SDRAM 100 or 133

I have been working with some old computers and have been running into this over and over. Some of the computers a have sdram 100 which is very costly in them. I am wondering if sdram 133 which is less costly will function in them just as well, recognizing that they must maintain the same form factor of 168 pin? Any advice in this area would be most welcome. This computer is a compaq EZ2200

 

If you are messing around with old Compaqs, I do recommend that you purchase RAM from a source that guarantees compatibility. Compaqs especially seem to be very picky about RAM.

 

Wow that is a mixed set of responses. I will to some experimenting and let you know what I find out. It is great Christer to know that at least one type will work. That answers one major question I had. That critical site is a good find, thanks.

 

The best way, to me, to find out what RAM will work is to go to a local store and ask them to try to install it to see if it will work or not.

Some brands will work, some brands won't. Especially with Generic brands.

Actually popping it in and trying it is the only way to really know.

~Some~ of the stores around here will gladly do this for free, some won't.
Find one that will around you and you will be all set!

Best advice I can give from my experiences with OEM manufactured machines.

Saves driving back and forth to a store or worse, returning a DIMM to an online retailer.

Dale

 

This is a really complex subject I am finding. I have also been advised that apparently some computers require that the Ram be in order of size when it is installed and further that some of the older computers need only low density ram (double sided modules vice the single). Since I deal a lot in fixing old computers with often old parts I need to consider all these in trying to get things to run. Makes it a lot nicer and very good advice to, if you can go into a shop and let them try known good parts.

 

Final for this one. In the Compaq EZ2200 at least, the Hitachi chip on the 133 card worked. The card was low density and I found it to be slot sensitive in that if the 128 meg card was put in the second slot with a 64 meg in the first slot it would not work but when the cards were reversed they both worked fine. Hope this helps.

 

It's been my experience time and time again that if you go with Crucials recomendation you cant go wrong.