What to look for when buying RAM?

Since you’re getting a new motherboard, consider getting one that supports DDR3 2000 RAM. It’s expensive but high performance.

LOL DDR3 2000 RAM is some expensive stuff!! Upon that, if I’m gona get a mobo that supports it, just the RAM and mobo themselves will cost me over 6 bills or so! (I live in Canada, things are hella expensive >=[...)

Check online for deals and rebates. There’s usually a special going on somewhere.

I don’t have a credit card T T”...so everything I buy’s gotta be local. If not, then they’ve gotta accept paypal…

DDR3 is superior, but much more expensive. I wouldn’t bother with it, but I’m a very frugal person.

I’ve got Patriot in my computer, but OCZ, mushkin, g-skill, etc. are all fine.

- DDR2 or 3, depending on how long you want the computer to be up to date.
– Clock speed.
– Whether or not the RAM comes with a heat sink. If you are going to be working the computer hard, it can help a lot.
– One of the most important emerging technologies is dual-channel or tri-channel RAM. This allows RAM to be loaded simultaneously rather than sequentially, and theoretically relieves a bottleneck between the processor ans the RAM. The number of channels you get again depends on cost and how good you want the computer to be.

Personally, I look for Crucial.

If you are able to do so, get the most advanced components that you can afford, and in that way, you’ll “future-proof” your PC. I was fortunate enough to be able to do this when I got the PC I’m on now and all I’ve had to do is add memory in the last 5 years. And I got, as @pdworkin did, Crucial sticks.

newegg.com is your friend. Get plastic just for this, if nothing else.

Buy DDR3 RAM.