Have i chosen the right memeory?

[eraser_rx]

Some of you might recognize me from the laptop forum. I have searched forums (including Tom's) and googled a bit. I have a good idea of what i'm getting. And since online price + shipping isn't much cheaper, i just get it at my local computer store.

But before rushing out like there is no tomorrow.....i would like to know if i have diagnosed my laptop properly for the memory upgrade.

I have an Acer Aspire 3050 (AMD Sempron...ya, it sucks, but it was the cheapest a year ago...)

Instead of selling it and add money to get a new laptop, i decided to get my laptop more ram (from 512MB to 1.5GB or even 2GB to max out the capacity)

I have opened my memory bay and see that Acer has a generic Korean make pc4200 512 memory.

So, I have gone through loads of websites and online stores and concluded that 1GB 533MHz SODIMM is the best bet for my laptop. Since Crucial, Corsair and Kingston are at about the same price, i was determined to get:

CORSAIR CVS 533MHZ DDR2 NO-ECC 1024MB SODIMM ...$35
Kingston KVR 533MHZ DDR2 NO-ECC 1024MB SODIMM ....$39
(so with my original 512, it'll be 1.5GB ram)

Kingston 2048MB KAC-MEME/2G (1x 2GB)......................$59 (for acer 3100, i assume it's same as my 3050)

But now that i have read more....i know that even if my motherboard only supports upto 533mhz ram, i can still put 667mhz but the ram will just down clock itself....this opens to more options....so i'm thinking....

Kingston KVR 667MHZ DDR2 NO-ECC 2048MB SODIMM (1x 2GB) ....$55
OCZ 667MHZ DDR2 NO-ECC 2048MB VALUE SODIMM (1x 2GB) ........$55
CRUCIAL 667MHZ DDR2 NO-ECC 2048MB SODIMM KIT (2x 1GB) .......$65 (just feel like filling the 2 slots)

I'm open to any suggestion, even though i want to get it at my local store....i'll judge if it'll worth getting online or not....

Thanx

 

[ausch30]

You also have to consider if your chipset supports dual-channel, if so you might want to either go with just another 512 or 2x1gb. If you are just adding RAM to what you have then go with the 533 but if your replacing what you have you might want to go with the 667. 667 will only give you a very slight performance gain but depending on your BIOS and what settings you can adjust you might be able to tighten the timings a little even if it is only capable of running at 533. All the RAM you listed is good quality and I would just go with which ever is cheapest.

 

[eraser_rx]

thx....you have brought up something new that i don't know.....

i have checked my laptop's official spec http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/forms/portal20.cfm?recordid=530&formid=3404&website=AcerPanAm.com/us&siteid=7293&words=all&keywords=&areaid=7 , it says

RAM / Max RAM
Up to 2 GB of DDR2 533/667 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two soDIMM modules (dual-channel support)

so....it does support dual channel?

and i didn't know my laptop supports 667....thx for making me look for the official spec.

so.....i should start with 1x 2GB leaving 1 slot empty.....and if my budget allows me...i'll get another 2gb to make it 4gb dual channel????

does it work this way?........in the mean while, i'll still google....but expert advice is always better than self diagnosis....

thx again

 

[ausch30]

If your using the 32bit version of either XP or Vista it will only be able to recognize around 3gb so it would be a waste to buy 4gb.