Korean Job Discussion Forums

Draven · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

My motherboard supports DDR200 and DDR266 SDRAM. Currently I have 256MB. I was thinking of getting another 256. Pretty cheap at around 50,000won. My question is this: If my current ram is DDR200, do I have to ensure that the new ram is also DDR200?

Of course, I don't know which type I currently have, so I'd probably have to crack the case and have a look to find out, correct? Assuming it matters...

My apologies if these are stupid questions.

Giant · Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: South Korea

Its not stupid to ask at all, rather ask first than buy first and its the wrong thing. Very Happy

What you need to do is find out what RAM you now have.

It depends on you how you want to go about it? How many slots do you have? Do you want room to improve the ammount of RAM you have later? Always try and get the most you can afford, the more RAM you have the better.

So if you only have two RAM slots, and do not want to go higher than 512MB then just buy another 256MB DIMM. But if you would like to go higher than 512MB then just buy two new 512MB DIMM's and be done with the old 256MB DIMM. Like you said, RAM is cheap these days.

Draven · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

Giant · Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: South Korea

Yes, thats right, find out what speed RAM you have first, and match the new RAM with the same speed as the original one.

Yes, you can just buy a 512MB DIMM. Just make sure its the same speed like I said. Then later when you want more RAM just throw out the old 256MB DIMM. But when that time comes, I recommend throwing out the whole system, sell it and but a whole new system from scratch. That way you dont keep mixing new and old technology together.

As for parity, dont worry about that to much. Smile

Draven · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

So I decided to crack the case and see what kind of ram I have. So now I know. I tried to hook up my front usb ports, but decided, as I couldn't find good instructions, to take it to my local computer guy to get him to do it. Which he did.

I stated talking ram with him and he told me that I needn't bother getting any more than another 256MB 'cuz with my setup, it's not imperative. I have a P4 running at 1.6Mhz.

Thoughts? Is this guy a crackhead or is he thoughtful and out to prevent me spending a few bucks unecessarily?

Giant · Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: South Korea

Well, he is right, with that CPU it would not make much difference if you got an extra 256MB or 512MB DIMM. You see, 266Mhz RAM is old hat nowadays. Even 333Mhz RAM is going out of fashion now. You will see that if you buy a new mainboard now it most likely will support the new 400DDR memory(3200) speeds and be backwards compatible.

If you really want a big improvement in speed, you need to get a new mainboard that supports a faster FSB (Front Side Bus) and a faster processor.

Draven · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Theoretically, 200DDR is 400MHz RAM. 266 is 533, etc...

Thus the PCxxxx numbering scheme.

Just for information purposes... Wink