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    noob questions about RAM

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Aceroth, Jan 1, 2009.

  1. Aceroth

    Aceroth Notebook Enthusiast

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    I consider myself pretty computer savvy except when it comes to hardware. I'm kinda lost there. So I apologize if this is a little on the noob side.

    I need to upgrade the RAM on my Sager NP9262. I got it back when they offered it with 2GB of RAM, and I didn't need to run anything too demanding just then, so I figured I'd just upgrade it later. Well now is that time. My problem is, I'm paranoid that I'll buy more memory and it won't be compatible. Now, because I know virtually nothing about computer hardware, I don't know how to figure out if my memory will be compatible. I've looked at the RAM currently installed, and I have two 1GB sticks, but I don't know anything past that. How can I tell what type of RAM I need to get?

    Also, once I figure out a compatible type of RAM, where is a good place to buy it? Should I just google it and compare prices, or are they some online vendors that are known and have good RAM prices? Would eBay be the way to go?

    Thanks in advance.

    P.S. I'd like to add that I do know it's DDR2 RAM, but online I see RAM categorized by PC#### and I don't know what that means. Also, when I opened the notebook it looked like there were only two memory slots, but when I run CPU-Z it seems there are 4. Is this because CPU-Z accounts for desktops as well, or am I missing some slots? They offer the NP9262 with 8GB now, so I don't know how they do that with only two slots, because I wasn't aware that there were 4GB sticks.
     
    Aceroth, Jan 1, 2009
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  2. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    If you know for a fact that it's DDR2, you can get any notebook DDR2. It is probably best to get something of the same speed (regardless of whether you're adding or replacing sticks), but anything will do. If you don't know the speed, 667MHz (PC5300) or 533MHz (PC4200) are safe bets, but again, any speed of DDR2 will work.

    EDIT: The NP9262 will support 800MHz (PC6400) DDR2 SO-DIMMS. So you're looking for something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145598 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220312. Anything with a lifetime warranty should do; just go for the cheapest one.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jan 1, 2009
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  3. Aceroth

    Aceroth Notebook Enthusiast

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    All right. I'm pretty sure it's PC6400, I just don't really know what that means.
     
    Aceroth, Jan 1, 2009
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  4. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    It refers to the theoretical memory bandwidth, 6400MB/s for 800MHz DDR2.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jan 1, 2009
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  5. StratCat

    StratCat Notebook Evangelist

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    And this info could often be found under the 'SPD' tab of CPU-Z.

    Are you using the latest CPU-Z?

    Mine shows my RAM as: PC2-6400 (400MHz)

    The '2' after 'PC' refers to DDR 2
     
    StratCat, Jan 1, 2009
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  6. Aceroth

    Aceroth Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ah, okay.

    So if my CPU-Z page looks like this, I could buy this RAM and wouldn't have any problems?
     
    Aceroth, Jan 1, 2009
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  7. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    Yep, you should have no problems with that GSkill.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jan 1, 2009
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  8. Alex

    Alex Super Moderator

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    PC2-5300, or PC2-6400 200 PIN SODIMM LAPTOP RAM
    you have 2 memory slots
    Very common and popular ram so you can buy local or online



    Alex
     
    Alex, Jan 1, 2009
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  9. Aceroth

    Aceroth Notebook Enthusiast

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    Awesome. I have one last question. Is there a significant advantage to buying PC6400 as opposed to PC5300? There's a small price jump, but I'm just curious as to whether there's any real advantage.
     
    Aceroth, Jan 1, 2009
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  10. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    You should not notice any difference in almost all real-usage scenarios.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jan 1, 2009
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  11. Aceroth

    Aceroth Notebook Enthusiast

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    Okay. Thanks a lot for the help :)
     
    Aceroth, Jan 1, 2009
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  12. Need For Steve

    Need For Steve Notebook Guru

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    this is an informative little read, learned just what i wanted to know concerning my own RAM needs :D
     
    Need For Steve, Jan 1, 2009
    #12