The Lowdown on RAM

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Can someone please explain roughly how RAM work.

I see that some RAM is a lot more expensive that than others. I've always
been under the inpression that it's all more or less the same, but now I am
looking as building my first PC, I realise how wrong I am.

Basically, I am looking at buying a Athlon 64 3400+ S754 CPU with a Asus K8V
Deluxe. I want some RAM that is on par with the rest of the system if this
makes sense.

Cheers for your help and with all the other questions I have posted here
recently.

Paul
 
I see now that was a stupid question and am surprised that I didn't get
flamed a lot more.

Please though, that's not an invitation!
 
I see now that was a stupid question and am surprised that I didn't get
flamed a lot more.

Please though, that's not an invitation!
Click to expand...

Sometimes addt'l markup is due to old stock, name-brand
overhead, or just higher quality chips that can run faster.
Other times it's due to volume purchase price to vendor or
dumping memory below cost, clearing out old stock, or
natural fluctuations in market.

Taking the typical, popular higher-volume resellers as an
example, look at the specified timings as a guide. CAS3 and
voltage over 2.6V would be the low-bin, least valuable
memory. Next any other CAS3, then CAS2.5, then 2. It is
good to find other timings but too often a vendor only
specifies CAS.



Mainly the memory should be bought from someplace with a
good return policy, like http://www.crucial.com or
http://www.newegg.com

Crucial has a handy memory selector or newegg has user
reviews, either are an advantage compared to a 'site that
only lists the module and price.

As far as what's appropriate for that system, 2 x 512MB
(1GB) of PC3200 memory. If you were running specific apps
that respond mostly to memory throughput, it might be
justification to spend a lot more on memory, but otherwise
the budget for memory is better kept conservative with
respect to "fancy" modules and spent in other areas like
CPU, hard drive, video card, etc, instead.

A conservative, good value choice might be something like
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=1
 
Not Known said:
I see now that was a stupid question and am surprised that I didn't get
flamed a lot more.

Please though, that's not an invitation!
Click to expand...

Well I just though it was an obvious answer!! (no offence intended)
I know sod all about memory really apart from rhe EDO I use,
I maight be able to used SDRAM to but I am not sure :O\
 
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