Basic Help Needed For a Noob - RAM ISSUES

[Pretty Fly for a WiFi]

Hey all,

Hope this is posted in the right section.

 

So a friend of mine as an old ass computer for work. He can't afford to replace it. It is so slow that I can't even over-exaggerate how slow it is. He only needs it to Google Pictures and Prints them as he is a tattoo artist (It cant cope at idle)

 

I believe the Issue is RAM. one of his RAM slots on the motherboard has died. He now only has 1gb of DDR2 RAM.

We don't want to replace his whole Motherboard as I am not confident, especially with older systems. 

 

Can we just get a single Stick of DDR2 2GB ram? Plug and Play?

Is all DDR2 Ram going to fit? Are the Sticks universal?

 

Please See below system stats and the MOBO + RAM Installed Currently. 

 

Thanks in advance guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jtalk4456]

first off, get a can of compressed air and clean it out a bit, second you should be able to get a ddr2 2gb stick to replace the 1 gb stick. I actually just did the same thing for a coworkers computer, though he had bad ram, not a bad slot, so i just found a 2x2gb set for so cheap there wasn't any point searching for a 2x1gb set

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4GB-2-x-2GB-PC2-6400-Memory-for-Dell-Optiplex-GX520-GX620-740-755-760-960/141412156088?hash=item20ecd242b8:g:N5AAAOSwFnFV9bz2:sc:USPSFirstClass!41071!US!-1

Also

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mixed-Lot-Of-140GB-70x2GB-DDR2-Desktop-Memory-DIMM-Non-ECC-240-Pins/292605165594?hash=item4420a0801a:g:4KwAAOSwfCpbJAYk

for comparison, though unless you need that much I wouldn't bother

[Pretty Fly for a WiFi]

5 minutes ago, Jtalk4456 said:

first off, get a can of compressed air and clean it out a bit, second you should be able to get a ddr2 2gb stick to replace the 1 gb stick. I actually just did the same thing for a coworkers computer, though he had bad ram, not a bad slot, so i just found a 2x2gb set for so cheap there wasn't any point searching for a 2x1gb set

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4GB-2-x-2GB-PC2-6400-Memory-for-Dell-Optiplex-GX520-GX620-740-755-760-960/141412156088?hash=item20ecd242b8:g:N5AAAOSwFnFV9bz2:sc:USPSFirstClass!41071!US!-1

Also

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mixed-Lot-Of-140GB-70x2GB-DDR2-Desktop-Memory-DIMM-Non-ECC-240-Pins/292605165594?hash=item4420a0801a:g:4KwAAOSwfCpbJAYk

for comparison, though unless you need that much I wouldn't bother

Yeah someone else tried to replace the other RAM stick with another 1GB one but looks like the slot is dead.

 

He was talking about a new MOBO which is a good idea but we are not confident enough to do it ourselves and not enough money to pay someone, 

I Figured this is the next best thing. 

 

Are RAM Slots universal? If i get an stick on DDR2 it should fit right?

 

[Pretty Fly for a WiFi]

Cheers Dude.

 

Super Appreciative.

[Jtalk4456]

2 minutes ago, Pretty Fly for a WiFi said:

1. He was talking about a new MOBO which is a good idea but we are not confident enough to do it ourselves and not enough money to pay someone, 
2. Are RAM Slots universal? If i get an stick on DDR2 it should fit right?

1. not a bad idea, but your concerns are valid, and more importantly, we're talking an ancient computer here and you don't want to put a lot of money into it. While a ddr2 mobo is cheap, it's not as cheap as a stick of ddr2 ram and you're guaranteed getting used/refurbished

2. yes and no. There's different varieties. the main thing to look at is sodimm vs normal. Sodimm is used in laptops and is smaller, normal ddr2, like what i linked is what you need, and any brand of ddr2 will fit in any ddr2 slot. ddr3 won't fit in ddr2 slot though. the one i linked you is what you want

[Jtalk4456]

9 minutes ago, RandomGuy13 said:

Any stick of SODIMM DDR2 is compatible with a few exceptions for some 4GB AMD only sticks, but ignoring that DDR2 is DDR2.

 

EDIT: also you want non ECC ddr2.

isn't sodimm laptop memory?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SO-DIMM

and yes you don't need ECC

the ones i linked will fit and work fine

[Pretty Fly for a WiFi]

Yeah, Im a noob but even I'd know that was wrong once it was in my hand

[Christophe Corazza]

47 minutes ago, Pretty Fly for a WiFi said:

 

 

As a small remark: that’s a very dusty PC!

:-D

 

As @Jtalk4456 already mentioned: blow out the dust. This will improve the temperatures of the PC. Make sure you hold down the fans to prevent then from spinning while you blow air over the fan blades. Forgetting to do so might irreversibly damage them.

 

Good luck!

[Pretty Fly for a WiFi]

1 minute ago, Christophe Corazza said:

 

As a small remark: that’s a very dusty PC!

:-D

 

As @Jtalk4456 already mentioned: blow out the dust. This will improve the temperatures of the PC. Make sure you hold down the fans to prevent then from spinning while you blow air over the fan blades. Forgetting to do so might irreversibly damage them.

 

Good luck!

I will do man!

 

Cheers for the help. New to this community but you all seem awesome

[Christophe Corazza]

3 minutes ago, Pretty Fly for a WiFi said:

I will do man!

 

Cheers for the help. New to this community but you all seem awesome

 

Welcome to the forum! :-D