How to Shop For 8 GB PC3 10600 DDR3 1333 Computer Memory RAM
All computers need RAM, or Random Access Memory, in order to load their operating system and the applications you want to run. The more RAM your computer has, the faster it will boot up and run.
Are There Different Types of Computer Memory?
There are several different types of RAM that serve the same purpose but differ in their technical characteristics and performance.
- The most common types include Static RAM (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), Single Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM), and Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM).
- DDR memory has several generations - DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 with the later versions offering increased performance and speed. DDR memory is not backwards-compatible, you cannot use a Kingston DDR3 and DDR2 chips together.
- Both SDRAM and DDR are dual in-line memory modules or DIMM.
- Another way to categorize DIMM memory is whether it is ECC or Non-ECC. ECC stands for Error-Correcting Code and this type of memory aids in protecting your data by automatically fixing data errors. ECC DIMMs have one additional memory chip compared to Non-ECC.
What do all these numbers mean?
Looking for Kingston memory could be very confusing without some proper understanding of the technical specs in its name.
- Each chip or memory module has a specific size or capacity expressed in MB or GB. Available chip sizes include 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, and so on up to 32 GB. Notice that the size always doubles in the next higher iteration.
- Another characteristic of the chip is its bus speed, which may be expressed in Mhz as PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333). This convention refers to the speed rating of the chip expressed in two ways: 10,600 MB per second or if we divide this number by 8 bytes, we derive the clock rate of 1333 MHz.
- One more number that may not necessarily be mentioned in the title is the number of pins the memory module has. For example, DDR3 modules have 240 pins.
How Do I Know What Computer Memory I Need?
Before you can upgrade your desktop memory, you need to know the following information:
- What type your computer uses.
- How much you have now and what is the maximum amount you can install.
- How many slots are there on the motherboard.
There are tools available online that can help you retrieve these details. Another way to determine would be to open the computer case and look at your motherboard. You can also find out the currently installed amount by right-clicking My Computer and going to the Properties option.