I'm by no mean computer or technologically illiterate, but I got some problems. My current RAM is 1 gig, with four slots in my tower and two of them being occupied by 512 DDR2-PC2-5100 sticks. So, I decided to upgrade and went to Crucial.com where I found the type of RAM my PC is compatible with. Now It listed to me all the compatible ram, and being not exactly sharp on these things I went about looking locally for stores that held that sort of ram. I could not find ram that exactly matched my own anywhere, so I purchased a 512 DDR2-PC3-4200 stick of ram, put it in, and the computer didn't start smoking so I was rather positive it was ok.
Then of course as I'm playing some games I can see the FPD rate go down. So I log onto World of Warcraft, turn the FPS on and am rather astonished when I see that it is at a steady absolute 30.0 FPS. I then turn on Vanguard to notice that there is absolutely no difference in the current performance than there was in my previous 1 gig venture into that games world.
Now, I realise my mistake after having spoken with many more technologically savy people. It turns out that the serial numbers on the ends of the RAM mean a lot more then I thought. It's the speed. So I purchased a stick of RAM that is compatible with my PC but runs slower, thus it's dragging my other two sticks down.
You think that Crucial would have made it clear after it's scan that although that's compatible with your PC it isn't compatible with your current RAM. :\
<- Sad panda.
Moving on, I guess I can hassle the people that I got it from who told me after purchasing it that there are no refunds and see if I can get an exhcange... Now there are no 5100 versions of RAM there, but there may very well potentially be RAM that is above 5100. My question is if that will be as much help as having a stick that's slower? :\
- Weatherwax