Product Search: Memory Upgrades Flash Cards & Readers Video Cards USB Flash Drives Other Upgrades Software Contact Us | Shipping | About Us | FAQ | Order Status International Customers Choose country Australia Canada Canada - français Deutschland EEUU - español España France Italia Japan Nederlands New Zealand United Kingdom United States Other countries United States Memory Upgrades >> PC3200 (DDR400) PC2700 PC2100 PC133 PC100 More Choices Flash Memory Products >> CompactFlash™ MultiMediaCard™ Secure Digital™ SmartMedia™ Memory Stick® Card Readers Gizmo! USB Flash Drives Crucial Video Cards >> 64MB RADEON 9200 SE 128MB RADEON 9200 128MB RADEON 9600 Pro 128MB RADEON 9800 Pro 256MB RADEON 9800 Pro More Great Products Crucial Gear Software Other Upgrades « back Which Upgrade Should I Choose? Not sure which upgrade to choose? The information below can help you make a more informed decision. Don't worry! You really can't make a wrong choice when you're using the Memory Selector™. All of the upgrades the Memory Selector lists for your system are guaranteed to be compatible or your money back. What size module should I buy? As long as you don't exceed the maximum memory for your system, bigger is better. We recommend buying the largest module (highest number of MB) that fits into your budget. To make sure you don't exceed the maximum memory for your system, subtract the amount of memory currently in your system from the maximum memory listed in your system specifications. For example, if your system can take a maximum of 512MB RAM, and you currently have 256MB installed, you can install up to 256MB of additional RAM (512MB - 256MB = 256MB) Which speed and memory technology should I buy? In general, you should match the speed and type of memory technology that is already in your system. If you don't know exactly what type of memory you currently have, don't worry; any of the modules listed in the Memory Selector™ for your system should work fine. Common types of memory technology include fast page mode (FPM), extended data out (EDO), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and double data rate SDRAM (DDR or DDR SDRAM). Most systems will accept only one type of memory technology. (The very few motherboards that can accept more than one type of memory will only allow you to use one type at a time.) Memory speeds are written in different formats depending on the type of memory technology your computer uses. FPM and EDO speeds are written in nanoseconds (ns). SDRAM and DDR speeds are written in megahertz (MHz) or with a "PC" rating. It may seem confusing, but faster memory will NOT necessarily make your system faster. Your computer will only run as fast as the "slowest link" in your system, so you can't speed up your computer by adding faster memory. The way to make your system faster is to add more megabytes (MB) of memory. Here's a rough guide to relative memory speeds. Remember, it's best to match the memory that is currently in your system. Do I need error checking? When choosing among ECC, parity, and non-parity memory, you need to match what is already in your system. You can tell which kind you have by looking at one of the modules currently in your system. Count the number of black chips on one module. If the number of chips can be evenly divided by three or five, you should buy ECC or parity (whichever is offered for your system). If not, you should buy non-parity. For example, if one of your modules has nine chips, you should buy ECC or parity. If one of your modules has eight chips, you should buy non-parity. If you're building your own system, we recommend using non-parity parts unless you will be using your system as a server or have a need for error checking. ECC and parity parts are slower than non-parity parts. What does "CL" stand for? CL stands for "CAS latency," which is the number of clock cycles it takes before data starts to flow once a command is received. Low CAS latency is faster than high CAS latency. However, faster memory will NOT necessarily make your system faster. Your computer will only run as fast as the "slowest link" in your system, so you can't speed up your computer by adding memory that is faster than your current memory. The way to make your system faster is to add more megabytes (MB) of memory. If you're building your own system, we recommend using parts with low CAS latency. « back FREE shipping on qualified orders. For a limited time, qualified orders from Crucial.com receive free second-day shipping within the contiguous US. (Important details) The Crucial Library Browse our library for in-depth articles about our products and industry. Need help? Talk to an expert, search our FAQs, or contact technical support here . 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