Solve : RAM UPGRADE HELP?

1.	Solve : RAM UPGRADE HELP?
Answer» Hello I am new to this forum. I am Running a P4 system 1.7mhz with XP Pro SP2. Motherboard is a ASUS PV4P-MX. I just dragged this old system out of the basement when my other machine died and rebuilt it. It is used a bit for gaming but mostly for SURFING and email to do with the WW2 WARPLANE restoration group I belong to. I need to upgrade from the 512mgs of ram that is currently installed. The board will support up to 2GB of PC2100/1600 unbuffered Non ecc DDR dimms. My question is simple. Can I use PC 2700 or PC 3200 instead? The main reason I am asking is because I can get the 2700 and 3200 cheaper. Also the ecc and non ecc. What difference does that make? Is it crucial that I use the right ram. I had some one tell me that I could use the other ram and that it WOULD just run at the bus speed of the board. Is this true? Thanks for any help and advice you guys pass along.Some memory will 'step down' to make it backwards compatible. Check with where you buy it, there are different factors involved in this. You MUST get non ECC(Error Checking and Correcting) or you will be unable to start the computer. When in doubt though, only buy the correct memory for the mother board.Crucial's website has a good download that you can scan your system with, it will tell you what is compatible with your system. I'm sure that it is not 100% but it is a good place to start. It is also completely biased. they will show you all kind of crucial ram to fit your machine. http://www.crucial.com/Good catch, thanks Smitty, that helps too. Quote from: Quantos on June 30, 2009, 08:20:14 PM Some memory will 'step down' to make it backwards compatible. Check with where you buy it, there are different factors involved in this. You MUST get non ECC(Error Checking and Correcting) or you will be unable to start the computer. When in doubt though, only buy the correct memory for the mother board. This is true, however, 99.9% of memory will be 'down steppable' DDR RAM contains timing information for 200 (pc1600), 266 (pc2100) , 333 (pc2700) , 400MHz (pc3200). So as long as you buy Non-ECC DDR ECC is 'Error CORRECTION Code' which is only mainly SUPPORTED by servers. It also wouldn't hurt to check the manufacturer web site and get the specs on your motherboard. You will want to make sure you match up the voltages. Don't buy ram that run at 1.9V if your motherboard only supports 1.8V. Unless you are fortunate enough to be able to adjust the voltages. Stock motherboards usually don't have that feature.Thanks Kurtiskain, there I go making up acronyms again. Thanks for all your help guys. I am going out TOMORROW to get the right stuff. Figured as long as am there I may get a new 24in monitorQuote from: Kurtiskain on June 30, 2009, 08:29:06 PM This is true, however, 99.9% of memory will be 'down steppable' DDR RAM contains timing information for 200 (pc1600), 266 (pc2100) , 333 (pc2700) , 400MHz (pc3200). So as long as you buy Non-ECC DDR ECC is 'Error Correction Code' which is only mainly supported by servers. I was doing some looking. ECC used to mean Error Checking and Correction, would you have any idea when they changed that? Or am I confusing parity and ECC?

Answer»

Hello

I am new to this forum. I am Running a P4 system 1.7mhz with XP Pro SP2. Motherboard is a ASUS PV4P-MX. I just dragged this old system out of the basement when my other machine died and rebuilt it. It is used a bit for gaming but mostly for SURFING and email to do with the WW2 WARPLANE restoration group I belong to. I need to upgrade from the 512mgs of ram that is currently installed. The board will support up to 2GB of PC2100/1600 unbuffered Non ecc DDR dimms.
My question is simple. Can I use PC 2700 or PC 3200 instead? The main reason I am asking is because I can get the 2700 and 3200 cheaper. Also the ecc and non ecc. What difference does that make? Is it crucial that I use the right ram. I had some one tell me that I could use the other ram and that it WOULD just run at the bus speed of the board. Is this true?

Thanks for any help and advice you guys pass along.Some memory will 'step down' to make it backwards compatible. Check with where you buy it, there are different factors involved in this. You MUST get non ECC(Error Checking and Correcting) or you will be unable to start the computer. When in doubt though, only buy the correct memory for the mother board.Crucial's website has a good download that you can scan your system with, it will tell you what is compatible with your system. I'm sure that it is not 100% but it is a good place to start. It is also completely biased. they will show you all kind of crucial ram to fit your machine.

http://www.crucial.com/Good catch, thanks Smitty, that helps too. Quote from: Quantos on June 30, 2009, 08:20:14 PM

Some memory will 'step down' to make it backwards compatible. Check with where you buy it, there are different factors involved in this. You MUST get non ECC(Error Checking and Correcting) or you will be unable to start the computer. When in doubt though, only buy the correct memory for the mother board.

This is true, however, 99.9% of memory will be 'down steppable' DDR RAM contains timing information for 200 (pc1600), 266 (pc2100) , 333 (pc2700) , 400MHz (pc3200).

So as long as you buy Non-ECC DDR

ECC is 'Error CORRECTION Code' which is only mainly SUPPORTED by servers.

It also wouldn't hurt to check the manufacturer web site and get the specs on your motherboard. You will want to make sure you match up the voltages. Don't buy ram that run at 1.9V if your motherboard only supports 1.8V. Unless you are fortunate enough to be able to adjust the voltages. Stock motherboards usually don't have that feature.Thanks Kurtiskain, there I go making up acronyms again. Thanks for all your help guys. I am going out TOMORROW to get the right stuff. Figured as long as am there I may get a new 24in monitorQuote from: Kurtiskain on June 30, 2009, 08:29:06 PM

This is true, however, 99.9% of memory will be 'down steppable' DDR RAM contains timing information for 200 (pc1600), 266 (pc2100) , 333 (pc2700) , 400MHz (pc3200).

So as long as you buy Non-ECC DDR

ECC is 'Error Correction Code' which is only mainly supported by servers.

I was doing some looking. ECC used to mean Error Checking and Correction, would you have any idea when they changed that? Or am I confusing parity and ECC?

Solve : RAM UPGRADE HELP?

Discussion

No Comment Found

Related InterviewSolutions

Reply to Comment