Memory installs from only $40
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Prices last updated: 13 December 2008
Memory / RAM
| DDR2 DIMM |
- for Newer Desktop PCs |
| DDR1 DIMM | - for Older Desktop PCs |
| DDR2 SO-DIMM | - for Newer Laptops |
| DDR1 SO-DIMM | - for Older Laptops |
| How much RAM do I need? | |
| What type of RAM do I need? | |
| Can I put a faster type of RAM in my PC? | |
| What is RAM? RAM vs. hard drive | |
| Can not enough RAM make my PC slow? | |
- Canberra RAM Installation only $40 (drop-off to Belconnen) or FREE with any other computer service
- Contact us for a quote on other types of PC RAM, e.g. ECC, DDR3, SD-RAM
- Generic RAM = 1 Year Warranty. All other branded RAM = Lifetime Warranty (*except one type)
- Canberra RAM install just $40 (drop-off to Belconnen) or FREE with any other computer service
- Most computer RAM kept in stock (except DDR3), if not then approx 3-5 days lead time
How much Memory / RAM do I need?
Most would recommend a minimum of 1GB RAM for Windows XP but at least 2GB RAM is usually recommended for new PCs using cheap DDR2 RAM. A RAM upgrade is the easiest upgrade to perfom on a computer and one of the most common upgrades used to increase the speed of a computer.
If your WindowsXP computer has just 256MB or 512MB of RAM then you will likely see an increase in speed if you upgrade your RAM. The CPU mostly determines the performance of your computer, but if you do not have enough memory then upgrading your RAM can make a bigger difference in speed than replacing your CPU.
For Windows Vista it is recommend to have a minimum of 2GB (twice as much as WinXP) to at least run smoothly. If your Vista based PC has only 1GB of memory or less then you may not be seeing the full potential of your computers speed until you add more RAM.
You can get away with just 512MB as a minimum for Windows 2000, though this old operating system is rapidly approaching its end of life as Microsoft is discontinuing support in 2010 - with Office 2000 expiring even sooner! ... But don't worry, your Windows XP is safe until 2014 !!
Everyones computer usage is different and users who open many programs at the same time or who use memory intensive programs such as Photoshop or the latest games will always benefit from having more RAM, but ut there are limits! Most users have 32-bit Windows which will only address a maximum of 4 GB of RAM.
We need to upgrade/change to 64-bit versions of Windows to take advantage of any more than that. In fact due to the way that todays motherboards address memory, most users will only see available approx 3.3GB available (in 32-bit Windows) even though a total of 4GB is in the PC.
For Core 2 Duo based computers 4GB RAM is still recommended over just putting in 3GB RAM even though you effectively lose some capacity. This is because most Core 2 Duo/Quad computers use dual-channel memory which needs matching pairs of RAM to be used (e.g. 2x2GB or 4x1GB or just 2x1GB). Dual-channel memory means the memory can run faster because both RAM DIMMs are used simultaneously instead of just one at a time.
Intel Core i7 currently uses triple-channel RAM and so 3 RAM modules or 3 pairs of RAM modules is used in the current setup. Intel is scheduled to soon release another socket called LGA1156 which will be for mainstream Nehalem CPUs and will likely go back to dual channel.
Generally Recommended: 1-2GB RAM for XP and 2-4GB RAM for Vista
What type of Memory / RAM do I need?
There are three common types of computer RAM: DDR1, DDR2 and DDR3.
DDR1 / DDR is still used in many older computers today, mostly Pentium4 / P4 (Socket 478) and AthlonXP/64 computers (Socket A/754/939). It is still a common upgrade used to speed up these PCs.
DDR2 is the most common RAM and used in most new computers today such as Core2Duo (LGA775) and Athlon64 X2 (Socket AM2). Prices crashed for DDR2 in 2008 and is easily the cheapest of the lot.
DDR3 will drop in price as it becomes more popular over 2009. Intel has just released a new processor/CPU called i7 which uses DDR3 RAM.
Some very old PCs rarely seen are also still using ancient SD-RAM.
Desktop computers and laptops also use different types of memory. Desktop PCs use DIMMs and laptop PCs use SO-DIMMs. Laptop SO-DIMMs are about half the physical size of Desktop DIMMs but are more expensive. DIMM stands for dual in-line memory module and SO stands for small outline.
A program such as CPU-Z can tell you what RAM you currently have and possibly what the maximum specifications are for your computer. Your type of motherboard/mainboard determines the type of RAM that your computer can use. Most computers have 2 or 4 RAM slots available for upgrades with 1GB or 2GB maximum RAM modules per slot.
PC3200 (200MHz) = DDR-400
PC2-6400 (400MHz) = DDR2-800
Other good program to find the specs of your computer are:
Belarc gives a good summary of your computer details,
including any license keys you have.
WinAudit is similar but gives much more information!
DDR3 RAM exists but is still very new and much more expensive than DDR2. DDR3 will become popular in 2009 as more people invest in Intel i7 which uses DDR3 and as i7 CPUs and motherboards also reduce in price. When every new generation that comes out it takes many months/years for the prices to settle to a reasonable point. (DDR3 RAM prices coming soon to this page!).
DDR2 RAM prices dropped huge amounts over 2008 but it will only be when the demand is higher for DDR3 that it will eventually become cheaper. Over time the prices will finally drop to a more respectable cost but it may be quite a while longer until the masses finally get around to replacing their old computers and Intel's i7 platform ...or the next generation CPU from Intal or AMD... along with DDR3 are the mainstream choice. After all many older PCs are still running DDR1 - many years after DDR2 was released!
Can I put a faster type of RAM in my PC?
The computer motherboard determines what types of RAM, CPU/Processor as well as many other PC parts that are compatable with your computer. Although you can mix speeds and use faster RAM, it must only be of the same DDR type what your motherboard supports. You cannot put DDR2 RAM in a DDR1 motherboard or vice versa, for example.
The number after DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 determines the speed of the RAM, so for example DDR2-800 runs at 800MHz and almost always works fine in PCs made for DDR2-667 / DDR2-553 / DDR2-400 RAM (DDR2-800 may not have even existed when the PC was made!).
A faster specification RAM will usually just run at the slower speed, though remember this speed is still the fastest your PC can handle so usually nothing is lost by getting DDR-800 instead of e.g. DDR-533. Though occasionally some pairs of RAM will have issues when combined together but this can only be known after testing. Ideally you want the exact same modules for best compatability, stability and also performance.
As of DDR2, most motherboards just state a maximum speed (MHz) for RAM which is usually at least 800 MHz with no minimum given. On the odd occasion (older laptops and some branded/OEM PCs can be more picky) a motherboard cannot use a faster speed RAM module, but theoretically a faster RAM module can actually run faster and be more stable than a slower specification RAM.
Faster RAM is, after all, designed to handle faster speeds and may also have lower (better) timings (timing specifications such as CAS Latency are also factors in the real world speed and compatibility of the RAM - e.g. CAS is the time it takes for the RAM to respond to the memory controllers requests).
Slower speeds of RAM should also be fine in 'faster' systems. Most DDR2 motherboards will take anything from DDR2-400 and state a maximum speed (MHz) only. DDR2-800 is now the cheapest but many PCs have DDR2-533 or DDR2-667. Of course the RAM will only run as fast as it's maximum specified speed.
Mixing speeds is again usually ok, but you do get the odd incompability which you can only find after testing. Aussie PC Fix guarantee all RAM installed by us will be 100% compatible with your desktop PC or laptop.
What is RAM? RAM vs. hard disk drive
Memory/RAM is where your computer stores data that it is currently working on and it is like your own short term memory. RAM is an abbreviation of Random Access Memory, being random access because the PC can read any part of RAM at random with near-instant access, compared to say a tape or hard drive in which you need to wait until the media is moved into position to read it. RAM is often simply called memory.
Every time you open a file or run a program (or when those programs start up automatically after Windows starts up and put icons near your system clock), the data is read or 'loaded' from your slower hard drive and put into your fast RAM.
When you are working on files they are stored temporarily in RAM and then you must save them to the hard drive for safe keeping. Your memory/RAM can only hold so much and to keep things long term you need to write them down, to your hard drive.
RAM is a very different kind of storage place compared to a hard disk because the hard disk is used as a (more!) permanent means of storage and is designed to keep your information even while your computer is turned off, like writing in a notepad so you can read it again later. When you turn of your PC, everything in RAM is lost.
The hard disk is where all you important data is saved - all your documents as well as where Windows is installed and all your programs. The hard disk is usually assigned as (at least) the C: drive in a Windows computer.
RAM is usually measured in single digit GB / gigabytes. 1GB = 1024MB / 1024 megabytes Most new computers since 2008 have 1-4GB RAM and you will need a new 64-bit Windows (or similar operating system) to take advantage of any more than 4GB (usually you see up to 3.3MB max!) Older computers may have 1GB (1024MB) or less e.g. 512MB/'half a gig" |
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RAM is a volitaile (temporary) storage medium that your PC requires to store work on it's currently running processes (program instructions running on your computer). If the power is cut then RAM loses all its current data - this is why you can lose data if you have not saved and written your file back to the hard disk drive - it's like forgetting something because you didn't write it down in time!
RAM is extremely fast, but also very expensive compared to a hard drive. Luckily, you don't need as much RAM as you do hard drive space because you don't usually load everything off you hard drive into your RAM when using your computer! (and if you did then you could only load one part at a time or your computer would crash!)
Can not enough RAM make my PC slow?
When your computer runs out of RAM then it will usually slow down or may show an error or even crash. A tell-tale sign of a computer without enough memory is that it is very slow and the hard drive is excessively being used (which you may see from the red light on the front of the PC staying constantly on, or you may also hear the drive). When a computer slows down like this, it is called disk thrashing.
This happens because Windows uses a swap file / page file which is a special file on the hard drive that Windows pretends to be RAM. This is usually good because the computer or program will crash if it truely runs out of memory resources, but it is also used to speed up the PC. RAM will swap things out to disk that it doesn't need at this very moment in time, but for quick retrieval later - compared to the file being stored in its original location on the hard drive. In a way it also also lets us fake that we have more RAM available for the computer to use.
This works fine except when the computer runs out of RAM, causing the PC to constantly swap data back and forth between the RAM and the hard drive. This is because the computer looks for things it doesn't need in RAM right this second, but then can end up loading it back in RAM a few moments later. When your computer runs out of memory it slows down to a crawl with information overload!
Other than upgrading your RAM, you may be able to reduce the number of programs that are running on the computer (every program that's 'loaded' from your hard disk uses RAM). Each time a program is started from the desktop, start menu or automatically during start-up it takes a chunk of memory until the program is closed. Of course any of your files that are currently 'open' also take up valuable RAM.
Spyware and viruses are also a common cause of computer slow downs. This can happen because the malicious programs are using large amounts of RAM and the computer has run out of memory. Sometimes the PC slow down is just a symptom of the infection behaving badly and using all available RAM or other resources, but often it shows the PC was already running close to it's maximum available RAM. Just because the computer has loaded into RAM a few extra programs than usual, it has been pushed over the limit and run out of RAM..
- Computer Cases
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- Keyboards & Mice
- KVMs
- LCD Screens / Monitors
- Memory (RAM)
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- Processors (CPU)
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> Orders under $100 attract $10 surcharge (except antivirus or during service). Orders over $200 receive FREE delivery in Belconnen region only otherwise delivery cost is $20. For rest of Canberra delivery is usually $20-40 depending on your required delivery date and our availability in your area. <
Prices correct at time of publishing but subject to change without notice. Errors and ommissions excepted. Based on cash price including any taxes and pickup from Belconnen, Canberra, ACT, Australia - call for workshop address. Not all items kept in stock. Pictures for illustration purposes only.
Please call 0410 628 935, email support@aussiepcfix.com or contact us via online form to place an order and confirm prices.
If you happen to find a cheaper price in Canberra then please contact us or email support@aussiepcfix.com with details and we will do our best to beat your quoted price!
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If you're not sure on which product best suits your needs, if it is compatible with your computer, or if you need any other help or computer parts then contact us for free advice.