Adding more memory

Question

I have 1 gig of memory now, 2x512. I want to add another gig but just 1, 1 gig dimm. Does the memory need to be in pairs? I don't think so since the unit can have up to 4 gig in it and that would not be possible with the slots available. Just want to make sure before I buy a 1 gig dimm. I have an 8300.   Thanks Message Edited by BPETRO on 01-26-2006 06:00 AM

BPETRO · Answer

So I will need to buy 2 1 gig dimm's?

BPETRO · Answer

Why is it wasteful to have 4 gig of memory, the machine would fly and XP supports 4 gig. If I add just 1, 1 gig dimm what would be the disadvantage? I know you said dual channeling, would I not get the full benefit of the added memory?

rickmktg · Answer

@BPETRO wrote: So I will need to buy 2 1 gig dimm's? If you want dual channeling you have to add memory in pairs.  You could also add two 512s, two 256s...

rickmktg · Answer

@BPETRO wrote:

I have 1 gig of memory now, 2x512. I want to add another gig but just 1, 1 gig dimm.

Does the memory need to be in pairs? I don't think so since the unit can have up to 4 gig in it and that would not be possible with the slots available. Just want to make sure before I buy a 1 gig dimm.

I have an 8300.

Thanks

Using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

Yes, the memory needs to be in pairs for dual channeling.

Yes, it would be possible to have 4gb (although wasteful) by having FOUR 1gb chips. 4 x 1 = 4. Of course the 2 x 512 would have to be removed.

lambdapro · Answer

I had a Dell 3000 with 256 mbytes ram.  I added a 512 stick to it and the performance dramatically improved because I was over some sort of performance threshold on xp pro.  On the same machine, I got a 6% improvement in performance on pcmark05 benchmarking when I went to dual channel ram.  However on several other machines, I usually only got a 3% system improvement using dual channel.   David Message Edited by lambdapro on 01-26-2006 07:53 AM

rickmktg · Answer

@BPETRO wrote:

Why is it wasteful to have 4 gig of memory, the machine would fly and XP supports 4 gig.

If I add just 1, 1 gig dimm what would be the disadvantage? I know you said dual channeling, would I not get the full benefit of the added memory?

Using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

If you review the posts on these forums, you'll find lots of discussion about the 30% hit you'll take w/o dual channeling, as well as the discussion of how only 3gb of the 4gb will be available with XP Home.

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Adding more memory

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