What kind/type of RAM can i use?

[Dr Klovernutz]

Here is what i have:
DELL 4600 dimension P4 HT 2.6GHz
512 DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
128MB NVidia GeFORCE FX 5200 graphics
SoundBlaster Live! with 5.1 support
80GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA HD

I want to beef up my computer (it was the SH!T back in the day)
I was thinking RAM is the best way to go (any other suggestions?)

so what kind of RAM should I get? Any specific brand? MUST I only but 256MB card since that's what I have or can I buy a 1Gig card and oinly have 3 cards in there etc....?????

I called Dell and they said my computer would support 4 GIG of RAM, DO i have to buy it from DELL (i would reather not since i seriously hate them)

[sid645]

you can get a 1gb of ram 3200 possibly. go here: www.tigerdirect.com

or if you want free 2nd day shipping: ZipZoomFly

[Dr Klovernutz]

I want to know how i must buy it (MUST i buy in pairs? must i get rid of what i have befor ei put in larger ram, i read if i leave the 256 it'll slow down the newer stuff, can i buy and add just 1 stick or must i buy 2)

but hey thanks for the ad, Its really hard to find links to buy electronics on the 'net

[xequence]

Originally Posted by Dr Klovernutz

I want to know how i must buy it (MUST i buy in pairs? must i get rid of what i have befor ei put in larger ram, i read if i leave the 256 it'll slow down the newer stuff, can i buy and add just 1 stick or must i buy 2)

but hey thanks for the ad, Its really hard to find links to buy electronics on the 'net

www.newegg.com/

Thats another popular one.

You can have one 512 stick and one 1 GB stick as far as I know. Or any other combination. You DO NOT need to buy from dell.

[ANZAC_ELITE]

Originally Posted by Dr Klovernutz

......I want to beef up my computer (it was the SH!T back in the day)
I was thinking RAM is the best way to go (any other suggestions?)

1/. Overclock your cpu (or replace it if you can still find a 533mhz fsb cpu [just guessing here on the fsb as Dells site server is as slow as all hell and I couldn't be bothered waiting])

2/. Ditch the FX 5200 (once again if you can find a replacement AGP card as they are almost outdated now with PCI-e cards on the market) as the 5200 was really a pretty lame card to start with.

3/. More ram .....

4/. Consider a new pc ....... not a brand name ..... a generic where you call the shots on components. This is all dependent on your budget of course

[Dr Klovernutz]

i was told i could buy just 1 stick of RAM, however i spoke to a tech at dell who reviewed my specs. and he said that i have a dual channel so its best for me to buy RAM in pairs.

is this true?

[ANZAC_ELITE]

He is correct, matching pairs are required for dual channel, identical pairs is preferable, how many ram slots do you have? You say your board is 4GB capable so i'm guessing 4

[Dr Klovernutz]

What i ended up doing was going to crucial.com and after chat with a tech and doing so research on my own i discovered that i do in fact have dual channel.
so i purchased a matching pair of crucial 512MB DDR400 RAM

As for install i was informed that i should remove my current RAM (2> 256 cards) from slots 1 and 3 and move it to slots 2 and 4 and install the new RAM (2 >512 cards) on slots 1 and 3, then i will be operating both channels as dual. and i should have the higher capacity RAM in the first channel.

this should take me from dual channel 512MB ram to
1.5G dual channel ram

everything I have read says that as long as the PAIRS are matching all 4 sticks are 400mHz everything will run great.


this all sound good to you?


just curious what do you think of Crucial VS. Kingston
I only ask because right after i purchased my RAM from crucial ($116 for PAIR of 512 MB 400 CL3)

I found Kingston for $106 from TigerDirect (same specs)

is 1 brand better than the other?

[ANZAC_ELITE]

The slot configuration is correct, I personally have 4 x 512 sticks, 1 & 3 are a pair as are 2 & 4, yet both pairs are different batch numbers, dual channel is enabled.

There are better brands of ram if you wish to oc heavily, personally I have never had any problems with my Kingston/ Kingmax even running it at 2.5-3-3-6

For comparisons sake you may wish to google ocz ram

[Dr Klovernutz]

I don't know much about oc (over clocking).

I think going from dual channel 512MB to dual channel 1.5G willl be enough of a performance boost.

Everything I have read suggests that you shouldn't overclock, but like I said I do not understand how it works. But Im sure that if done correctly it seveerly boosts your system, however at this point I don't wanna chance something going wrong (for financial reasons)

going from 512MB to 1.5G, I'll notice a significant boost in performance??

thanks for help