Memory Upgrading.

2_2SRi

Hi all,

I have a dell dimensions pc with 512mb ram (2 x 256mb fitted) Which leaves me with 2 spare slots.... Now my question is do i remove the 2 x 256mb and then fit 2 x 512mb (to get 1gb) which will still leave me with 2 slots spare OR can i just buy 2 x 512mb and fit them in now with what I already have?? Which would then take all the slots up...

Info on the ram fitted is..

256mb DDR-400MHZ- CL3
PC3200U-30330

Any help would be great..

Thanks.

2_2SRi

Ive found these on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1GB-DDR-1-RAM-PC- ... dZViewItem

Which seems to be what im after, but do they come as 2 x 512mb OR will it be just 1 x 1gb. Ive just read alot of people saying fit them in pairs, so if it is just 1x 1gb id need 2 lots :? dunno..

Thanks Again.

Santa

That looks a good price for memory. I have never had anyone mention about putting memory in pairs, but might be true, im not sure.

I would just buy two of them for that price, and put them two in, and take your others out, and sell them for some cash, to help fund the 1GB ones. lol

2_2SRi

Cheers for your reply mate.

Think i`ll go for these ones.

Sjdickso

if you have 4 slots and your m board can take it there should be no real issue just adding the new memory and leave your old one in there also.

vocky

I've just ordered an extra 512mb for my Dell, weird dunno..

2_2SRi

So i can leave the 2 (256mb) ones in and say maybe add another 2 512mb ones? So then it would be 1.5gb just about ram, and this should be ok??

Many Thanks

vocky

I'm not 100% sure, personally I would just fit the pair of 512mb memory pcbs, but it should work with all four fitted notsure.gif

I have only two slots and a single 512mb of memory, so I'm just doubling mine dunno..

2_2SRi

Oh rite I see. I`ll see what happens. Not sure whats best to be honest,

vocky

Matt would know the answer, but he's on honeymoon 🙂

but I'm sure it will be ok

wotsthestory

Goto http://www.crucial.com/uk/

If you have a branded PC, they have a configurator thing, which tells you which memory exactly you need.

They supply relatively cheap QUALITY memory.

But as I said if you have any branded PC, it tells you everything you need to know!

😃

2_2SRi

Top website mate, i can have upto 4gb of ram ( 4 x 1gb) so for now ive just ordered 2 x 512gb (due to having to fit in pairs) the 1gb ones are slightly expensive at the mo with getting married soon etc.

Thanks Again

wotsthestory

No problem, I'm one of those IT bods, sites like these help me with my car when I get stuck so I like to return the favour.

Bri

Hareng

Run 1 stick on its own usually slot 1
2 paired sticks same capacity, timings, etc in 1 & 3
Some mobos wont accept or handle three sticks, Assus A8SLI & PW5's.
4 paired sticks ok

So shuv the two 512's in 1 & 3 slots, originals move to 2 & 4 totalling 1.5Gb.

You are lucky mine was on offer at £270 5 months ago, so only had the two 1gb sticks PC8500.
Had a lot of misfortune with unbranded stuff, usually dont boot, even had it on this one knocked up over Christmas and many others.
Only buy new top name branded stuff, different if machine is a couple of years old and strapped for cash though, there again cheap enough new.

DBcoup

if you have 2x256mb sticks in your machine with 2 spare slots, you should buy another 2x256mb to match what you already have, and also try not to mix brands, mixing 2x256mb and 2x512mb sticks CAN cause system instability, i.e BSOD, and random re-starts.

2_2SRi

Stinky said:
if you have 2x256mb sticks in your machine with 2 spare slots, you should buy another 2x256mb to match what you already have, and also try not to mix brands, mixing 2x256mb and 2x512mb sticks CAN cause system instability, i.e BSOD, and random re-starts.

Oh right I see, ill see what happend when I recieve the ones ive ordered, It did advise that it would be ok to put in 2 x 512mb ones with the current 2 x 256mb, If it does cause problems ill remove the current 2 x 256 and just fit the NEW 2 x 512mb, at least this way it will double what I have now.

wotsthestory

It should be ok, even with the different sizes, these are designed to be the most compatible with what you have. Not cheap alternatives. Hence I suggested them. Also Crucial will give you support if you have a problem whereas other vendors will just ignore you!

Bri

2_2SRi

Finger-crossed it should be ok. Can only try anyways and should give this a speed up hopefully.

Is there anything else that could help my pc, the current spec is as follows

Dell Dimensions 8300
Intel Pentium 4 . 2.6GHz
120 gb hard drive
512mb ram (soon to be 1.5gb (hopefully) )

My pc will be 4 yrs old in August and never been temped with or altered and its never played up yet in all the time ive had it since new from dell, and its used nearly every day :shock:

So just after updating it a little.

Thanks Again.

wotsthestory

A processor upgrade but your options are limited but cheap! I imagine you'll have a socket 478

http://www.aria.co.uk are where I get my processors from.

I'm not sure which speed processors that board supports, likely to be 400Mhz Bus Speed (at a guess) 533 at a push. You might get a 3Ghz processor in there and they are VERY cheap especially for a Socket 478

Bri

DBcoup

Be careful, Dell have been known to Bios lock their machines to stop tampering, and also if your machine came with xp loaded on it, it will be an oem copy, this means if you change the Mobo or chip, xp will cease to be valid. (Microsoft will see it as a new or different machine)
If you want a fast pc, throw it away and build your own custom pc, exactly suited to your requirements