First off, I'm not completly lost or newbie when it comes to hardware and upgrading but I'm more then willing to admit that I don't know as much as I probably could. I bought an Alienware system about a year ago. Awesome system. Quality setup and parts. System came with the Abit AA8XE mobo which I know runs on dual channel pc 4200 memory. I've got a gig of 533 ram and looking to add another gig, more to try and help my 6800 ultra as the newest round of games are released with ever soreing specs. And while the paperwork I have for the system has most of my parts totally explained out they only give me as the type of memory that came with the system. No information on timing, or latency etc. I've learned it's best to have same manufacturer, Searching the net I've come across the information that there is no "PDP Memory" but that PDP Systems does make the Patriot Modules. I guess my main question is, is my best bet in adding memory to the system is indeed getting A Patriot 1 gig kit 2 x512. The one I've specifically found would be.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820220051 thanks guys for any help that can be offered. Edit: New Information gathered So I decided to open the system and the memory sticks are labeled the same as whats on my paperwork. "PDP512MBDDR2PC4200" and I don't know how reliable it is but saw someone else on here useing it, cpu-z under the spd tab is showing me at pc4300. Mayhaps thats just the max I can run? not necessarily the modules in the system?
http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php Try that, that should give some good info about the whole system. Should give you model numbers, manufacturers of pretty much every component.
thanks. Looks like the system then does in indeed have micron technology ram. Just threw everything that seemed easy out the window. Can't even find micron Ram available for sale, even on their own website. I think, its getting to the point where, is manufacturer really THAT important to match? or will it not matter as long as the timing and latency is all the same?
Getting matched RAM is advisable but if you can't find it then similar RAM should be okay. If the current RAM and the new RAM have different timigs/latencies the faster module(s) will be slowed down to match the slower module(s) For Example - You currently have PC4200 RAM (unsure of latancies, let's say they're 3-4-4-8 for now) You buy some more PC4200 RAM but the timings of that are 4-4-4-12 The RAM speeds will remain the same but the latencies on the older RAM will change to match the slower latencies of the new RAM so the old and new RAM will have latencies of 4-4-4-12. This is to minimise the risk of any instability as the RAM with the higher latencies may not be able to run with the same timings as the other RAM in the system. THere's no guarantee that two different manufacturers will run together perfectly, sometimes that happens, sometimes it just causes system instability.
so basically what you're saying is I'm better off buying two(or four) new sticks of the same exact memory over trying to mix and match whats in my system and something I might buy. Ahh, screw it. will just upgrade it all together. I can't even find the model number of my memory at the micron technologies website. Don't see it on any major stores. Read a bunch of reviews on newegg and at tomshardware and took a plunge. Bought A-Data V-Series Ram. No reviews on this particular set but everything they produce has good reviews everywhere. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211011
