egghead.com v. compusa $$$ 100 or 133?

[scott42]

Ok, I just bought some memory upgrades from compusa...cost me $45 per 128mb sdram (dimm)...I just looked at egghead.com (through amazon) and see 256mb sdram (dimm) for $45. Same brand (PNY) same packaging, seemingly the same product...
Am I missing something here?

Also, how can you determine that your computer is PC100 or PC133?

Thanks as always for any help...

 

[JunkPunch]

First off you can get memory MUCH cheaper than that. Like <$30 for 256MB PC133. See http://www.pricewatch.com

As for speed, what processor do you have (type/speed)? PC133 will work fine in place of PC100, but not the other way around (most of the time).

 

[scott42]

damn that burns me...
but the cards are already cut from the box and in my cpu...I can't imagine they take returns on them now...

According to my System properties
Windows 98 SE
366Celeron
Genuine Intel
Pentium 3 -
384 mb RAM (after adding the 2 128's to the original 128)

Yes, I know this thing is a POS, but it was free, so I'm not complaining, just trying to get it to run a little better.

Thanks for your input

 

[scott42]

*achoo*

 

[fkmp5]

scott, you can find out if you support PC133 vs PC100 by looking up the specs of your motherboard. PC133, however, is backwards compatible and will run at the PC100 speed if that is all your motherboard supports..

what motherboard do you have?

 

[scott42]

How would I go about figuring that out...i've got the cover off and can't seem to find any markings...actually the only thing I see is a silver sticker with "Award" on it...

Otherwise, I have no idea...the 'brand' of cpu is "Direct Web", "3com connected" sticker, pentium III, and Win98 on front

And basically you're fine with a 133 no matter what, just avoid 100's right?

thanks

 

[traitorhound]

im pretty sure you can still return to compusa. . .it's won't be totally honest. but you can say that they sticks dont' work

 

[ChopstickHero]

just get the PC133 RAM, it's backwards compatible with a 100mhz FSB. the price is almost indentical between RAM memory size (128mb PC100 vs 128mb PC133). If you're running something like a PIII or AMD similar, you most likely will need PC133 RAM.

 

[scott42]

Thanks fellas I appreciate it...

anyone with any experience returning @ compusa?

 

[fkmp5]

ya, you're safe with the PC133.. and the "AWARD" is your System BIOS ...

 

[traitorhound]

i haven't returned anything perse to compusa but i have used their TAP program a couple times. . .its their extended warrantee crap. . .i used it for my logitech keyboard/mouse wireless optical combo when it "broke" (i was trying to mod the mouse with a diff LED and fried it) and they just switched it out no questions asked

i also know a lot of peopel that use that program to "upgrade" their pda's every couple of years since if they return it as "broken" they get full purchase price back on credit (whether it be 1 dollar or 500 dollars) towards a new device

 

[scott42]

An FYI for you guys...Compusa, returns of open packages = 15% restocking fee...

And thanks again for all of your help.

 

[bazooka joe]

i hate compusa! their prices are high and their return policies bite!!

 

[scott42]

yeah, I had figured they were decent since I've gotten some really good deals in the past from them...$50 printer that is much more than I need it for, and a mini cd burner/player from Imation for $20 (really cool) other than that, you're right, kind of lame.

 

[PA_MP3_Man]

Honestly with a 366 celeron processor you aren't going to notice any real difference in performace past 256 MB of ram. It's the processor slowing you down now, not the lack of ram. Unless you have about 32 programs running at the same time IE., Kazaa, Antivirus, Web Shots, Kontiki, Word, Excel, Hearts, and all the other crap that has an icon down in the tray. I guess you'll be saving $45 though since you bought 2 sticks at $45 a piece right? Also Best Buy usually has great prices on memory, if you're willing to pay $50 now and then send in the $25 rebates on them. And they return memory with no problem.

 

[JunkPunch]

366 Celeron runs at 66Mhz FSB, so you would be fine with PC100.

 

[RyanJayG]

way fine... even if you overclock it. but I don't like to mix and match different rams. so get all the same brand/type if you can


PII's overclock fabulously if that matters to you.

 

[scott42]

Well, I'm just calling it square at this point w/ 384...I've got the one that was in there, and two PNYs that I bought, and was to anxious to open and install. I just got the cable hookup and wanted to see what it could do. Lesson learned on pricing computer stuff...

I'm confused on terminology here though. It says celeron 366 and pentium III, aren't they both processors or am I way off?

Oh yeah, the cable is unreal. Talk about a difference from my bull$hit Kmart ISP that was supplied by my old job...

 

[RyanJayG]

oh, its a PIII celeron?

celeron's are just cache nutured CPU's

 

[scott42]

yep, that's what my props say when I check, and ...
Windows 98 SE
366Celeron
Genuine Intel
Pentium 3
384 mb RAM

BTW, I'm really just learning this stuff; and its frikkin addicting, kind of like our cars, though, its a bit easier/cheaper to have fun messing with cpu's. Again, this was a donated computer to me, so I have no qualms with taking it apart and playing with things to see how they work.; already have parts laying all over the room because when I got it, it had a bunch of cards and whatnot included...wasn't sure if they were fried, or what, so swap this, and that, and I eventually have figured out what each part does...