how to tell # of pins of a ram module currently when ready to upgrade

[knicks]

hi all
i have a gateway gm5266e media center pc with a core 2 duo processor 320 gb hdd, etc

my memory is the following specs

# installed: 2048 MB DDR2 (PC4200), 533 MHz memory (two 1024 MB modules)
# Expandable to: 8 GB (4 memory slots)

followed by either

Manufacturer Samsung
RoHS compliant Yes
DIMM Type DIMM
Data Bits X64 240-pin ECC unbuffered DIMM
DRAM component type DDR2 SDRAM (1.8 V)
Depth 128 M
Number of Banks in Comp. & Interface 4 banks & SSTL-1.8V
Bit organization X8
Component revision 3rd Gen.
PCB revision 3rd Rev.
Temperature and Power Commercial Temp. (0° - 85°) and normal power
Speed DDR2-533


or

Manufacturer Infineon
RoHS compliant Yes
Data width X64 (Non-ECC)
Power supply 1.8 V
Memory density 128 MB
Number of memory ranks 2
Package type Lead-free
Power Standard power
Speed PC2-4200

it says both under components for my pc at gateway.com

now i kno under one it tells you all and it says 240 pins but i want to learn as well for the future

i want to add another gb to total 3gb
from my knowledge it should be 240 pin 1 gb pc4200 533mhz type module? correct

my main question is without this help how would you know how many pins of memory your pc supports other than manual etc

i say this because i did not know that pcs support a certain # of pins because i tried inserting a ram module from my intel based pc into my amd one and booted up and i thought my pc was smoking a ciggarette because it smelled so bad.

please help thanks in advance

[PrntRhd]

Looks like 240 pin memory:
From the Crucial.com site:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=GM5266E

[knicks]

wow thank you for the quick and helpful response prntrhd.

the site hlped so much

i heard of it but was always skeptical to have their software scan my pc bdcause of the agrrement they have present it made me feel that it contained added malware.
thanks again

[PrntRhd]

Thanks,
I just entered the information manually, sometimes it is easier that way.

[saphalline]

how would you know how many pins of memory your pc supports other than manual etcAll RAM types have standards. DDR2 desktop memory modules are all 240-pin. DDR desktop memory modules are all 184-pin, etc. DDR and DDR2 SO-DIMM's for laptops both have 200-pins, but they're keyed differently (just like ECC and buffered modules) so you can't put them in the wrong slot type.

Speaking of which, does your AMD system use DDR2 or DDR? If it uses DDR, then a stick of DDR2 should not have physically fit the slot. So if you forced it somehow, that would explain the bad smell. If they use the same RAM type, then something went horribly wrong.