I bought a computer back in 2003. It has an Intel P4 2.2 Ghz processor with a clock speed of 100 Mhz. I'm looking to update my RAM and the people I'm shopping with are asking me what kind of RAM I want. They're asking if I want PC3200 or PC2700, etc.
I have no idea what that means. I do know that I have 512 Mb of DDR Ram but up until now, I have never heard of the different types they are suggesting.
Can someone shed some light on this facet of computers for me?
2006-10-19 13:36:10 · 8 answers · asked by Jack 6 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
mystic_golfer has no clue what he/she is talking about. Your clock speed is 100MHz with a 22x multiplier. Your FSB is 400Mhz, as FSB is always quoted as 4x the clock speed. As for RAM, as everyone has said then numbers are speed. You can put any DDR in your system, but if it runs faster than your system allows, it will simply slow the RAM down to match the system.
2006-10-19 13:56:06 · answer #1 · answered by mysticman44 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all if you have a P4 2.2 Ghz your bus speed is certainly not 100Mhz but more likely 400Mhz and you have a multiplier of 5.5 which gives you your system 2.2 Ghz.
Always buy RAM that matches your bus speed; if the RAM speed is slower then your whole system will be slowed down.
PC3200 is for system with FSB (front side bus) of 400 Mhz which is what you need. If you would buy PC2700 is 333 Mhz RAM, so for your system if wouldn't match.
2006-10-19 20:44:50 · answer #2 · answered by mystic_golfer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The 2700 or 3200's are the speed of the memory chip. Thanks to expert engineering, most motherboards will take both 2700 and 3200 rams but will operate at only the speed of the slowest stick. Therefore, i would recommend you buying 3200 chips 'cause you probably have the faster speed and because the pricing is hardly any different these days.
p.s.- DDR 333Mhz is the same as PC2700: and DDR 400Mhz is the same as PC3200.
2006-10-19 20:44:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your system probably takes PC2700, but it can use PC3200. The system will clock both at the same rate. (Using the slower as default.) If you want to know which for sure. Go to:
http://www.4allmemory.com and select option #2. it works very well. Good luck and happy computing!
2006-10-19 20:42:08 · answer #4 · answered by jinx4swag 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great question. The different numbers that you're seeing is due to the different machines oporating at different speeds. It's listed as 'MHZ' and to find out what you're machine uses, just click on "start" from your desktop, then on "Programs" then "accessories" then "system tools" then finally on "system info". After the page loads, on the right side you'll see all of your machine's info. If it's running at 266mhz,,,it's using PC 2100 DDR. If it's running at 333mhz, use PC 2700 DDR. If its running 400mhz, use PC 2700 DDR. Enjoy. Larry
2006-10-19 20:44:05 · answer #5 · answered by dumbbutt4321 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The type of RAM you'll use will depend on your motherboard (or more easily the type of computer if it's store-bought). Go to www.crucial.com and use the memory advisor tool on their main page. Good luck!
edit: different numbers are representative of different frequencies (i.e. 3200 is better than 2700, but your computer may only be able to use one or the other).
2006-10-19 20:39:10 · answer #6 · answered by Justin V 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chances are if it was bought in 2003, you have pc2700 RAM. Check your motherboard manufacturer's web site or your owners manual if you still have it. Also, software programs such as Belarc Advisor (its free), will tell you.
2006-10-19 20:41:11 · answer #7 · answered by Jordan L 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try belarc advisor it will scan sys and give complete details
2006-10-19 20:48:23 · answer #8 · answered by starchild1701 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋