How do I detect how much RAM I have? Which RAM is right for a Core2 Duo?

Noni Juice · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:22

Hi there,

I have a Dell PC given to me, been a while since I've seriously been into hardware so I wanted to know how I can detect how much RAM my PC has. I'm using windows Vista.

Also I think its a Core 2 Duo at 1.8GHZ per core. I want to add more ram, as I think it only has 1GB. Which ram should I buy?

Brian8bit · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:27

Download the Speccy application from Piriform software. It'll give you detailed information of what's in your machine. Also get a hold of CPU-Z and GPUZ.

xbenjiiman · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:32

Or just right click Computer and click properties? Check the 'Installed memory'.

pastymuncher · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:40

If you download cpu-z and run it, under the memory tab it will tell you what memory is installed, what speed it is and how much you have.

Noni Juice · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:40

Right, I do only have 1GB, that looks like why football manager is running so slow haha

.

So which RAM do I need? I'm looking for the cheapest possible

Brian8bit · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:42

212 said:
Right, I do only have 1GB, that looks like why football manager is running so slow haha .

So which RAM do I need? I'm looking for the cheapest possible

Run CPUZ. Which should tell you the motherboard model under the "mainboard" tab. Once you know the mainboard model, you can find out what and how much RAM it can take.

Noni Juice · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:58

It's a Dell 0GW864, and it takes DDR2 RAM, will any DDR2 ram do? Or does it need to be a specific speed? I'm just looking to take it up to 2GB (So I just need one 1GB stick). That should be enough.

Brian8bit · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:00

212 said:
It's a Dell 0GW864, and it takes DDR2 RAM, will any DDR2 ram do? Or does it need to be a specific speed? I'm just looking to take it up to 2GB (So I just need one 1GB stick). That should be enough.

Well it'll be rated for a certain speed of DDR2. It's more than likely DDR2 800. As pastymuncher said before, go to the "memory" tab of CPUZ and it should tell you the speed the stick you have in is running at.

Noni Juice · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:06

Unfortunately on the memory tab it only says "DDR2" and "1024 MB". There is no mention of the speed. I might just yank the RAM out and check the sticker on it.

Brian8bit · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:09

212 said:
Unfortunately on the memory tab it only says "DDR2" and "1024 MB". There is no mention of the speed. I might just yank the RAM out and check the sticker on it.

On the memory tab, it's labelled as "frequency" I think. And should be MHz. Or as max bandwidth. (I don't have CPUZ in front of me).

Noni Juice · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:19

Yeah, all those boxes are grey'ed out with nothing inside. Maybe the motherboard is not supported by CPU-Z.

Anyway I had a butchers inside. It has 2x512MB sticks, written on them is PC2-4200U-444-12-D1.512MB.1RX8.533.

Brian8bit · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:24

212 said:
Yeah, all those boxes are grey'ed out with nothing inside. Maybe the motherboard is not supported by CPU-Z.

Anyway I had a butchers inside. It has 2x512MB sticks, written on them is PC2-4200U-444-12-D1.512MB.1RX8.533.

DDR2-533 is the type of RAM you'll be wanting to look for.