4GB PC3-12800 RAM Ordenador

Understanding How PC3-12800 (DDR3-1600) 4 GB SDRAM Works

You must find the appropriate memory module that will fit onto your computer if you wish to expand the RAM that your unit can handle. When you add more RAM, your computer will read more content. A PC3-12800 DDR3 memory unit can be utilized in your computer. But what do all of these terms mean? Let's delve one-by-one into each of these points relating to what you might get on your desktop or laptop computer.

What Does PC3-12800 Memory Entail?

First, you should notice what the PC3-12800 term means when looking for RAM. The PC3 number refers to the type of interface that the computer memory unit can handle. The standard operates faster than the PC2 setup.

PC3 memory chips are not backward compatible. They cannot fit onto motherboards that only support the PC2 format.

The 12800 number refers to the total system bandwidth on the RAM module. The bandwidth is the number of megabytes that the unit can handle in one second. In this situation, the PC3 memory can handle 12,800 megabytes or 12.8 gigabytes of data in a second.

What About the DDR3-1600 Name?

The DDR3-1600 name is a "friendly name" for PC3-12800. The name comes from how it is the third generation of Double Data Rate memory. This runs faster than the first two generations. Each memory chip in this standard uses a different signaling voltage and timing setup. Therefore, the memory can only work on motherboards that can handle the setup.

You can identify this standard by looking at how the two pieces that interact with the motherboard are laid out. DDR and DDR2 modules for a desktop have a small dividing point in the middle that separates the two points that go into the motherboard. The DDR3 module has that dividing spot a little closer to the left. For laptop memory, the dividing point is closer to the middle while it is near the left on the DDR and DDR2 models.

What Makes SDRAM Different?

You know that RAM is a short-term saying for Random Access Memory. But what is SDRAM and what makes it different? SDRAM is short for Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. A single word of data is transmitted on each clock cycle. 

Points to See When Finding Your RAM

There are several things to consider when looking for RAM that fits your desktop or laptop computer well:

  • Check on how much memory your computer is using at a time. You need an upgrade if your computer is using at least 75 percent of the available memory that you already have.
  • Review your motherboard to see what types of memory modules it can handle. Your motherboard might have an empty slot or two for a module to go along with any existing ones you already have.
  • Sometimes you might need to get two of the same kind of memory module into your motherboard. 
  • See how much memory your motherboard can handle. There might be a limit to how much you can handle at a time.
  • Look around online and see what a memory finder program has to say about your memory needs. Various online programs will help you identify how the memory in your computer is working and what types of memory module units can work for you.