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There is a chance that you will pick up a DDR2 ram in place of DDR4 or even the DDR3 cards, against your choice of computer memory, you must have long made up your mind to settle for. This can happen by mere chance, as the cards have with them a striking resemblance that makes discerning them difficult.
You can easily drive home, only to discover that the computer ram you pick off the market does not meet your specification. However, just how, did things get wrong, you did your checks, so then why are you having a DDR5X graphics card in place of the DDR4 you wanted?
These things can be likened to those moments when you drive out of the office with your home keys, mistaking it for the office keys, if they share some similarities.
These things happen, and if they do not then we would not be putting out this article, but just like every other thing that happens by chance, this too happens.
So how do you identify your card and stick with it, saving you the trouble of returning it to the shop and if you are ordering online, there can be a slim chance of this happening?
Regardless, knowing how to identify your graphic card is an essential attribute of a good computer user. So let’s dive in and see how this is done they are four basic ways to identify your computer ram, and these are:
- Distance of notch
- Integrated chip(IC)
- Number of pins
- Ram voltage
4 Basic Ways To Detect Your Computer Ram
Contents
1. Distance of Notch
This is also known as above cuts, distance of notch is the term used to describe the cut mark on each memory type. So this is a feature to look out for.
The marks on your memory are always not the same and placed differently, however, for this feature you have to look further, as you can easily spot similarities.
DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, all have a thing in common when it comes to the mark on the memory. They all have a single mark and instead of above the memory, it is at the base of the memory. T
Therefore, when you find a ram with a mark of this kind, it can be any one of the three above. For DDR1 the cut is just above the IC, while for DDR2, it is well seated not far from the IC. Look out for it!
2. Integrated Chip(IC)
The IC shape of the memory types are not the same and differs, this difference is one of the things that you can look forward to in other to create a marked difference between the memory types. DDR3 has a small and square type IC, while the DDR2 comes with a bigger IC.
The difference between the two IC is almost ignorable; however, there is still a thin line, while the IC in DDR1 can be touched from the top and bottom of the ram, for DDR2 it is at the center of the ram. This may not be a big factor, but it truly counts.
3. Number of pins
Now, this is another thing to place your eyes on, when you are in the market for a ram. The pins make the difference, yes it does.
While the DDR1 comes with 184 pins, the same is not the case for DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4that have, 240, 240 and 288 pins respectively. So place a premium on this and look for the difference!
4. Ram voltage
Their volts are not the same, this is what it is. While the DDR1 gives you as much as 2.5V, the difference is seen in the rams that follow it, with the eyes firmly placed on reducing the voltage and giving you a stable, yet energy-saving ram. We will not spoil it, as you will find out this detail yourself.
DDR2 comes with 1.8volts, while the DDR3 has 1.5volts and DDR4 has 1.2volts. While the growth had been seen through the years, on how to improve the computer and make it more efficient for use. The reduction of the ram voltage is an impressive take-home.
With these fundamental tidbits in your arsenal, we are certain that you will make the right picks with every chance thrown at you to select a perfect memory ram. However, here are a few additions to look out for in your ram configurations:
Additional Mentions
Compatibility
You would not want to buy what you cannot use at the end of the day, nobody wants to. So you have to place your eyes on compatibility, your ram has to be compatible with your computer and everything it offers. Therefore, before checking out your RAM, ensure you have this aspect tick off your list.
Features
With massive improvements being seen everywhere and the competition to get over the edge, from developers to the industry giants, this is not the right time in the world to end up with an obsolete ram. It should have a long list of improved features and massive offerings, this way you stay ahead of your time.
Importantly, can it be overclocked? What if you need more memory power, can you get it over? These are the questions to ask, before settling down with a choice of what works for you. The size of the memory is also important, and you know the thing with computer parts, the more RAM, the better.
Conclusion
Knowing how to identify your RAM is as important as knowing the best ram to buy, differentiating two things that look alike can be tasking and this challenge can culminate in a result you may not anticipate. This article guides you on the way to achieve this, and get your computing experience flourishing.