ddr ram pc2-4200 blah blah ????

[goodison1234]

I have a fairly new Dell PC, which came with 2x256 RAM.  I recently bought a "1 gig memory module" (184-pin DDR-DIMM 400mhz) (�60).  The notch on the card doesnt fit into my PC.  I have since read in my manual something which my friends suggested which is that my PC may be '4200' and not '3200'.  However, all the memory I seem to see on eBay/internet in general is only memory suitable for 3200.   Why is this?  What is the difference? Is my dated already or what? 

My Dell manual says " Do not install ECC memory modules". - What is this?  It goes on to say "If you installed mixed pairs of DDR2 400MHz (PC2-3200) and DDR2 533MHz (PC2-4200) memory, the modules fucnction at the slowest speed installed.

Can anyone make sense of my problem and suggest in simple terms what I need to go for?  RAM used to be a lot simpler than this!!

Please, somebody, tell me what 1GIG RAM is compatable please.  Thanks.

By the way if none of this made sense I will cry.

[BillyNoMates]

ECC memory is Error Correcting - I've yet to see any PC which has it installed from 12 years as a PC Engineer.

To find compatible RAM either go to Dell to check the accurate specs of your Motherboard, download a utility such as Bellarc Advisor or PC Wizard.

[Mattk]

if you visit crucials website,you can enter your mo'board details and it will tell you what memory is compatible(crucial are one of the biggest memory suppliers)

[bobjim1705]

DDR2 RAM is different to DDR RAM. The amount of pins is different (DDR - 184 pins / DDR2 - 240 pins) and there's also a difference in the latency and memory speed.
It also sounds like your motherboard has dual channel architecture - 2 identical sticks will run faster than 1 stick of the same value (e.g. 2 x 512MB is faster than 1 x 1024MB)

Take a look at http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/kl.asp?bn=10524 for a selection of PC4200 DDR2 RAM.

[goodison1234]

Thanks for the help everyone, I found out thanks to you lot I have 'dual interleaved' RAM which takes DDR2 PC4200 only.  People in PC World don't know what they are talking about!

Alex.