Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: compsunn123 on May 31, 2009, 11:19:17 AM

Title: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: compsunn123 on May 31, 2009, 11:19:17 AM
I was looking online to buy more RAM for my computer, and noticed that I am stuck on 2 choices:

Kingston 1024MB PC2700 DDR 333MHZ Non-ECC Memory $39.99

Corsair Value Select 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory $24.99


Both of these will work with my computer, but which exactly should I be choosing? Both also got the same kinds of reviews...

Does brand matter in terms of PERFORMANCE? Not quality of material or anything like that, I'm talking about performance-wise (speed, etc.)? Would the Kingston bring in better performance becasue of its higher price? And what does the MHZ mean -the higher the better?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: Helpmeh on May 31, 2009, 11:32:59 AM
I was looking online to buy more RAM for my computer, and noticed that I am stuck on 2 choices:

Kingston 1024MB PC2700 DDR 333MHZ Non-ECC Memory $39.99

Corsair Value Select 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory $24.99


Both of these will work with my computer, but which exactly should I be choosing? Both also got the same kinds of reviews...

Does brand matter in terms of PERFORMANCE? Not quality of material or anything like that, I'm talking about performance-wise (speed, etc.)? Would the Kingston bring in better performance becasue of its higher price? And what does the MHZ mean -the higher the better?

Thanks!

DDR RAM? Wow...DDR ram is quite expensive compared to DDR2 Ram (says the computer repair/retailer in my city), and DDR2 ram supposedly works much better (but isn't compatible with older computers) than DDR (although I wouldn't know, the only DDR2 ram I have is on my video card).
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: patio on May 31, 2009, 12:16:41 PM
Brands do matter...
Corsair is a manufacturer...
Kingston is a reseller...

Corsair.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: computeruler on May 31, 2009, 12:47:32 PM
kingston is a reseller? Where do they get the ram from in the first place?  corsair ftw
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: patio on May 31, 2009, 05:28:31 PM
kingston is a reseller? Where do they get the ram from in the first place?  corsair ftw

They get it from whoever will sell to them...

Your query makes no sense.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: computeruler on May 31, 2009, 05:29:30 PM
of course it makes sense.  I was just wondering where kingston got its ram to resell
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: compsunn123 on June 01, 2009, 12:11:07 AM
Alright another question:

What is the difference between the "PC2700" and the "PC3200"?  Both of them are 1GB and the same amount of pins and stuff...I just don't want to buy one and find out that my comp was "PC2700" compatible and not "PC3200" compatible, or the other way around.

Here are the details for the comp:

Standard Memory:      128 MB  (Removable) 

Maximum Memory:    2 GB 

Expansion:    2 Sockets   

CPU & ChipSet:    Intel Celeron  1.7  GHz   Intel 845G

Bus Architecture:    PCI

Mfgr's System P/N's:    N/A


Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: patio on June 01, 2009, 08:24:31 AM
Travel to Crucial.com and run their online scanner...
PC3200 is slightly faster than PC2700.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: 2x3i5x on June 01, 2009, 11:00:25 AM
Well in general, brands shouldn't matter.... but there have been instances where two different ram's brands have conflicted and pc did not like it even though the specs were the same on both sticks.

And although PC3200 is faster than PC2700, if pc does not support PC3200, you can still use the faster ram stick but you won't get any of its benefits.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: Ironman on June 01, 2009, 04:08:36 PM
In the circumstance of buy RAM, I personally don't pay attention too much to brands, If fits my budget and specs its a good buy for me. If it happens to be a high end brand, its and added bonus, not required.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: JHenderson on June 01, 2009, 04:26:08 PM
Correct me if I am wrong here but doesn't the 400Mhz pc 3200 beat the 333Mhz pc2700 in speed? I would figure the higher the Mhz the better the RAM if I had a choice of the 2.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: 2x3i5x on June 01, 2009, 04:30:00 PM
Correct me if I am wrong here but doesn't the 400Mhz pc 3200 beat the 333Mhz pc2700 in speed? I would figure the higher the Mhz the better the RAM if I had a choice of the 2.

yes pc3200 is faster than the 2700 ....

but if you got one of them old pc's that dopn't take the pc3200, then you are stuck at lower speeds. But pc3200 is backward compatible so you can still physically plug in the pc3200 into the motherboard ram slots, computer will still recognize the ram as being there but you'd have wasted money on it if it costed more than the pc2700. that's all I meant.  ;D
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: TheHoFL on June 01, 2009, 04:32:40 PM
What ever type of RAM you end up getting, make sure it is a good, reliable brand. Also check out reviews on something like newegg. Definitely go with Corsair in this example though.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: JHenderson on June 01, 2009, 04:35:31 PM
2x3i5x. Does that go the same for laptop pc2700 and pc3200 memory or still contingent upon the motherboard/manufacturer.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: 2x3i5x on June 01, 2009, 04:41:38 PM
2x3i5x. Does that go the same for laptop pc2700 and pc3200 memory or still contingent upon the motherboard/manufacturer.


Quote
What differentiates the notebook RAM from desktop RAM is its form factor; that is, its physical size and its pin configuration. A full-size DIMM has 100, 168, 184, or 240 pins and is usually 4.5 to five inches in length. In contrast, a SO DIMM has 72, 100, 144, or 200 pins and is smaller — 2.5 to 3 inches.  There is also SO RIMM, which is similar to SO DIMM, but like DIMM/RIMM, it uses Rambus, Inc. technology and also has a different pin count.

Read More: http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Computer_Science/2008/laptop_desktop_memory.asp
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: patio on June 01, 2009, 05:03:15 PM
Getting a 1G stick replaced after 20 months with no hassle is a good thing...
Brand matters.
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: compsunn123 on June 01, 2009, 05:26:44 PM
Alright and one other thing:

I'm going to go with the Corsair most likely, but how do we figure out/where do we run a scan to see if our computer can run a 2700 or a 3200?  I did the "CAN YOU RUN THIS?" test and think my computer had slots for both, but are there other sites?

Thanks a lot again
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: computeruler on June 01, 2009, 05:32:58 PM
What type of ram do you have now? If you have 2700 getting 3200 would be a waste because it would set itself to 2700.  And if you have 3200 and you get 2700 the 3200 will go down to 2700
Title: Re: Does brand matter for RAM?
Post by: TheHoFL on June 02, 2009, 11:46:01 AM
You can try looking up your motherboards model online and find the specs of the board. Or find the manual. Those should tell you what you can handle.

Do you know the model of the motherboard?