Laptop experts please help: Memory upgrade

[Powerslave]

I want to maximize my RAM and it seems that my laptop (Latitude D610, fairly old)  supports up to 2GB maximum. Right now I have 1GB already installed, but here is what Everest Home Edition says about my installed RAM:

Module Size   1024 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type   Unbuffered
Memory Type   DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed   DDR2-533 (266 MHz)
Module Width   64 bit

Memory Timings   
@ 266 MHz   4.0-4-4-12  (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 200 MHz   3.0-3-3-9  (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

This means I'm currently running just at 266Mhz right?


Would it be better if I got 2 new identical 1GB cards? And I checked and it seems there is a 400Mhz and a 533Mhz version of the 1GB model. Where can I check if my laptop supports 533Mhz ?

[max_cool]

you should be fine with another 1GB of DDR2 533(MHz)

DDR stands for Dual Directional Ram so when it says it's running at 266 MHz, it's effectively running at double that speed or 533 MHz because t is both sending and receiving information at the same time. Ram used to be only single directional (SDRAM) which meant that it would send then receive rather than doing both at the same time.

[Powerslave]

So you're saying that a DDR 533Mhz card would be running at 1066Mhz?

[max_cool]

Sorry, A card that is referred to as DDR 533 is running at 266MHz, but it's effective speed is 533 MHz because of the dual directional ram. They like to use larger number because it makes the memory seem faster.
The memory you want to get is DDR2 533 (266MHz).

If a card was referred to as DDR 1066 MHz (which I don't think exist). then, yes it would be running at 533 MHz.

As for the DDR2 - it's like an upgrade of DDR and the 2 is used to distinguish it as so.

[Powerslave]

This is the exact name for the one I'm planning to get:
1 Gb PC2-4200s DDR2 533Mhz SODIMM

I was planning to get 2 of them and replace the older one as well so I could have identical cards. Not a good idea? I also read something about dual channels which my laptop allows.

[Powerslave]

Ram used to be only single directional (SDRAM) which meant that it would send then receive rather than doing both at the same time.

This is my RAM. It says this in Everest:


DIMM3: Kingston   1 GB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM  (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz)  (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)