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Thread ID: 125945 2012-07-29 00:22:00 ddr2 ram compatibility prefect (6291) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1291312 2012-07-29 00:22:00 My sons Dell PC has 1 GB ram being in two 512mb sticks,lost half its ram. The sticks are Hynix model 1 RX8 PC2-4200U-444-12. It googles up ok as a common ram stick
It has slots for 4 512 sticks for a total of 2 gb.
I want to buy 3 sticks of DDR ram my question is can I buy any desktop DDR ram or does it have to be the same type as the original?
Thanks for any help
prefect (6291)
1291313 2012-07-29 00:25:00 Ram is ram. As long as it is the same revision of ddr it should be fine (e.g. you cant mix ddr with ddr2 or ddr3 with ddr2). icow (15313)
1291314 2012-07-29 00:26:00 If it supports dual channel (it probably does if there's 4 slots), it would be better if all the sticks are the same. But, if you're not too worried about dual channel, anything will do. True, and you can't put DDR ram in if it uses DDR2, or DDR 3 ram. They're not compatible, with each other Speedy Gonzales (78)
1291315 2012-07-29 00:58:00 So instead of putting in 2 512 sticks end for end I can put 1 1gb stick in? prefect (6291)
1291316 2012-07-29 01:01:00 If the motherboard supports up to 4 GB you can use 1 GB in one slot. But if the motherboard supports up to 2 GB, then no you cant. It'll only take 512mb in each slot. If you wanted to use 1 GB sticks / more than 4 GB you would have to replace the mobo (one that supports 8 / 16+ GB of ram) / and install 64 bit. If you wanted to use most of the ram Speedy Gonzales (78)
1291317 2012-07-29 01:16:00 Thanks for that, I rechecked there are 4 slots one behind each other. Searching Trademe for some DDR2 512mb sticks. prefect (6291)
1291318 2012-07-29 01:20:00 Ram is ram. As long as it is the same revision of ddr it should be fine (e.g. you cant mix ddr with ddr2 or ddr3 with ddr2).

WRONG !!

You have to be a bit more careful with Name brand PC's. Some of them wont accept any ol RAM. Had it to many times to remember with name brand computers that installed RAM and its not compatible even though all the spec's are correct. The type has to be the same DDR, DDR2 etc, and pays to use the same speed.

I usually use Kingston RAM, its a bit more expensive, but generally works. What you need to do is ask when you buy it to make sure its compatible with a Dell, and if they say yes,then make sure you can change/return it if it doesn't work.

Last year I was working on a HP doing an upgrade, and 5 different brands of RAM didn't work.
wainuitech (129)
1291319 2012-07-29 01:33:00 WRONG !!

You have to be a bit more careful with Name brand PC's.
One reason I hate doing any work on them
mikebartnz (21)
1291320 2012-07-29 03:34:00 Use the memory search on kingston.com and search Ascent or somewhere for that part number. I tried some standard Kingston in a Dell, but it didn't like it. Got the proper part# from the Kingston site and no prob.
I think we all hate working on these picky PCs. Love it when an odd shaped PSU goes down in a Dell - the owner can kiss $120-$200 goodbye on a replacement.
Renegade (16270)
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