Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

  • Why should you upgrade your computers memory?
  • When to go for memory upgrade of your computers?
  • How can you know if the memory you installed is correctly installed and being recognized by the system?
  • Are there any differences between buffered and unbuffered memory DIMMs?
  • Is there any difference between DIMMs and SODIMMs memory modules?
  • Will memory upgrade make internet browsing faster?
  • Is there any difference between ECC and Non-ECC memory?
  • Should you care about not mixing ECC and Non-ECC while installation?
  • Is there any difference between RDRAM and SDRAM?


Q: Why should you upgrade your computer's memory?

Ans: Memory upgrade is helpful for your computer in number of ways. It not only boosts the performance of your computer, it also helps it when it's busy in performing various other time consuming tasks. For example, when you open heavy files or programs such as a MS word processor or MS Power point, the small processors (microprocessors) in your computer pull the files off the hard disk and load it into RAM. If your computer has the larger memory installed, it will perform these tasks more efficiently and faster because it will have large workspace (memory) to execute the task.


Q: When to go for memory upgrade of your computers?

Ans: Whenever you realize that your computer is not responding quickly enough, that's the time when you should go for memory upgrade. Possible signs of the slow response time include: Mouse arrow stays sedentary at one place for a longer than expected time although you are moving mouse and at the same time expecting mouse pointer to move, hard drive working continuously, file openings are taking longer than expected time. Hard drive works continuously when physical memory is insufficient because system uses hard disk as the memory due to unavailability of the sufficient physical memory. System takes longer to pull executable files (.exe) from the hard disk because access time of the hard disk is longer (in milliseconds) than the access time of the physical memory which is nanoseconds.


Q: How can you know if the memory you installed is correctly installed and being recognized by the system?

Ans: Not sure if the newly installed memory is being recognized by your system? simply follow the steps below (instructions apply to Windows 95/98/Me/XP/VISTA/7):

  1. Click on 'Start' and go up to 'Control Panel'
  2. Click on 'Control Panel'
  3. Double-click on the 'System' icon. It will bring up a screen
  4. Within that 'Screen' under the 'System' tab you should see how much Memory Ram the system is recognizing.

Q: Is there any difference between buffered and unbuffered memory DIMMs?

Ans: High density memory modules have lots of chips on them, therefore, possess a higher capacitive load on the address and control signals in comparison to lower density memory modules. Some manufacturers use redrive buffers on the memory modules to speed up the signals to reduce system loading when compared to the same high density module without buffers. However, the buffers results in a small delay into the electrical signal, so adding buffers to a standard density module would have the effect of slowing down the signal, compared to the same low density module without buffers.


Q: Is there any difference between DIMMs and SODIMMs memory modules?

Ans: Yes. DIMM is an abbreviation for Dual Inline Memory Module, and SODIMM abbreviates Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module. DIMMs are larger than SODIMMs. DIMMs are generally installed in desktop, server and workstation computers, whereas SODIMMs are generally installed in laptop computers.


Q: Will memory upgrade make internet browsing faster?

Ans: It's possible. However, Internet browsing speed depends on various factors, including your Internet connection speed, distance from the host server, traffic on the site you're visiting, and various other components in your system. The biggest improvement you probably will notice will be in viewing or working with large files (such as photos, MS office files, and digital audio and video).


Q: Is there any difference between ECC and Non-ECC memory?

Ans: Yes there is a difference between two of them. Commonly, 72-bit memory is known as ECC memory. It has an additional 8 bits for Error Correction Check, whereas 64-bit memory is known as non-ECC. Both of these configurations are typically found in 168 pin DIMMs.


Q: Should you care about not mixing ECC and Non-ECC while installation?

Ans: Yes, you should care and make sure not to mix ECC and Non-ECC memory modules in case of many computer models, because there are several computer models which do not support mixture of two. However, some systems do support both ECC and Non-ECC memory modules at the same time and in that case ECC function of the ECC memory modules gets disabled. If you are upgrading your system, you must know about the type (ECC or Non-ECC) of memory that your system accepts and if it accepts both or just one type. If you don't know about that, we recommend you contact your computer manufacturer or motherboard manual.


Q: Is there any difference between RDRAM and SDRAM?

Ans: RDRAM is an abbreviation for Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory. SDRAM abbreviates Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. The two memory types are completely different memory technologies. Both are not compatible with each other. RDRAM is a unique design and is very fast and uses a narrow, high-bandwidth channel to transmit data at speeds very faster than SDRAM.


Q: What is the difference between SIMMs and DIMMs?

Ans: SIMM stands for single inline memory module, and DIMM stands for dual inline memory module. The gold or tin pins on the lower edge of the front and back of a SIMM are connected, providing a single line of communication paths between the module and the system. The pins on a DIMM are not connected, providing two lines of communication paths between the module and the system, one in the front and one in the back.
SIMMs and DIMMs are not interchangeable; they are different sizes and they install into different types of sockets.


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