Memory woes

W

whoblitzell

Guest
I am using the Gateway 700GR (specifications below) and I am trying to figure out what my system's RAM capacity actually is. Gateway says it is 2GB, but Best Buy's site (where it was purchased) has told me it was 4GB and the site memoryx.net did as well.

So I'm wondering if the omnipotent ones of this forum can clear up this apparent inconsistency for me. Thanks muchly.

Specifications for my computer as gathered by Belarc advisor:

http://portfolio.iu.edu/whoblitz/specs.htm

Specifications for my computer as said by Gateway:

http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/R/3726/3726sp27.shtml

Specifications for my RAM as said by memoryx.net

http://store.yahoo.com/memx/ga70me5.html
 
Are you contemplating upgrading the memory in your system? 2GB would be a safe upgrade, but going to 4GB of physical memory would only yield about 3-3.5GB usable in Windows XP because of how the OS works with memory.

Also, as a note, you may want to blank out the Windows XP install key on your Belarc profile to keep anyone else from using it.
 
<<"Are you contemplating upgrading the memory in your system? 2GB would be a <<safe upgrade, but going to 4GB of physical memory would only yield about 3-<<3.5GB usable in Windows XP because of how the OS works with memory."

I might not be using Windows much longer, and yes I am considering updating my RAM.

I know I don't need 4GB but I am considering running a server for something and the extra memory wouldn't hurt.

<<"Also, as a note, you may want to blank out the Windows XP install key on <<your Belarc profile to keep anyone else from using it."

Thanks, but I don't think anyone would want to try and activate my CD key if they knew what would happen afterwards:D

Do you have any suggestions on how I can figure out which figure on my max RAM is correct w/out actually buying a 1GB stick to test?

EDIT:

Yes, I know the RAM probably won't do anything to functionally help my system 99.9 repeating percent of the time but it is mainly to compete with my friend's machine.
 
How many memory expansion slots on the board? Is there any indication on the board about who makes it (yes, I know it's a Gateway computer, but someimes they use off-the-shelf stuff)? The chipset you have supports 4GB of RAM, but Gateway may have limited that somehow in the BIOS of the system, so I'd trust whatever number Gateway gives you as being more accurate, but if you don't believe what you read online, call them to find out if they have heard of anyone using more or if the number they give online is only quoted at 2GB because that was the highest they tested. Some systems by major manufacturers list a lower amount of RAM based on the fact that the manufacturer did not test the system with more memory or they did not have access to higher density memory when the system was being tested. It doesn't mean it can't support that much memory, but simply that it hasn't been tested by the manufacturer to support that much memory.
 
Thanks for all that advice.

Someone on these forums told me a long time ago that you can get electroshock if you mismatch RAM. I was wondering what exactly this entails, to mismatch RAM. For example, is it safe to intermingle different brands of RAM? Is it safe to do so with different PCXXX speeds of RAM or different sizes of chips like 2 512's and 2 256's? Is it safe to mix ddr ram with non ddr ram? All stuff like that.

Thanks all for your help:)
 
Sizes, speeds and brands can be intermixed, but types (DDR, DDR2) cannot (pin incompatible and they just won't fit). At one point, there was a problem with memory that could lead to it being fried (using SDRAM and EDO on the same motherboard back in the Socket 7 days, but now, if the RAM is not compatible, the system simply won't boot or the RAM will not fit in the slot on the board.

If you do mix brands or speeds, this can lead to system instability in some rare cases. However, mixing sizes from the same manufacturer and speed is okay.
 
EDIT:

Please disregard this post and read below, got a new question:)
 
Logical_1 said:
How many memory expansion slots on the board? Is there any indication on the board about who makes it (yes, I know it's a Gateway computer, but someimes they use off-the-shelf stuff)? .
Click to expand...

According to Belarc, Intel made my board:

Board: Intel Corporation D915GSE AAC77848-102

There are 4 memory slots, 2 are filled with 2 512 sticks of Nanya pc3200 ddr400 sticks and 2 are empty. Is this brand of RAM compatible with others? How badly could I nerf my comp by just throwing in a 1GB stick pf pc3200 ddr400 off ebay?

Thanks for your time:)
 
The reason two slots are used wasn't to save money, but to improve performance by using the memory in dual channel mode. By throwing in a single 1GB stick, you will lose the dual channel since in order to maintain that you must install the memory in pairs (it's about a 10 to 15% performance gain to keep it). You wouldn't really harm the system by sticking in a 1GB stick from another manufacturer as long as the speed is the same or higher (PC3200 or above). That brand is compatible with other to the best of my knowledge, but as I said before, you really do want to try to match the brand if possible.
 
Is there any way I can tell if my memory is ECC or nonECC? It doesn't mention it on the RAM itself.
 
Can I be rude and ask where you got that information? I just want to be sure before I update my RAM sry:p
 
Although the chipset supports ECC memory, it is highly unlikely that the manufacturer would be sending out much of anything besdies their server products and very high end graphics workstations with ECC memory. You should also be able to check the serial number of the system on Gateway's website to see exactly what was shipped with the machine and that should confirm the fact it is not ECC.
 
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