RAM mac verses PC

[trainguy77]

Is there a difference between PC133 RAM sold from a mac dealer and PC133 RAM sold from a windows dealer? Because i am going to buy a 512 MB stick. The computer stupports PC 133 or 100 it does not matter.

Also should i go with PC 133 or PC 100? Will the PC 133 run faster, or more stable?

 

[Chaszmyr]

There is more to RAM than just the speed. I think there's a good chance that the RAM from a PC vendor might not work.

 

[Sun Baked]

There is more to RAM than just the speed. I think there's a good chance that the RAM from a PC vendor might not work.

A lot of the PC stuff may fail, if...

DIMMs with any of the following features are not supported in the Power Mac G4: registers or buffers, PLLs, ECC, parity, or EDO RAM.

If it is a Mac released after the G4 Macs with a 100MHz bus, your best choice may be the PC133 memory -- Apple's specifications for PC100 are quite tight and likely will mean that most PC memory will fail, Apple fixed this by using PC133 memory.

 

[trainguy77]

Soooooo it would be safest to buy for a mac vendor.

 

[edesignuk]

RAM is RAM. So long as it's the right stuff (EDO , SD, DDR, RAMBUS), and runs at the right speed (though in a lot of cases if it's faster than required it will also work) you'll be fine. RAM is not Mac or PC specific, it's a standard of its own, you just need to make sure to buy the right "standard' for your system.

 

[jeremy.king]

Use the RAM selector on Crucial's website for the RAM specs of your machine. Then buy from whoever you like, if you are willing to risk problems. Otherwise, stick to brand name dealers.

 

[Chaszmyr]

RAM is not Mac or PC specific, it's a standard of its own, you just need to make sure to buy the right "standard' for your system.

I guess I should have made my point in that post. It's just a common misconception that all PC133 is the same, all DDR333 is the same, etc, which isn't true.

 

[trainguy77]

so it does not matter? Should i still check for regiters or buffers, PLLs, ECC, parity , or EDO ram?

 

[4409723]

RAM is RAM. So long as it's the right stuff (EDO , SD, DDR, RAMBUS), and runs at the right speed (though in a lot of cases if it's faster than required it will also work) you'll be fine. RAM is not Mac or PC specific, it's a standard of its own, you just need to make sure to buy the right "standard' for your system.

You save me typing all that ... as long as you give the shop the correct details, pins/speed and etc it should work fine provided the RAM is not faulty.

 

[trainguy77]

I will just stick with mac dealers

 

[Chaszmyr]

I will just stick with mac dealers

Crucial is generally my vendor of choice. They have good prices and they carry pretty much every type of RAM imaginable.

 

[4409723]

Crucial is generally my vendor of choice. They have good prices and they carry pretty much every type of RAM imaginable.

Agreed, and the ram selector makes it very easy to choose your ram. Just enter your machine and it matches you up perfectly. I've used them twice, prompt, efficient and well-priced.

 

[superbovine]

i bought my ram from a PC vendor. I just made sure it was the right type.