RAM question...

[Newbie]

PC2700 512MB 333MHz DDR DIMM????

Hi, I'm thinking about adding some RAM to my PC and would like to know what
is meant by PC2700 and 333MHz

Thanks

 

[Matt K]

Are you referring to memory speed and type or memory and processor?

 

[Jef Norton]

| PC2700 512MB 333MHz DDR DIMM????
|
| Hi, I'm thinking about adding some RAM to my PC and would like to know
what
| is meant by PC2700 and 333MHz
|
| Thanks
|
|

Hi Newbie -

Ignore the last post you got. Totally speculation on the part of the poster
and totally false.

The short answer is that PC2700 and 333 MHz DDR SDRAM memory means the same
thing. They run on a computer that supports a 166 MHz memory bus.

The long answer, describing the official naming, is a bit confusing.
Originally the naming was PC200 for DDR (double data rate) SDRAM that
operates at 100 MHz memory bus and PC266 for the 133 MHz bus, etc. After
RAMBUS used PC600 and PC700, etc., for their RDRAM modules, which sounds a
lot faster than PC200 and PC266 (although it isn't), the memory industry
came up with PC1600 and PC2100 instead. While PC200 and PC266 are only
using the effective clock of the data transfer for their numbering, PC1600
and PC2100 use the actual peak data transfer rate in MB/s (megabytes per
second). Thus, PC200 is the same as PC1600 (64 bit * 100 MHz * 2 is roughly
1600 MB/s) and PC266 is the same as PC2100 (64 bit * 133 MHz * 2 is roughly
2100 MB/s).

Following the same logic, PC333 is the same as PC2700 (64 bit * 166 MHz * 2
is roughly 2700 MB/s).

You'll also see a lot of other 'flavors' out there. PC3200, PC3500, etc.
These are modules which run on a 200 and 233 MHz bus, etc.

The best advice you can follow is to look at the physical PC2700 module
currently in your system. Make sure that you have completely removed the
power from your system and have grounded yourself by touching something
metal or wear a grounding strap before you remove the existing module
(static electricity is the worst enemy of memory!). For the most reliable
system you'll want to match it exactly with another module from the same
manufacturer, utilizing the same manufacturer's memory chips (note that not
all SDRAM manufacturers actually make the chips they use on their modules).

Also, unless you're running applications that are very memory intensive,
such as video or graphic editing, computer aided design, etc., 512 megabytes
is actually an excellent amount of memory for most systems running Windows
XP. I have a gigabyte of memory in my desktop system because I routinely
edit large graphic images using PhotoShop (I'm talking poster size here).

Good luck if you decide to go ahead and upgrade your memory.

Jef

 

[Steve C. Ray]

PC2700 is the type of RAM, 333MHz is the bus speed. If you have 512 MB now
I don't think you would notice any improvement unless you are into extensive
graphic operations. 512 is plenty for the majority of users. If you add RAM,
it needs to be the same type as you now have.

 

[Ryan York]

He is definitely right. You want a better processor for
better performance. Remember some key things when
upgrade or buying a new system.

-case size
-motherboard capabilities
-number of available expansion slots
-number of additonal available memeory slots
-size or power supply (not all power supplies can handle
allot of devices)

also there are tons of companies out there that sell
refurbished system, if you are low on cash, it is
recommended to take a look at a refurbished system

 

[S.Heenan]

Hi Newbie -

Ignore the last post you got. Totally speculation on the part of the
poster and totally false.

The short answer is that PC2700 and 333 MHz DDR SDRAM memory means
the same thing. They run on a computer that supports a 166 MHz
memory bus.

The long answer, describing the official naming, is a bit confusing.
Originally the naming was PC200 for DDR (double data rate) SDRAM that
operates at 100 MHz memory bus and PC266 for the 133 MHz bus, etc.
After RAMBUS used PC600 and PC700, etc., for their RDRAM modules,
which sounds a lot faster than PC200 and PC266 (although it isn't),
the memory industry came up with PC1600 and PC2100 instead. While
PC200 and PC266 are only using the effective clock of the data
transfer for their numbering, PC1600 and PC2100 use the actual peak
data transfer rate in MB/s (megabytes per second). Thus, PC200 is
the same as PC1600 (64 bit * 100 MHz * 2 is roughly 1600 MB/s) and
PC266 is the same as PC2100 (64 bit * 133 MHz * 2 is roughly 2100
MB/s).

Following the same logic, PC333 is the same as PC2700 (64 bit * 166
MHz * 2 is roughly 2700 MB/s).

You'll also see a lot of other 'flavors' out there. PC3200, PC3500,
etc. These are modules which run on a 200 and 233 MHz bus, etc.

The best advice you can follow is to look at the physical PC2700
module currently in your system. Make sure that you have completely
removed the power from your system and have grounded yourself by
touching something metal or wear a grounding strap before you remove
the existing module (static electricity is the worst enemy of
memory!). For the most reliable system you'll want to match it
exactly with another module from the same manufacturer, utilizing the
same manufacturer's memory chips (note that not all SDRAM
manufacturers actually make the chips they use on their modules).

Also, unless you're running applications that are very memory
intensive, such as video or graphic editing, computer aided design,
etc., 512 megabytes is actually an excellent amount of memory for
most systems running Windows XP. I have a gigabyte of memory in my
desktop system because I routinely edit large graphic images using
PhotoShop (I'm talking poster size here).

Good luck if you decide to go ahead and upgrade your memory.

Jef

Well said Jef. The only thing I'd like to add for the OP is a quick
explanation into ECC and Registered RAM.

ECC, Error Correcting Code RAM is used primarily in servers and
workstations. If the motherboard chipset supports this function, ECC is
capable of correcting single bit errors and reporting two bit errors.

Registered memory modules contain an extra chip, called a register, to delay
the flow of data by one clock cycle. Again, the chipset must support this
feature. Registered memory is used mostly in servers and workstations.

If your motherboard supports PC2700(166MHz), you want to look for "non-ECC
unbuffered PC2700" in the size you require.

 

[D.Currie]

Psssst... he's talking about memory specs, not the speed of his
processor. ---> PC2700 512Mb 333Mhz DIMMS

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

www.crucial.com

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Eddie Grant]

PC2700 sounds like the computer type. 333MHz is an indication of how many
calculations the CPU can do. Today's newest desktops achieve speeds of over
3GHz (that's GigaHertz not MegaHertz that you have.

PC2700 is the speed of the RAM, 333mhz is the actual clock speed of the RAM,
and although PCs can reach speeds of up to 3.2GHz, this is not what we are
talking about here.

512MB is how much Random Access Memory your system has. This is where the
CPU stores information temporarily. More RAM generally means better CPU
performance

512MB of RAM is quite a bit on an old 333MHz machine.

But its very unlikely that it's a 333mhz machine, especially if he has
PC2700 ram

Adding more may not

get you much (if any) better performance.

Spend your money on a new machine (not a sarcastic remark). New machines
that are much more powerful than yours start at around $750

1. If he has a machine that can take PC2700 ram then no way in hell does he
need a new pc
2.Decent pcs start ~$400

Please get your facts right before posting!!!

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Please get your facts right before posting!!!

No kidding.