Question About RAM

[Chopperhead]

Ok well it looks like I will be Buying some RAM. What I want to know is how do I find out if 1) I have a slot available (don't know where it is) 2) what speed my current RAM is 3) Is there any specific types that I need for difrrent computers or is it all the same other then speed.

I have a Dell Dimension 4600 if that helps any.

 

[Arcturus]

Ok well it looks like I will be Buying some RAM. What I want to know is how do I find out if 1) I have a slot available (don't know where it is) 2) what speed my current RAM is 3) Is there any specific types that I need for difrrent computers or is it all the same other then speed.

I have a Dell Dimension 4600 if that helps any.

The Dimension 4600 has four RAM slots, so its likely you have at least two open. You can tell the current speed by looking in the BIOS, or downloading Si-Soft SANDRA http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.html
Your PC uses PC3200 400 MHz, Non-Parity, Unbuffered DDR RAM.
I usually get my RAM from Crucial http://www.crucial.com/index.asp. They have a wizard for selecting the right RAM for your system, and the instructions included are pretty good. RAM is probably the easiest upgrade to install - snap it in and you're good to go.

Good luck!

 

[Clown2TheLeft]

control panel/system/general... should say your computer make, model, CPU type and speed and RAM type down in the lower right corner...

Later!

--The Clown to the Left

 

[Chopperhead]

Arcturus Thanks alot for that info.


One more question though. Ok I looked in the computer and seen I indeed have 4 slots with 2 available. my question is 2 have little white tabs at the end of the slot and 2 have little black ones. Is this important? Do you have to fill up both black one or can I just put one in the black or do I have to put a RAM card in both? hopefully you can decifer what Im trying to ask here


One other thing is does the combination matter like could I buy a 512 MB stick and another 256MB or do they have to be the same?

Sry to ask so many questions but Im just kinda lost with this stuff so thanks for your time.

 

[fatal0e]

The different color slots represent channels, it ties the two slots together for faster access. It would be best to buy two identical sticks for your remaining slots for maximum benefit.

 

[Fieryphoenix]

You should be able to mix sizes, but you'll get better performance if they are the same.

 

[Arcturus]

What they said.
If you want to take advantage of the dual channel memory, you should get two sticks that are as much alike as possible - most of the major vendors sell these as "kits" for this very reason. So, 2X256, 2X512, etc. Dual channel is not that big a deal, though - more RAM is good, regardless.

 

[Chopperhead]

can I only put one extra RAM card in? like just buy one 512mb instead of 2 256 or do you have to fill both channels?

 

[WoodenEye]

amd that were good advice, i didnt read them so thoroughly, so i just say when you buy ram, look they speed also. it dont matter so much if you buy 266 mhz memory to your amd that can handle 400mhz
i ment it matters ofcourse

 

[Lahdoz]

Filling both with an identical pair would be recommended.

 

[JJayzX]

Dual channel is a big deal its double the memory bandwidth. I would say get yourself this http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-21 its a 1GB kit 2 sticks of 512 ddr400 and only $75. I love zipzoomfly.com I just got a 300gig drive from them yesterday. Free shipping and only takes 2 days and like the lowest prices online, you can't go wrong.

p.s. and no I don't work for them and trying to advertise for them. I just recommend them to all my customers and get my stuff from there.

 

[JasonX]

Dual Channel is great and can make a noticable difference in preformance but a quick search of Dells website leads me to believe that the dimension 4600 DOES NOT support dual channel ram. This means nothing really in terms of what ram you can use for upgrading, it just means you won't get the same preformance levels as dual channel enabled ram.

The different color slots represent channels, it ties the two slots together for faster access.

Different color slots don't always mean you have a dual channel enabled motherboard and at the same time, lack of colored slots don't mean you don't have a dual channel enabled motherboard. My motherboard (ABIT NF-7S) doesn't have colored slots but does have dual channel ram (i'm currently running 2x512 in dual channel, shows up on boot screen) while my friend who bought his computer from HP does have colored slots but does not have dual channel.

 

[fatal0e]

I know different colors dont necessarily mean dual channel, but I have alot of experience working on that model and knew it had dual channel.

 

[Chopperhead]

Ok then well is there anyway to find out if my Computer does support it?

Nevermind I'll trust Fatal0e on this not that I really understand what dual channel does but still you seem to know what your talking about.

 

[Bast]

So what RAM do u currently have now?

 

[Chopperhead]

not sure what you mean but I have 512MB if thats what your asking

 

[Bast]

not sure what you mean but I have 512MB if thats what your asking

How much RAM do you have was what I was asking. LOL! OK! Yes, you definitely need more RAM.

 

[Arcturus]

Yes, fill those slots with 2X256 or 2X512. If you do have dual channel, then maximun benefit from the upgrade. But its good either way.

 

[jestingwolf]

Doesn't it also depend on what RAM he has at the moment? what I mean is, if he has 2x256, shouldn't he get another 2x256? Or can he get 2x512? And if he has 1x512 (not sure if it is likely), can't he get by with just another 1x512? Or should he go with 3x512?

Finally, if he has 2x256 and he can't get 2x512 added to that, can he replace the 2x256 by 2x512 instead of going for 4x256?

Does any of this make sense? And I'm asking because I have 2x256 and I think it's time to upgrade (again)...

 

[fatal0e]

Channels are independent, if you have 2x 256 in channel a, you can put 2x512 in channel b with no problems, if you have 1x512 and you add a similar 512 in same channel that should work. If you have 2x256 and you add just 1 512 you lose dual channel.