Computer Memory Cards

One of the reasons most people don’t know a lot about memory is because the information that is given in this industry is very broad. There isn’t just one universal type of memory that fits into every computer. That would sure be nice though! Unfortunately, there are many different types of computer memory cards. These types include DDR, RDRAM, SDRAM, EDO, etc… Take for example the most expensive type of computer memory, RDRAM. This type of memory runs at such high speeds that it has to be built with a protective heat shield on the outside of the module. It has been dubbed, “The Ferrari of memory” because of its speed. On the other hand, you have the older types of memory like SDRAM and EDO. These were the pioneers in the memory industry. If your computer is up to 7 years old, it may any one of these types. So how do you know what it is that you need? That’s a great question, and we will do our best to address that in the following paragraph.

Contrary to popular belief, determining what type of memory you have really isn’t that difficult when you know the basics. Most people haven’t been exposed to the information, so they just simply don’t know. When you are trying to figure out what type of computer memory cards are in your machine, it is usually very helpful if you remove one of the memory modules that you already have installed in your computer. This module will be your reference as you examine it for information. One of the first things to take note of is the number of notches that are cut into the gold pins that line the bottom of the module. This almost always gives you a good idea of which module you are looking at. For example, the DDR modules only have one notch in the gold pins, and they are the only type of memory modules (of the 5.25in length chips) to have just a single notch. See right there? You already have a big piece of the puzzle when you know what to look for. If we compare that to the Ferrari of computer memory, RDRAM, we can note that the RDRAM has 2 notches at the bottom of the gold pins. It’s that easy to quickly point out the differences in some of these modules. There are other things to look at as well such as size, labels, chips, etc… By knowing the basics, you can make a seemingly difficult task seem effortless.