I want to upgrade the RAM for my computer but theres a few different speeds out there. Currently I have 512MB DDR2 533MHz, do I buy the same stuff or should I go faster? Thanks

Buy the same, you are better off matching up the RAM. Besides, some systems won't let you mismatch the RAM.

go to www.crucial.com and use their Memory Advisor™ Tool and it will find the exact RAM for your system.

Nice product and 9 times out of 10 they have the best prices.

:agree:

The Crucial site couldn't tell me the exact ram to get but I finally had nothing better to do today and pulled the old stick.
Sticker claims to be manufactured by Rendition as DDR2 PC2-4200 512MB 533MHz (240 pin).
Now the crucial site listed it as DDR2 PC2-5100 and also said that my mobo had a max capacity of 1 GB ram
Link (http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?CategoryID=1&TypeID=32&DetailID=565&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=7&LanID=9) to mobo manufacturer that claims support to 2 GB

So what gives? Can I buy a 533 GB stick and have 1.5 GB RAM? I should also note that Windows System only lists 384 MB, I'd assume thats because it was setup with 128MB shared from factory (dual core)

There was an easier way to find out what the RAM was :D Just go download the software called "CPU-Z" (Google search will bring it up) and it tells you all of your CPU and memory info.

I would trust the motherboard manufacturer's specs - it is posssible, and happens rarely, but Crucial may have outdated information. Chances are, the computer may have originally only accepted 1GB, but the manufacturer shipped out a BIOS update to increase the amount you could install, or something else happened that made the original number 1GB.

It is generally not reocmmended to go with staggered sizes or speeds for RAM - you said you wanted 1.5GB ... I would get 1GB (2x512) or 2GB (2x1GB). I would try to get the same speed as what you have in there OR just buy two new sticks and eBay the old one. Chances of finding another stick of "Rendition" might be hard (Rendition is a Crucial brand, IIRC LINK (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17780&vpn=RM6464Z40B&manufacture=CRUCIAL%20TECHNOLOGY)). If you can, I would try to get a direct match so you have two matching sticks. If you do go with the 1GB stick, be sure to put the larger/faster stick in 'Slot 0' or 'Slot A' (however it is labelled on your mobo).

Crucial just saying you can't use bigger than a 1 G stick.

Supposedly you don't have to buy the memory in pairs, so yes you could get a !G stick and up you to 1.5G

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=RC410L%2F800%2DM+%282%2E0%29

Alright so I go CPU-Z to cover my bases and it says the RAM speed is 266 Mhz and not 533. Is this something that happens because its DDR2?

DDR2 Memory runs at:

DDR2-533 = 266 Clock Frequency (2 X 266 = DDR2 533)
DDR2-667 = 333 Clock Frequency (2 X 333 = DDR2 667)
DDR2-800 = 400 Clock Frequency (2 X 400 = DDR2 800)
DDR2-1066 = 533Clock Frequency (2 X 533 = DDR2 1066)

It's just the nature of DDR2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR2

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/ddr2-ddr.html

Hope this helps.