What does PC3200 stand for?

Answer 1

PC3200 is another way of writing PC400 or DDR 400. All three of those mean that the bus speed of the RAM module is 400MHz. In similar fashion PC2700 is PC333 or DDR 333 (333 MHz) and PC2100 is PC266 or DDR 266 (266MHz). PC3200 is a type of RAM or random access memory for your computer. There are several different types of RAM: for example PC100, PC133, PC2100, PC2700 and now PC3200. Each number represents a specific megahertz bus system. If you going to be upgrading your ram make sure to look for PC 3200 on the chip to assure that it is compatible with your bus system. For regular SDRAM in the PCxxx designation the xxx is the memory clock rate in MHz i.e. 133MHz for PC133. For DDR SDRAM in the PCxxxx designation the xxxx is the memory bandwidth in MB/s i.e. PC3200 is 3200MB/s. This corresponds to a 200MHz clock (400MHz "data rate"). Since DDR SDRAM uses a 64-bit wide bus (8 bytes wide), 8 bytes * 400 MHz = 3200MB/s. Note these aren't real megabytes; they are found using 1MB = 1000 * 1000 B, not 1024 * 1024 B. Since all the computer companies can't seem to agree on a standard, there are many types of RAM especially with all the improvements with speed and number of pins allowing for faster access time and more storage. Finding the correct type of RAM is very difficult. You must know the following: the form factor (SIMMs, DIMMs, and RIMMs), the type (SD, DDR SD, RD, DDR, DDR2, DDR3), and the speed (333, 400, 667, etc). Because RAM is the most commonly upgraded component in computer system, some company (I forget who) developed a system for telling what type of RAM is which. So instead of having to know all the above information, you just need to know the PC rating (like PC3200) and you're good to go.

computer uses PC3200 by all means get it.

PC2700 stands for DDR Sdram that operates at 333MegaHertz.

Mega means 1 million, approximately.

Hertz stands for -> Cycles per Second.

I know this all probably sounds like 'Greek' to you.

Your processor and ram memory operate at a Frequency Rate. Frequency Rate, is usually just referred to as 'Speed'

"What "Speed' does your processor run at?" "What 'Speed' of ram do you have?" Like that.

The Frequency Rate is determined by Cycles per Second. Get's much deeper than this, I won't go into it now.

PC3200 is DDR Sdram that operates at 400MHz.

That's why I say go for PC3200.

Some things you need to know,

1.What is the Maximum TOTAL Amount of ram for your computer?

(Motherboard)

2.What is the Maximum Amount for EACH ram slot? Do you know if your ram slots have a Maximum Amount of 1GB? No fun to buy a 1GB stick of ram, and find out your computer can't use it!

Answer 2

PC 3200 refers to the speed of your RAM. PC 3200 and DDR 400 (the newer measurement) mean the same thing. These are the two ways that speed is expressed in terms of PC memory. It's the same with RAM capacity. It used to be so small we would say, this is a 16mb stick of RAM. Now, we say this is a 1GB stick of RAM, but it's still referred to as 1024MB.