[reach1]

I was attempting to fix my audio and I stumbled across my Ram stats as follows.

(My laptop is a Gateway 400vtx)

 

Memory:                                                         768 MBytes (Single-Channel)

 

--------------------------------------
Memory
--------------------------------------
Module Number:                                                  0
Module Size:                                                    256 MBytes
Memory Type:                                                    DDR-SDRAM
Memory Speed:                                                   133.3 MHz (PC2100)
Module Manufacturer:                                            Infineon
Error Check/Correction:                                         None
Number Of Banks:                                                4
Supported CAS Latencies:                                        2.5, 2.0
Min. RAS-to-CAS Delay:                                          20.00 ns
Min. Row Precharge Time:                                        20.00 ns
Min. RAS Pulse Width:                                           45 ns
Min. Row-Activate To Row-Activate Delay:                        15.00 ns

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Module Number:                                                  1
Module Size:                                                    512 MBytes
Memory Type:                                                    DDR-SDRAM
Memory Speed:                                                   166.7 MHz (PC2700)
Module Manufacturer:                                            Unknown
Error Check/Correction:                                         None
Number Of Banks:                                                4
Supported CAS Latencies:                                        2.5, 2.0
Min. RAS-to-CAS Delay:                                          18.00 ns
Min. Row Precharge Time:                                        18.00 ns
Min. RAS Pulse Width:                                           42 ns
Min. Row-Activate To Row-Activate Delay:                        12.00 ns

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

As you see there are two different speeds of Ram. Will that slow my laptop down?

Also it says one of my memory chips is PC2700 but my Recommended Ram is PC2100?

How can this be? Can I just buy ethier PC2100 or PC2700?

Can someone shed some light on this?

 

When I search for PC2700 RAM I find 333Mhz speed memory that looks like it would fit, it has the same number of pins. but will it work? I don't have any clue?

 

 

here ill put a couple of links to the different ram.

 

http://www.amazon.co...keywords=pc2700

 

http://www.amazon.co...b memory 400vtx

 

Are they both ok for a Gateway 400vtx laptop? Is there something better?

Edited by reach1, 23 May 2014 - 07:18 PM.

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Hi Reach1,

 

From what i found it shows this as system specs

 

Standard Memory    128 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory    1.0 GB
Memory Expansion    2 sockets
Memory Comments    PC2100 DDR SDRAM SODIMMs

 

128MB Module    128MB-DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v, Sync    558ms-169    
    
256MB Module    256MB-DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v, Sync    551ms-151    
    
512MB Module    512MB-DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v, Sync    552ms-156

 

I believe you will get no higher then the rated 266mhz speed, even if you go with the PNY brand PC2700.

If you look at the picture of the package of PNY it lists 3 speeds to be compatible, so you should be fine with this item.

 

For the other, a no name brand, not so good. Although PNY is not that good, it may be hard for you to find a better brand since this is an older Laptop.

But you can keep researching the internet if you want to.

 

Not sure why there was two different model RAM in this laptop.

Did you buy this new or used ?

 

I also could not locate this model on Gateway's support site which is the place you should always go when wanting to find out about upgrading a component.

 

Hope this helps you!

Edited by jds63, 23 May 2014 - 09:44 PM.

[jds63]

Hi Reach1,

 

From what i found it shows this as system specs

 

Standard Memory    128 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory    1.0 GB
Memory Expansion    2 sockets
Memory Comments    PC2100 DDR SDRAM SODIMMs

 

128MB Module    128MB-DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v, Sync    558ms-169    
    
256MB Module    256MB-DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v, Sync    551ms-151    
    
512MB Module    512MB-DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v, Sync    552ms-156

 

I believe you will get no higher then the rated 266mhz speed, even if you go with the PNY brand PC2700.

If you look at the picture of the package of PNY it lists 3 speeds to be compatible, so you should be fine with this item.

 

For the other, a no name brand, not so good. Although PNY is not that good, it may be hard for you to find a better brand since this is an older Laptop.

But you can keep researching the internet if you want to.

 

Not sure why there was two different model RAM in this laptop.

Did you buy this new or used ?

 

I also could not locate this model on Gateway's support site which is the place you should always go when wanting to find out about upgrading a component.

 

Hope this helps you!

Edited by jds63, 23 May 2014 - 09:44 PM.

[reach1]

jds63 I just bought it used, just for youtube and searching the web and so on. I was looking into this PC2700 ddr333 memory and I found a page that says pc2700 ddr333 is for my laptop, heres the link.

 

http://www.crucial.c...00vtx*/CT665561

 

 

BUT I also came across PC3200 ddr400 memory, that Im not shur would work.

 

http://www.amazon.co...keywords=pc3200

 

http://www.amazon.co...keywords=pc3200

 

I can't seam to find a site that says its compatible but it looks like it might.

[reach1]

here is another link to some memory.

 

https://www.facebook...384683415121407

 

Now I know I need ddr memory not ddr2 or ddr3 because those will not work because they have a different voltage. The ddr memory for my laptop is 2.5 volts. My ddr memory is also 200 pin SoDIMM. The ddr 400mhz matches what I have but does it work?

 

This is a forum page about this subject. it says ddr400 is ddr memory and it should work but idk?

 

http://forum.noteboo...700-memory.html

 

and this page.

 

http://forum.noteboo...-5-gig-ram.html

 

So if I get this right I can buy 133Mhz or 166Mhz or 266Mhz or 333Mhz or 400Mhz memory.

But if I have one 133Mhz and one 400Mhz my laptop only runs at 133Mhz because it only can run as fast as the slowest Ram.

So if I buy two 400Mhz will it run at 400Mhz or does my laptop limit how fast it can run at 266Mhz?

[jds63]

Hi Reach1,

 

From what i listed in my 2nd post , your specs for this laptop show as DDR266, 266MHz, PC2100, 200p SODIMM, 2.5v.

 

I am pretty sure by buying higher MHZ RAM, it will still only run no higher then 266mhz.

Why spend the extra money if your only going to get 266MHZ.

 

Right now your only running no higher then 166.7mhz on one RAM module.

 

Not a good idea as you read on that forum to mix RAM module brands.

 

Example: My system's RAM specs are 1333mhz, if i put RAM specified at 1600mhz it will work, but still only run at the system specs of 1333mhz, some people know ways using the system BIOS to try to change this.

But i would not advise, may not be possible with yours.

 

Crucial RAM looks right and they are a trusted brand, but i would change both modules to match each other and to get the full 1GB your laptop can achieve.

If you do try or want to buy the PC2700 RAM, as long as the other specs are right,voltage,pins...etc.... it will work, just will only get what the system is specified for.

Edited by jds63, 24 May 2014 - 02:13 PM.

[reach1]

jds63 Thanks, when I look at pc2700 on the web I am finding some around the same price as pc2100 for 2x512mb, so I figure why not.

 

two sites say that the max ram for my laptop is 2GB? but I only spent $67 bucks on this laptop and 2GB cost $60 so I doubt ill get that.

 

here are the sites anyway.

http://www.memory-up...way4002111.html

http://www.hmemory.c...111-memory.html

 

Can my laptop limit the Ram usage to 1GB even if I had 2GB?

You never know I might stumble across a great deal. I mean it is a old used comp so why not get old used ram if its cheap.

 

Edit:

Never mind I found the answer on the hmemory websit under the memorys model specs;

Is there anything else I should consider prior to upgrading my Gateway 400 Series memory?
- Although the BIOS will address 2048MB (2GB) of memory, the amount available to the system will be less than 2048MB (2GB) depending on computer resources.

Edited by reach1, 24 May 2014 - 04:12 PM.

[jds63]

Welcome Reach1...............

 

Must also be careful where you order stuff online, must make sure site is reputable and you do not get taken for your money, plus giving out credit card info over the internet too.

 

I from what i researched feel you can not go higher then 1GB ram on this system.

 

http://www.computer-...0VTX-Specs.html

 

http://www.memorysto...eway400VTX.html

 

http://configurator....X&modelid=41656

 

Chances you use wrong RAM will make system not boot up.

So i do not think you can put in 2GB RAM, why would you if it can not take this amount anyway.

 

As i see it can not take more then 1GB, if you find different let me know, post the URL here for me to look at.

 

At this rate, you have not spent alot on this laptop, it is an older model, not much upgrading you can do for it.

[reach1]

Here is a new question, Can I use a flash stick as virtual memory instead of the hard drive?

More important; If I can, will it run at 266mhz as fast as my Ram on my laptop or will to be limited to the slower hard drive speed?

 

note my laptop has a integrated processor and can't be over clocked.

[jds63]

Yes,you can use a USB flash memory sticks to function as extra RAM.

 

Not too familiar on using this process and how well it works compared to your actual RAM, no i believe it does not possibly run at same speed as your physical RAM.

 

I assume you have Windows XP. In Vista and Windows 7 process called ready boost that does this much easier. I believe the USB Stick will need to remain in all the time for this to work.

 

Here is instructions for it http://www.journalof...Jun/TechQA3.htm

 

Here is a good article to understand differences in RAM and Hard Drive  http://www.cnet.com/...via-an-analogy/

Edited by jds63, 24 May 2014 - 06:10 PM.

[reach1]

well i did a little ram test and i got results

 

as you know I have two ram chips, one a pc2700 512mb, one pc2100 256mb.

 

I removed the pc2100 256mb chip, my processing speed went up about .15, my bus speed seamed to go up .01 along with my mother board .01, this was on average. I tested with both chips in and with only the pc2100 chip in and the results held up.

 

This is a whole whopping increase of .01% (if that) but hey since the old ram is all basically the same cost might as well get another pc2700 chip.

[jds63]

Well 512MB RAM left in was running at 166.7MHZ other took out was at 133.3mhz.

 

As said times before you still will not get more then 266mhz, by going with the PC2700.

 

Try the Crucial one for reputation and reliability, unless you want to save some money.

 

All in all the Laptop is an older model can't expect too much performance change from it. Good Luck, be careful were you order from !

[reach1]

I found this out while I was searching the internet, a pc2100 ddr266 chip only runs at 133mhz as a pc2700 ddr333 runs at 166.7.

 

My max system ram speed is 266mhz, thats 133mhz x2 chips.

 

 

You can see on the first graph on this page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_SDRAM

 

I also learned that pc3200 runs at 2.6 volts not 2.5 like the others.

 

so the best I can do is replace the one weaker chip with some thing that matches the better one.

[phillpower2]

Use the Crucial system scanner tool to find the best recommended Ram for your system, no need to purchase from there, write down the details and shop around for the best deal, let us know what is suggested and we can also look for you.

[jds63]

Use the Crucial system scanner tool to find the best recommended Ram for your system, no need to purchase from there, write down the details and shop around for the best deal, let us know what is suggested and we can also look for you.

Hey Phill, this member did that, but is looking around at different sites for best price, little tough an older system.

 

Hey Reach1, Yes keep it the same do not mix RAM types, either buy 2 of the same for your system specs or if you want match the one you have.

You are not going to get more speed out of it, by buying different model number.

Edited by jds63, 25 May 2014 - 01:55 PM.

[reach1]

Ya I was going to keep the same type of chip but There is no way of telling what type of chip I have. there are no labels on the chip and it says its unknown as I stated above. So I just bought the cheapest pc2700 chip I could find.

 

http://www.amazon.co...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

used for $6.98

 

It should work, but if it does not thats ok its cheap and I can buy a different model for $7-$8 bucks.

 

I looked up Oem and that means (Original equipment manufacturer). which seems like a good thing and could be the same type of chip thats in my laptop.