Simplify your laptop buying
Community Newsletter: Q&A: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC
- 10/17/08 4:33 PM
Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 10/17/08 4:33 PM
Question:
This is a two-part question, but I'd be happy to understand even one of them:
The PC is not brand name. It is running Windows XP, and I plan to add more RAM to it. But I don't know what to buy. How do I figure out which memory will work in a PC (size/speed/max capacity)? I'm guessing some of the RAM available today is not compatible (too fast?) and I don't know what the main board supports. Normally, I'd look at the manual for the mother board specifies is supported, but there isn't one. I don't want to do the trial and error method. Is there a way to find out what memory is supported?
The second questions is about today’s hard drives. What hard drives are compatible with anything or are some only supported with the latest and greatest? It used to be there were just SCSI and IDE drives. IDE drives eventually surpassed SCSI drives in terms of speed and became the norm.
All I had to do is look at faster RPMs, faster seek times, and larger capacities and buffers (well, reliability was another). Life for the ignorant was so simple. I've fallen behind the times (even more) and don't know what to look for, especially when I want to upgrade older PCs. I don't know what UDMA and SATA are. Are these connections? Then there is SATA2 or is it SATA II and are these compatible with any "SATA" supporting PCs? Does it work with older PCs that use IDE cables or do some HDs support both while others do not? What is NCQ and is it something I should look for? What else should I look for, as I wonder if these things are worth enough to upgrade the motherboard for too? Thanks!
--Submitted by Dan C.
Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but
please read up on all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this member's question.
Making your upgrade easier... --Submitted by Wolfie2k5
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=311659&messageID=2879719#2879719
Upgrading your computer --Submitted by waytron
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=311659&messageID=2879376#2879376
Components for an older PC --Submitted by Watzman
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=311659&messageID=2879064#2879064
Not terribly hard, but unclear whether you should upgrade. --Submitted by BigGuns149
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=311659&messageID=2879966&tag=forums06;posts#2879966
Older PC memory and hard drive upgrades --Submitted by DrMicro
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=311659&messageID=2881496#2881496
If you have any additional advice or recommendations for Dan, please click on the reply link and submit it. Please be as detailed as possible in your answers and if you have links even better. Thanks!
Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older
by jjdetroit - 10/10/08 5:49 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
>> How do I figure out which memory will work in a PC (size/speed/max capacity)? <<
First thing I always do in this situation is go online to the Crucial website and run their online scan. It almost always can figure out what memory your PC can use. Even if you have a "no-name" PC, it can often identify your motherboard and go from there.
Finding compatible memory.
by newcompin - 10/11/08 9:28 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older by jjdetroitDear Friend,
There are some simple things you can try.
1.Right click on My computer icon,it will open general tab.
see the processor under computer if the processor is "Pentium(R)4-1.8 to 2.4GHZ Your system will be having DDR1 Ram (266 or 333MHZ).
2.Start the PC and watch ath the start when BIOS Shows the configuration of the RAM.
3.Start the PC ,go to BIOS Setup either by pressing F2 Or Del key.
In standard cmos setup you can find out the type of the RAM.
Kindly do,
Thanks,
Prasanna Khire
Crucial.com works great
by brandoncwilson - 10/19/08 7:41 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older by jjdetroitI second the suggestion that you check out Crucial.com. FRom their site you can run a scan of your system and it will tell you how much RAM you currently have installed, the type of motherboard in your system, motherboard RAM capacity, etc..
After the scan it will automagically select right amount of RAM to max out your system and with one click you can add it to the shopping cart and checkout. (Very handy stuff for a lazy shopper like me!)
I was also surprised at how cheap RAM has gotten recently. I am going to buy some for my system right now! Good luck! 
Components for an older PC
by Watzman - 10/10/08 6:07 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Finding components for an older PC is not that difficult.
The disk drive is the easiest thing to deal with, because there are very few issues. Assuming that this is a desktop, and that it is not truly ancient (before mid 1990's; assuming that it is at least a Pentium of some ilk), you are looking for a 3.5" hard drive, and you only really need to worry about the interface and the capacity. Everything else can be ignored. Broadly speaking, there are only two interface types, SATA and IDE (technically, there are about 5 subvariants of IDE, but you can ignore that detail). IDE drives use a wide flat ribbon cable with a 40-pin connector (2 rows of 20 pins each). The only other concern is capacity, and in general, any drive of 120GB or less will work. If the PC was made before about 2002, you MAY have issues if you try to go larger than 120GB, due to an issue known as 48-bit LBA. If it's made after 2002 or so (some variation here), that probably won't be an issue as far as the hardware is concerned (this can also be an issue with respect to the operating system as well). You asked a lot of other questions, about which I would direct you to Wikipedia, but the fact is that you can pretty much ignore all issues other than IDE/SATA (and you can generally ignore the sub-variants of both), and the 48-bit LBA capacity issue I mentioned above (not an issue if you stay below 120GB). [Note: your only source of drives below 160GB (and probably even of 160GB drives) will probably be E-Bay. Current new drives mostly START at 320GB and larger.]
Memory: There are a bunch of TYPES of memory that an older PC could be using:
-30 pin SIMMs (386 & 486 PCs mostly)
-72 pin SIMMs (486 and a very few very early Pentium PCs)
-SDRAM (Pentiums, 1996 to about 2003)
-RDRAM (Pentium 4's mostly, 1999 to 2002)
-DDR (2003 to about 2005)
-DDR2 (2005 to present)
-DDR3 (2007 to present)
[Note: CPUs and dates are generalities; many exceptions exist]
The memory type is determined by the chipset, which is part of the motherboard. You should be able to identify the memory type by looking at what is already installed, or by identifying the chipset (either look at the motherboard, or go into Control Panel / System / Hardware / Device Manager. Contrary to what you may think, the motherboard can PROBABLY be identified from silk screening (printing) on the motherboard itself, and at that point you can probably go to the mfgrs. web site and download a manual in PDF format. You really do need to identify the chipset OR the motherboard to buy memory with near total assurance that it will work, but if you just know the memory type (above list) you can take a chance and have a reasonable chance of success. The type has to be right; with a few exceptions, any given motherboard takes one and only one type of memory.
Memory
by melburstein - 10/10/08 6:08 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
An excellent website for determining memory upgrades is www.crucial.com.
Mel Burstein
Are you able to get online with that same computer?
by desirawson - 10/10/08 6:10 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If so, go to www.crucial.com and look for the tools they have on their website to identify what you have and what you can upgrade to (your PC may not have "room" to grow). It's a great site and takes all of the guess work out of it.
Compatible memory
by Micsup - 10/10/08 6:13 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Normally you could get onto the support website of a major computer manufacturer and find out all you need to know. Not the case here. Best and fastest way to find out what memory to use(I'm guessing PC100 or PC133, 168 pin SDRAM) is to open up the computer and scour the motherboard for make and model number. Google that information or, if you can definitly get the manufacturer's name((ASUS, MSI etc) go right to the motherboarb maker's homepage and navigate through support until you find your model number, including version more than likely. That will give you all the information you need as to what type and maximum size memory you can install, what type and size of processor etc. By the way, with what you describe as an older computer, you can probably disregard any references to SATA or SATA II connections with regard to your harddrive. You will almost certainly have an IDE connection(long grey ribbon connector). So any new harddrove will have to be an IDE also. Newegg.com is a wonderfull source of products for doing exactly what you want to do. Good luck.
Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older
by cjwolff - 10/10/08 6:15 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
install " Belarc Advisor " download at download .com ,it will show you almost everything you want to find out you system ,hope this helps
RAM
by heidiw2 - 10/10/08 6:20 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Go to Crucial.com. I have used them for years
(used to be Micron). They will match you up. They are fast and reliable.
Heidi
Here's a clickable text link for you...
by santuccie - 10/10/08 6:59 PM In reply to: Crucial Rocks! by TechWireBehind the times, play catch up...
by 1centwiz - 10/10/08 6:58 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I too know what it's like to try and up-grade older pc's. Here in Montana, there aren't a lot of people that have "extra" money, or a lot of it...
First you say you don't know what a Sata II/Sata2(same thing different way of typing it in, I think) drive is? Well if you are working on an older computer, you probably don't need to worry about this unless you buy a new motherboard(MB). It is a type of connection which is better than the older IDE pin connections. It looks like a flat plug that's shaped like a long L and usually has a red(could come in different colors) cable. These drives are smaller in dimension, but big on performance since the connections to the MB are tight and less prone to pin breakage and transfer loss.
Hard drives tend to be a bit of a puzzle, like you said it will depend on the ability of the MB and the processor as to how fast will be too fast.
Take a look at the BIOS and you should be able to see what the FSB/MHz speed is currently and that should give you a start as to how fast you can go. Same goes for the RAM upgrades. If you already have a RAM module, make sure you continue the same Latency and MHz, (CL-2,PC3100, etc.),otherwise you'll be wasting money. You can effectively mesh different manufacturers, but not the speeds. Also, make sure that if you have a buffered module, you stick with that. If you don't, then don't add them unless you know the MB can handle it.
If you are running XP, having at least a 512mb RAM is best. However, if you want to upgrade to Vista 
you will need at least a 512mb module. You also have to take note of how many RAM spots there are on the MB. If you only have one, then upgrade to a full GB, if you have 2, then you can split the amounts 50/50. Adding a module bigger than the first one in this case will work, but is not usually advised.
Also you can find out more info on upgrades by going to NewEgg.com or TigerDirect.com as they have a super support areas for learning.
Best of luck! I'm sure I don't have all the answers, but hope this helps.
Cheers,
Tamra
Compatible memory is a snap.
by clavall - 10/10/08 6:58 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Finding compatible memory is as easy as visiting The Crucial homepage'
http://www.crucial.com/
There is a Memory Advisor tool that is dead on. Still not convinced. Call customer service toll free. The number is cleverly hidden deep in "contact Us". Not anymore: Toll-free for US and Canada 800-336-8915. They are friendly and helpful. Like me.
Softball!
by tpond76 - 10/10/08 7:07 PM In reply to: Finding compatible memory and a new hard drive for an older PC by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
To see what kind of RAM you have: go to www.crucial.com and do a system scan. (you probably have SDRAM -- not DDR or DDR2, these are newer)
As for the hard drive: IDE and SATA are the connections/interfaces. UDMA or EIDE are the same thing. SATA is a different interface, different controller and different plug. 99% sure that you have an IDE drive (IDE, EIDE, UDMA are all interchangeable-- if your motherboard/bios are newer you can leverage the capabilities of UDMA for higher data rates) However, the point is, you can purchase any "IDE" type drive and it will work with Win XP in your system.
As for your upgrade question-- if you're going to spend more than $100, you're better off buying an entirely new system and bringing your software over from the old PC. You can buy a barebones kit with a new processor, lots of RAM and big hard drive for less than $200. Or, you can even buy a new DELL (or other online retailer) system without an operating system for about the same cost and forego all the headaches of upgrading an older machine.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
