[Ham-Computers] Asking for help upgrading memory

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Dave,

Problem number one is Gateway. They are not consistent in what they put into 
the same model of computers. Whatever is cheaper, goes in. That is, if brand 
XYZ hard drives were less expensive then the ABC brand they ran out of, they 
buy the XYZ brand. The same is true of the RAM in the computers.

So the first thing you must determine Dave, is precisely what brand, type 
and specifications of RAM are presently in your computer. Then make sure 
what you add to your system matches the current RAM specs exactly. Mixing 
and matching can be very dangerous! You really need to know computers from 
an engineering standpoint to do that safely.

I suspect, but do not know for sure, that if you call Gateway and ask, they 
will "insist" you buy "only Gateway memory" etc.

If I were you, Dave, I would find a local Ham who was a computer wizard, or 
a five year old kindergarten student!, and ask them to help you. Failing in 
finding such a person, then look around for a teenager who is seriously into 
computers in a local high school. Some of these kids know more then the 
computer class instructors by far!

If you have high school, even junior high/middle school, children, ask them. 
Or teenage grandchildren living locally. Ask in your church etc.

While most computer users nowadays know almost nothing about software, 
programming or hardware, and can only point and click a mouse, some are 
brilliant in Computer Science! They are generally thrilled to help you Dave, 
and money is the farthest thing from their minds. They just love the 
challenge and enjoy being helpful.

Having said that, be "sure" the person truly knows what he/she is doing 
before letting them touch your computer!

It is because Gateway does so much of this mixing of components in computers 
that more than normal care needs to be taken to be sure you get the correct 
part. Good luck!


Duane Fischer, W8DBF/WPE8CXO
dfischer at usol.com
HHI: Halligan's Hallicrafters International
http://www.w9wze.net
HHRP: Historic Halligan Radio Project
hhrp.w9wze.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave 'Doc' Corio" <dcorio at zitomedia.net>
To: <ham-computers at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 7:43 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Asking for help upgrading memory


>    I'm planning to add 1G of memory to the 1G that is already in my 
> Gateway desktop, model S-5405D
>    According to Gateway, whet I need is two of the following....
>    512Mb  PC5300  DDR2  667 Mhz  SDRAM
>
>    What I found on newegg.com is
>
>    Corsair 1Gb  (2 X 512Mb)  240 pin  DDR2  667  (PC2 5300)
>
>    This seems to match exactly, but the number of pins on the memory I 
> already have is unknown to me.
>
>    Can anyone tell me if this is, in fact, what I'm looking for?
>
> Tnx es 73
> Dave
> KB3MOW
>
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