What should I know before buying RAM memory?

like the title says XD
I only have 256 mb or something, and I want to buy at least 512 more, depends on how expensive, I get my paycheck within 2-3 weeks now, and I guess I will get like 200 euros, thats like 260 dollars. I honestly don't know what to get and for what price.

(most of this crap, I dont know what it does XD, I used tune-up utilities to get this data)
I have a 2.4 GHz pentium 4 desktop
L2-Cache: 512kb
Memory: 248 MB <-- NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED
graphic card: INTEL 82845 G/GL/GE/PE/GV

Some other data:
Processor: INTEL PENTIUM 4 2.4 GHz
codename: northwood
L1 cahce: 20KB
l2 cache: 512kb
socket 478

And I have a 75gb Harddisk

 

You need to open up your PC and see what type of RAM you have before you buy some.

 

Go to crucial.com get your PC scanned see what RAMs they offer you write down the PC thing and PINs amount and go to best buy . Buy a 512MB RAM for around 30 dollars.

 

I am not going to buy stuff on the internet. Maybe I'll buy a 1gb ram, if it isnt too expensive.
I hope this screenshot said enough

 

Uh I never said buy it online. I said write the info down and go to like bestbuy....

 

(yay 400th post)
oh, I thought u meant go to bestbuy.com or something, to buy that stuff.
But got any tips for me before buying a new ram?

 

Not really, I see no difference in the mark since they usually perform equally. Just try getting one that says DDR PC 2000 um and try opening up your PC and check the RAM for the amount of PINs. If you need any further help, then ask =)

 

ok, ill open my pc when coming back from school =p

 

What you do is go to a store with your computer and thy figure everything out. Its very simple you dont even need to do anything but pay. Also for that price you can get some nice stuff. You could get 1GB RAM too. What kind of computer do you have??

 

512 ram would only be like $50 AUD

 

Ok, by the sounds of it some people here have little to no idea.

By the looks of you're system specs you will be able to handle DDR2 RAM (The best value and performance for your money). Judging by what I can make out from that picture you posted (make it bigger dammit!), you can handle 2048MB of RAM (two 1GB sticks).

Looking at your location "Location: In a cardboard box smoking dope", you're probably living in either of two places, and each has it's own option(s);

1. England, UK: Just shuffle on down to your local computer store ( Careful! not to fast, the old lungs aren't as great as they used to be( Judging by your current location)) and buy two, 2GB RAM sticks, for around [SIZE=-1]£[/SIZE]84. Then go to UE and follow daily's guide on how to install them.

2. Nimbin, Australia: Mosey on down to the local drugstore and blow your paypacket on the best grass money can buy (You're kidding no one, we all know Nimbin doesn't have computers).

 

wwooaaaah man, you are totally wrong dude.
I DO NOT live in a country that even speaks english (although we have english class at school)
I live in the Netherlands, and I guess a total of 1gb ram is far more than I need.

I wrote down some info, but I lost the paper, so I will edit this post after I have shutdown my pc and opened it

THE BIG EDIT:

Ok, I screwed my PC open, and took out the RAM, it has 52 pins on 1 side, and 40 on the other, so 92 pins
There was a small sticker on it and it said:

DD 266 - 256M - T324
256 MB PC 2100
BATCH 0315593

Thats all I could find, and oh, I have 2 slots, that one is the only one I have, so I have one slot left, and I guess I will pick two 512mb things and take the 256 out!

 

I guess the Internet isn't Sarcasms best friend. I was joking.

You can handle DDR2, I'd go with what you're thinking, two 512MB sticks.

 

If you have a dual core proccesor, its very reccomended you get two sticks of the same kind. If your getting 1gb then get two sticks of 512mb. Do not get one stick and have one slot empty, it doesn't work as well.

 

nope, its a good 'ol singe core processor

 

Go two 512MB sticks, becuase that way you will not have a mix of DDR and DDR2 RAM.

 

ok, thx alot man!

Case closed, I just have to go to a computer store now

 

IMO, just get 1gb of RAM. Instead of crying over it in the future, just get the 1gb now. It's like $100 bucks CND so I don't know about USD (around $95 maybe).

 

No. You cannot handle DDR2, sorry Cool but you're wrong, but you need to make sure you get DDR RAM. This is the only RAM your motherboard can handle.

Simply go to the store and ask for Desktop DDR RAM.

 

I asked the people of the store, and they said too I cannot handle DDR2, I bought 2 512mb Pc2100 DDR ram's (it costed me like € 84,- for both , thats like $100,-) and When I get home, im gonna install them right away, and to everybody who helped me,

THANKS ALOT FOR HELPING ME OUT!