RAM speed?

[Psycho]

Apparently I have to get a certain size and certain speed of RAM or it will not be compatible? Where can I find these specs? I opened up my PC and all I can see on the RAM is serial numbers, 256 MB, and made in mexico/taiwan/china/russia (depending on which part)

and I couldn't find that in My Computer Properties either.

[Jason]

Strange, when I opened My Computer/Properties it said in the General tab that I have 3.19Ghz, 1.00GB of RAM.

[Psycho]

Yeah, I have that information, but it doesn't look like I need that to pick it out. (mine is 1.79 GHz, 512 MB)

But on eBay, Amazon, Newegg, ocz.com, etc.

they are listed like this:

OCZ DDR2 800 4 GB 2 x 2GB Memory RAM PC6400 CL5
OCZ Technology OCZ2P8004GQ Platinum Quad 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2

Now of course I understand the 4GB, 2x2GB, etc. but what do CL5, PC6400, PC2-6400, and OCZ2P8004GQ mean? And 800, 776, etc, what does that refer to?

I only ask because in one auction the seller says, make sure this will run on your computer, and someone else mentioned size and speed. I don't want to buy the wrong kind, but I have no idea what is the right kind. I don't see any of those numbers on my RAM at all.

[Neo Anderson]

here's a little program that might help you discover eaxctly what kind of RAM you have.
Just create a folder and extract all files to it, than run the exe. It gives alot of info about your PC.

[Firefly]

Download CPUZ (it's a tiny program, you don't even need to install it). In the memory tab you should see the following:

There you see your RAM speed. If your memory type is DDR or DDR2, the frequency shown is half your effective frequency (e.g. my RAM is running at 358*2= 716 MHz). The frequency of your old and new RAM should be the same, and the timings (5-5-5-15 on mine) should also match. Small differences in speed or timings shouldn't matter, but it's best if the new module has the exact same specs as your old one.

As for the acronyms and stuff - CL5 means the CAS latency is 5. PC is a DDR2 classification system (PC6400 is 800 MHz, PC3200 is 400 MHZ etc.). DDR2-800 or just 800 means the frequency is 800 MHz.

Hope that helps. Post a screen of the CPUZ memory tab if you need more assistance.

[Psycho]

[ApeX]

maybe you should buy 400mhz ddr1 becouse its better and faster
after 400mhz starts ddr2 and it doesen't work with ddr1 mainboard....
i have ddr3 in my pc