how do you increase ram?

s4phir3_embl3m · newbie! Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 29

heyy everybody well i just finished reformatting my comp and i want to increase my ram from 128 to 256 MB. I have two 64 MB RAM ruler shaped circuits but i dont know how to use them. if anyone can provide a quick and easy to understand guide itd be greatly appreciated thanks!

thugangel · Ronin Samurai Joined: Aug 27, 2005 Posts: 713

The number of slots where you can put your RAM sticks in varies on the motherboard. Some motherboards have 1 slot, 2 slots, 3 slots, or 4. The average consumer computers usually have 2 slots. If you're using up all of those slots and want to upgrade, you either have to upgrade one of the sticks or both. Since markets only sell 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB of memory, the only way of upgrading to 256MB is replacing both of the slots with 128MB sticks or replacing one of the sticks with 256MB, ending up with 320MB or RAM.

HOWEVER, there's a limit on how much each slot can take. Assuming you have a really old system (Pentium, Pentium II, Pentium 3, Pentium Celeron less than 800MHz, Athlon Thunderbird, or Athlon Duron), each slot could probably take 128MB or 256MB maximum. In order to find out, you must read the manual that came with your computer or do a research on it by Googling your computer's model.

While you're at it, look for the model type your motherboard handles. If your system is one of what I mentioned above, then your computer would most likely could only take SDRAM (not DDR SDRAM, just SDRAM) type with PC100 or PC133 model. So make sure you get that one right, too.

If you're wondering which slot each stick should go in, usually, the newer/faster/better quality goes to the first slot and the older slower one to the 2nd. Sometimes you have to put the stick with higher pin DIMM on the first one in order to work, but that would depend on your system. Your manual should tell you which is which or just switch them around with trial-and-error if you're having difficulty. Modern motherboards doesn't have this problem for they have dynamic banks.

Hmm... that's all I can think of right now for guiding you to your upgrade. If you have any more questions, ask away.

s4phir3_embl3m · newbie! Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 29

im not sure if this is the right info but it says my dell dimension 2400 hundred has 2 slots and has one available and i think my motherboard type handle is a DDR DIMM

Rhysticgon · A-Source Staff Joined: Jun 25, 2005 Posts: 208

check what type DDR it is, if its a dimension 2400 I THINK its probably PC 2700 or maybe 2100; you have to check, also after you find out and depending on the stick you have in already (if its 256 or less) I would take it out, and put in 2 x 512 sticks. you may be able to put in more but I doubt it? try and get low latency ones as well.

manwithnoname · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject:

yah just dont overload the board
somewhere it should say how much the maximum loadable ram is ie. I have a compaq presario s4020wm and on the inside of the case near where the first ram chip was installed it states the maximum loadable ram which is 1 Gb for me

Also try to get the chips so that the memory is only on one chip trying to streach memory too far across chips (it makes the cpu run slower or even restart)

Make sure to get the right clock speed that could also create problems in the system.

try to put the largest chip in the dominant slot (this is useually the slot labeled DDR 00) this could improve speed of the computer

BTW if you can't find your maximum load it is 1Gb Also you said that you have 64Mb of ram http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/specs.htm iif you look under memory it says that a minimum of 128Mb is required to run
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cutting · Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject:

I've got a Pentium 200Hz, tacted to 250hz, RAM 32MB, card 4MB, trying to tune oldest computer working.

DarkAlliance · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 82

go to http://www.4allmemory.com/ they have a nice feature on their website called check my system they check wich type of computer you're ussing and tell you the maximun memory you'rea allowed to put in that computer.

They also sell memory so you can buy it after you check it

manwithnoname · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:26 am Post subject:

two 64Mb chips go to 128Mb together now i think there is only one way to do this and that would be to buy a 256Mb chip and insert it instead of the two 64Mbs another way (and im not sure if this increases RAM) but it would be to increase the page file or PF of the computer.

On a windows XP Home computer you would increase the PF by right clicking the "My Computer" icon then selecting Properties. then under the Advanced tab click "settings" under the "Performance" section. when that window pops up go to the "Advanced" tab again and under virtual memory click "Change" and set it to what u want it to be. IE. my computer has a 3Gig PF with 768Mb RAM.
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