How can I tell if I have DDR2 or DDR1 type of RAM on my PC?

Question

I have 512 RAM on my machine, it's a fairly low end PC from E-Machines. I would like to add atleast 512 RAM more, so I have total of 1 gb of ram. However, the computer store I called said they only have 1 GB of RAM at the moment. That means I'll have a total of 512 + 1 GB of ram, which is fabulous. I checked my RAM slot and theres just 1 more slot left. I have 2 questions: 1) does 1 GB ram come in 2 slots or is it a 1 slot chip? 2) while looking over my current 512 ram that was installed, it simply said DDR .. it did not say DDR 1 or 2. Because this machine is cheap, Im assuming it's DDR 2. How can be certain?

Answer 1

www.crucial will help you with this for sure, install their little tool that will scan your memory and it will give you the specs of it.

Answer 2

First, 1GB comes in both configuration:

Single stick of memory - 1GB
Matched "pair" of sticks for dual channel - 2 sticks of 512MB

If your board supports dual channel it will run faster with both slots populated but they have to be identical - a matched pair. I have had two sticks of standard RAM work in dual channel (especially the better brands - Kingston, Corsair) but there is no guarantee.

Look at the model number of your motherboard (usually printed on the board between PCI slots) and do a search for the manual.

Just because you have the correct type of RAM (DDR/DDR2) doesn't mean the memory will work. It would be better to see what the motherboard manufacturer actually says will work. Just because a board supports DDR2 doesn't always mean it will support DDR800, sometimes only DDR533.

- DDR266 (PC2100) to DDR400 (PC3200) is DDR
- Higher than DDR400 is DDR2

Good luck!