay? there is good and not so good memory all rated the same speed and size. That is one reason why some memory is cheaper, between dealers, for the same item. You may be getting the bottom of the barrel quality that was rejected by several manufacturers. But those are just possibilties. Is it new memory or used and possibly abused?

as far as how much the difference in speed will matter compared to adding 200% more memory. I think it will help alot!

Remember to buy pairs though, if it needs it. And I think it is best to move the lesser memory to slots 3 and 4.


Mikeeee

 

[AndrewWG]

Here is what Cruicial has to say about my computer below. I have checked this site and many others and they want $225++ for 512MB of memory. I can get the 400/533mhz compatibale memory on ebay for $85 so I really want to try to avoid spending $175 or so more if I can avoid it.

This price would really send up a red flag to me. Seems like memory for your computer generally runs quite expensively. Just be careful that they have a good return policy if you buy this on ebay.

 

[JR6ooo4]

This price would really send up a red flag to me. Seems like memory for your computer generally runs quite expensively. Just be careful that they have a good return policy if you buy this on ebay.

I was going to say that, but I think it is hard to return any opened memory... from most stores.

 

[AndrewWG]

I was going to say that, but I think it is hard to return any opened memory... from most stores.

I suppose it is. If it were me, I would probably pay the extra $185 and get what I know will work. That is a pretty painful price to pay for such a small amount of memory.

 

[DaveCN]

Have you checked ecost.com yet? I have gotten some good deals on memory there before.

 

[scottie]

The memory is cheaper on ebay because it is used, and tested to work with a guarantee. The seller was recommened to me by another DISer who bought memory from him in the past and was very pleased with their service. The memory on ebay is samsung which is what dell put in the computer when I bought it. The model number is almost exactly the same too on the stuff in the computer vs what I am looking to buy. I gave ecost a check too and that would run me about the same amount more as the other sites then buying the used ram so I am leaning towards the used for sure.

I just need to confirm that I wont freak out by the difference between the 400 and 533 ram when adding an additional 512mb of memory to my computer that now only has 256mb.

 

[JR6ooo4]

The memory is cheaper on ebay because it is used, and tested to work with a guarantee. The seller was recommened to me by another DISer who bought memory from him in the past and was very pleased with their service. The memory on ebay is samsung which is what dell put in the computer when I bought it. The model number is almost exactly the same too on the stuff in the computer vs what I am looking to buy. I gave ecost a check too and that would run me about the same amount more as the other sites then buying the used ram so I am leaning towards the used for sure.

I just need to confirm that I wont freak out by the difference between the 400 and 533 ram when adding an additional 512mb of memory to my computer that now only has 256mb.

You know... you may just get better service that way, compared to national companies. Honest little guys are always concerned with customer satisfaction.

Mikeeee

 

[DueyDooDah]

Go here and check the prices of PC800 memory. That's what you need. Ensure you check the star ratings on the company you buy from. I have had good luck from here for years. You can usually beat ebay and get new items, not used.

 

[Groucho]

Check NewEgg, also. They're extremely reputable and have great prices.

Unfortunately, with memory, the most commonly-used memory is dirt cheap, and older memory is more expensive. You can get two gigs of DDR2 800 for under $40 nowadays. I got two gigs of good DDR2 800 for $20 after rebate online on Black Friday. (Just got my rebate a couple days ago... but I got it! )

 

[mabas9395]

Since I have a history of hijacking threads anyway....

How much difference does the FSB speed make anyway? The crucial website says they have some 533, some 667 and some 800 available but they recommended the cheaper slower 533. I don't mind spending the extra $40 for the 800if I will see an increase in performance (running Photoshop can be sort of slow at times). My Dell PC says in the system info it's got 800FSB, wouldn't I get the most benefit from getting RAM that utilizes all that? I don't know the specs on my current memory other than I got a pair of 512's in there now.

 

[scottie]

How much difference does the FSB speed make anyway?

I am hopeful someone has the magic answer! I know I have a 533FSB in my Dell 8200 but can’t see myself spending that kind of cash on more ram for a 6 year old computer that will match the 533FSB. I can however see myself spending a mere $85.00 for 512mb of additional memory that runs at 400 but is compatible with my 533FSB. I just don’t know what difference I am going to see by going down to the 400 vs. 533 memory? Since I will have tripled the memory I have now I wonder how much of an improvement I will see, even with decreasing to the 400 vs 533 memory.

 

[rtphokie]

In general, for older windows computers that is, maxing out the memory will give you more bang for your buck than springing for faster memory. Windows is a memory pig and the more of the OS and apps that you can keep in memory and not have to swap out to disk the faster it's going to be.

 

[Groucho]

Generally, the speed of your memory is tied to your CPU. The "front side bus" speed is what the memory runs at (with DDR memory usually doubled, for example 800mHz memory is really more like 400mHz, but since it's "double data rate", the numbers are doubled), and the CPU runs at a multiplier of that.

So, if you have, say, 800mHz DDR memory, then your CPU is running at a multiple of 400mHz, and the multiple is whole or half numbers. For example, an 8x multiplier will get you a process that runs at 3200mHz (or 3.2gHz), and a 10.5 multiplier will get you 4200mHz (or 4.2gHz.)

Then there's memory ratio... example, Intel's Core 2 Duo E6300 has an FSB of 266mHz but has a memory ration of 2:3, so runs memory at 400mHz, so it requires DDR2-800. Meanwhile, it has a multiplier of 7.0, so the actual CPU clock speed is 266x7=1866mHz. (Actually, the math gets it to 1862, but the 266 is not exact.)

Point being, you can buy faster memory, but in most cases, you're stuck with matching the CPU's speed.