[JPLamb]

Hi,

i am visiting a friend in the next few days and they are wantint me to upgrade the ram in their computer, they have a HP/Compaq DC7100SFF running windows xp and currently have 512mb ram installed.

i am wanting to order the ram so that when i get there the ram should have arrived. they are not too good with the insides of a computer so i dont really want them to start opening it up. i think it is ddr ram but there are some types of ram that wont work with Intel chipsets and i am sure it has an intel chipset.

Does anybody know what ram it uses? and if i buy a 1 gb ram will it work or would i have to buy 2 x 512mb ram

thanks for helping
James

[win2kpro]

The number you posted (DC7100SFF) does not come back as a good model number at HP/Compaq. To find the model number hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys and with those keys depressed press the S key and the correct model number should appear on the screen.

[JPLamb]

i will try and contact them so they can give me the model number, i have just typed it in to google and it found a load of results with the spec of the computer,

one of them that i did not see earlier says this:

RAM 512 MB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - 400 MHz - PC3200
RAM 512 MB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - non-ECC - 400 MHz - PC3200

from http://www.priceleap.com/description...9AABA--7626347

does this mean i am needing DDR SDRAM?

thanks
James

[crjdriver]

It is 184pin ddr memory. You need memory like this one FWIW I use and recommend crucial, kingston, or corsair memory.

Note you can go to crucial's site and input your brand and model # it will show all compatible memory.

Note that is a SFF case ie small form factor. You may not have a lot of room to work inside the case.

[JPLamb]

thanks all for your help, just one last thing, is it better to get one with a higher MHz?

thanks

[crjdriver]

I would get what your system has now. While the faster ram should downclock to run at the slower speed, mis-matched ram can sometimes lead to problems.

If you do buy faster ram, make sure the slower ram is installed in the first ram slot. Many boards will take the spd rating of the ram in the first slot to set ram speed.

[crjdriver]

FWIW if you see it on crucial's site, they guaranty it will work.

[JPLamb]

Thank you to everyone that has helped me out,

Cheers
James