Do these RAM specs mean anything?

[StorkNest]

Been a while since I had to do RAM upgrades, planning to look around but it appears there are new things to know. An email I got from my computer manufacturer about my specifications show the current RAM to be:
Memory 1024 MB (2x512MB) DDR2 PC4200 (533MHz) DIMM

but there is a seperate listing for motherboard specs that shows this:
RAM Type (Various) DDR2 PC5300 (667MHz) DIMM

My main unknowns are the PCxxxx and xxxMHz numbers. Are these things I should look for? What does the PCxxxx number mean? Especially since I tried one site's recommendation app and it showed PC2-5300, is PC2 OK since the listings above only show PC? Can I use memory with up to 667MHz, should I stick with 533MHz or just not care? Finally does brand name matter, any bad reputations? So far I've seen Kingston and PNY.

 

[Euphod]

You can only use PC2 if your chipset is enabled for it, I doubt it in your situation.

This site gives a pretty fair schooling on RAM:

http://home.pacbell.net/dbk4297/memory_what_kind.html

 

[psycho_aussie]

The MHz is the speed at which the RAM can transfer data between itself, the CPU and some other components in your system (the video card being one). RAM with a faster MHz is more beneficial than RAM with a slower MHz (800MHz is faster than 533MHz). The PCxxxx section has some meaning relative to the speed of the RAM (the number behind PC is about 8 times the MHz. There is a specific reason why that is so, but I cannot quite remember why).

Basically, if your motherboard can support faster RAM, you should consider upgrading the RAM, but the CPU and Video Card should be priorities. A faster CPU and a faster Video Card with more video RAM should boost performance in Trainz more than faster RAM will.

Chris

 

[BLACKWATCH]

Download "Belarc Advisor" from here :- http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html (it's free)
Belarc will build a profile of your computer specs. this will tell you what M/B & CPU you have.
Then go to "Crucial"s web site, input the info & it will give you the recommended memory upgrade for your machine.

 

[StorkNest]

You can only use PC2 if your chipset is enabled for it, I doubt it in your situation.

It must be enabled, I tried the option from the site you listed for recommendations based on machine, it showed PC2 also. Yet another FM computer solution. (No insult to you, just commenting on these weird things that happen. FM is Army commo slang for Freakin' Magic used whenever something works and you don't know how. Actually the "F" is something I cannot post. )

Basically, if your motherboard can support faster RAM, you should consider upgrading the RAM, but the CPU and Video Card should be priorities. A faster CPU and a faster Video Card with more video RAM should boost performance in Trainz more than faster RAM will.

I have done the video card. My Vista Performance Index Score in the video areas went up a lot from that, now looks like this
ProcessorIntel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 4.8
Memory (RAM)1.00 GB 4.5
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 4.9
Gaming graphics766 MB Total available graphics memory 5.3
Primary hard disk123GB Free (223GB Total) 5.4

Interesting, I just noticed from trying to print the Score, my graphics show 766MB of memory, 512 from the video board and 254 shared from RAM. Is that normal or should I turn the 254 off?

Here's the rest of what I was sent by the manufacturer (this is before I had the video card):

I would like to inform you that this is your system specification below.

Motherboard Intel . 2
CPU Intel Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz (Dual Core)
Memory 1024 MB (2x512MB) DDR2 PC4200 (533MHz) DIMM
Power Supply (Various) ATX 300 Watt
Video Intel GMA 950
Audio Intel SigmaTel 9220
Hard Drive (Various) SATA 8MB Cache 250 GB 7200 8MB
Primary Optical Drive [DVD-R/RW] 16x6x8x4x40x24x16x40x DVD+/-RW
Dual-Layer Burner (Various)
Sec. Optical Drive
Floppy Drive No Floppy Drive
* Special Drive #1 (Various) 15-in-1 Digital Media Reader
Modem Conexant 56K ITU v.92 Fax/Modem
Network Interface Intel PRO/100VE
USB Ports (FRONT/SIDE) 2
USB Ports (REAR) 4
Firewire Ports (FRONT/SIDE) 0
Firewire Ports (REAR) 0


And this is your motherboard specification.

Form Factor Micro ATX
CPU Socket/Slot Type LGA775
Chipset Intel 945G
RAM Type (Various) DDR2 PC5300 (667MHz) DIMM
Number of RAM Slots 2
Total RAM Capacity 4096
RAM Stick Size Limit 2048
BIOS/CMOS
Front Side Bus Speed 1066/800/533 MHz
ISA Slots 0
PCI Slots 2
PCI Express 1x Slots 1
PCI Express 16x Slots 1
EIDE Headers 0
Serial ATA Connectors 4
AGP Slots 0
AMR Slots 0
CNR Slots 0
Onboard Video Intel GMA 950 Integrated PCI-E
Onboard Audio Intel SigmaTel 9220
Battery CR2032

PS/2 Ports 2
Parallel Ports 1
Serial Ports 1
VGA Ports 1
DVI-I Ports 0
SVideo In Ports 0
SVideo Out Ports 0
RCA Ports 0
Microphone Ports (Front) 0
Microphone Ports (Back) 1
MIDI/Game Ports (Front) 0
MIDI/Game Ports (Back) 0
Audio/Line In Ports (Front) 0
Audio/Line In Ports (Back) 1
Spk./Headph. Ports (Front) 0
Spk./Headph. Ports (Back) 1
USB Ports by Header (Front) 0 (Version 2.0)
USB Ports (Back) 4 (Version 2.0)
Firewire Ports (Front) 0
Firewire Ports (Back) 0
RJ-11 (Phone) Ports (Front) 0
RJ-11 (Phone) Ports (Back) 0
RJ-45 (NIC) Ports (Front) 0 (Intel 82562G 10/100)
RJ-45 (NIC) Ports (Back) 1 (Intel 82562G 10/100)

 

[Captain_Collins]

...cut...
Interesting, I just noticed from trying to print the Score, my graphics show 766MB of memory, 512 from the video board and 254 shared from RAM. Is that normal or should I turn the 254 off? ...cut...

Yes, if you can, go into the BIOS, and disable the on-board graphics (if you were using on-board graphics before.)

 

[Wessex_Electric_Nutter]

The PCxxxx section has some meaning relative to the speed of the RAM (the number behind PC is about 8 times the MHz.

The throughput of data expressed in Megabits per second. Although, wikipedia mentions "Theratical Peak bandwidth".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR2#Chips_and_modules (try here.)

 

[psycho_aussie]

That's it WEN. Shame on me for forgetting that...

Stork, the 254Mb that's shared is most probably due to the Intel GMA 950 that's on your motherboard. The GMA 950 is Intel's Graphic Media Accelerator (ie. on-board graphics chip), so if you aren't using that anymore, you should be able to either disable the on-board graphics, or disable the shared memory.

Chris

 

[StorkNest]

Download "Belarc Advisor" from here :- http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html (it's free)
Belarc will build a profile of your computer specs. this will tell you what M/B & CPU you have.
Then go to "Crucial"s web site, input the info & it will give you the recommended memory upgrade for your machine.

Thanks, right now I'm avoiding downloading more stuff plus I had the info from the manufacturer but having another site for memory and price comparison is good.

Yes, if you can, go into the BIOS, and disable the on-board graphics (if you were using on-board graphics before.)

Did that according to the manufacturer's steps they emailed today, couldn't find it initially, I still see the shared memory and nothing else in the BIOS appears to change video settings or memory usage, still waiting to see what the manufacturer says as well. Also used DxDiag to double check and it shows the Shared Memory use also.

 

[StorkNest]

The saga continues.
After email exchanges, the method they told me didn't work. Some steps didn't perform as described and it appears to be for XP and I'm on Vista. So I'm told to use phone support because their ability to help is limited due to me being out of warranty.
Personally I think they just didn't know what to do.
Gotta love support these days.

 

[StorkNest]

After the above, I decided to search the net for Unofficial help.
I actually found some!
http://www.dexplor.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7749656
Apparently I am using a BIOS lacking in a disable feature.
If I am able to update BIOS, is it better to upgrade the processor or RAM? Especially since the processor would cost more since I would have to get two of them (or are they available in 2-packs?). I have absolutely no idea on what certain differences in processor specs mean so when I look up the three mentioned, all I really know is, "Well, this is the cheap one...":hehe: