RAM - What parameters are important?

Question

I want to but two sticks of 1 GB RAM, working at at least 677 Mhz. What else, apart from that frequency, and price of course, should I take into consideration while buying them?

Answer 1

although you can become all technical when buying ram,or any type of hardware,the main requirements when buying memory are
1.size...you must look in your mobo manual and find the max installable memory,and work out the best configuraton to fill these banks at the cheapest possible price
2.frequency...the higher the frequency the better the memory will run,from 100/133mhz in sdram up to 1100mhz in the new generation of ddr2 modules
3.make....the make of memory can be a important part when purchasing ram,kingston and crucial are good budget modules but corsair and ocz are much higher performing memory,ideal for gamers
4.latency...In computing, memory latency is the time between initiating a request for a byte or word in memory until it is retrieved. If the data are not in the processor's cache, it takes longer to obtain them, as the processor will have to communicate with the external memory cells. Latency is therefore a fundamental measure of the speed of memory: the less the latency, the faster the reading operation.
6.timings...these are specs that appear like 2-2-2-5 and 2.5.3-3-8..you also see words like cas(Column Address Strobe or Column Address Select)and trcd(Row Address Strobe/Select to Column Address Strobe/Select)These are the timings for the memory, or the speed at which it processes certain commands. This whole settings area can be quite confusing and you have to have a certain knowledge of it, if you plan on overclocking.
Certain memories can take tighter (lower) timings at higher speeds. These are the more expensive memory modules out of the bunch. There are also other timings to consider in your BIOS. Not all boards will have options like these.
i certainly beleive that memory is a part of your p.c were you should never skimp on quality,a good module such as corsair branded ram may cost a bit more than value memory(such as kingston value)but the long term reliabilty and performance makes this a sound investment
i hope this helps mate
good luck!

Answer 2

You need ram that matches your machine requirements. Proper type DDR. ECC etc.. proper speed 677, PC3200, etc.

I always get ram that has a NAME brand on it so that I know it really meets the proper specs and has a lifetime warranty.

Simply because it fits doesn't mean it will work correctly. RAM problems can be very hard to diagnose should it become necessary. So buy quality first you will save money in the long run.

Answer 3

Go to the following link, http://www.crucial.com/uk they can do an on line check which will determine which ram your motherboard supports. They will recommend the optimum amount. You can order on line and although they are not the cheapest it is worth paying for good ram. They guarantee compatibility with your motherboard and give an excellent warranty.They lso give fitting instructions. I have used them many times and always been satisfied. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Ghz - %... form of Cores. distinct cores on a unmarried chip are more effective. L1 and L2 Cache length, helps the processor run swifter so it doesnt might want to attend a lengthy time period for the ram

Answer 5

Check your motherboard Manual for the right Ram if you get that right you should have what you need, stay away from RAM from China.... If it cheap then the chances are it from China....