What sort of memory is this?

[2Btoo]

Hi,

I have a problem with computer memory and would appreciate some sanity before I go total retard.

I have an old PC (Dell E520) from which I am trying to eke a little more life. It has 2Gb RAM (2x1Gb sticks).

I understand that it will take up to 4x2Gb for a 64-bit OS (which I am running) and hence tripped off to eBay to buy some more memory. My wallet was £12 lighter but I was the proud owner of what I thought was the right stuff for the job. Only it doesn't fit. It looks like this:



Old memory is at the top, new at the bottom. Notch is in a different place and new stuff won't fit in the hole. Numbers are dimensions in mm, as accurate as the slightly melted ruler on my desk will measure (i.e. +/- 1mm or so).

A bit of research suggests that I need DDR2 memory, which is what I thought I had ordered. Googling the reference number on the old memory shows that it is DDR2 but googling the reference number on the new memory also says it is DDR2, whereas one of them clearly isn't. I think that the new stuff is DDR from the dimensions but am not sure - certainly not sure enough to go back to the seller and have a hissy fit.

What have I done wrong?

Thanks!

[SS2.]

Top one looks like DDR2, bottom one looks like DDR.

And yes, the locating slots are at slightly different locations.

Edited by SS2. on Wednesday 4th November 18:53

[gizard]

try here to check what you need:

https://uk.crucial.com/store/advisor

[Mr Pointy]

DDR - notch at 73mm
DDR2 - notch at 71mm



Oddly the label on the ebay stick says it's PC2-5300 which is DDR2 - are you sure it's genuine & the seller hasn't just stuck the label on a stick of DDR?

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Thanks. Mr pointy - that's exactly the problem, the sticker doesn't correspond with what (I think) the thing is.

SS2 - thanks. That's my understanding as well.

Gizard, thanks. Snag is that the computer is too old for it to feature on that site any more.

Thanks for your help chaps. I'm not going mad after all ....

[jimmyjimjim]

The newer one is FB-DIMM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fully_Buffered_DIMM

[xeny]

Hence the heat spreaders, as it tended to run hot.

[anonymous-user]

Is Google down tonight or something?

[Big Rig]

the internet said:

Is Google down tonight or something?

Why be like that?

[CorradoTDI]

Yep - it's FB hence the 'FB' in the model number...

I may have some standard DDR2 I can send you - can look tomorrow.

[Troubleatmill]

CorradoTDI said:

Yep - it's FB hence the 'FB' in the model number...

I may have some standard DDR2 I can send you - can look tomorrow.

This is the PH spirit. Hats off sir.

[CorradoTDI]

Troubleatmill said:

This is the PH spirit. Hats off sir.

Annoyingly I've just looked and only have 1GB sticks like you already have...

The only 2GB's I have are laptop SO-DIMMS