Member Avatar for J☼E

i dont know much about ram other than i need more of it.

i have 256 now and i need more for some games i need 512

1.) if i get 256 ram does that add on to my current ammouint or do i have to get a 512 stick and install that?

2.) what brand is good

3.) is it easy to install

  • 4 Contributors
  • 6 Replies
  • 293 Views
  • 1 Day Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by J☼E

Dani AI

Generated

Short, practical follow-up that complements the advice from , and with verification and troubleshooting steps useful years later.

Start by identifying exactly what is already installed (size, SPD timings, slot layout). A lightweight system profiler such as CPU‑Z reads each DIMM’s SPD and shows which slots are populated. Vendor tools (for example Crucial’s System Scanner or Upgrade Selector) can map a model to guaranteed-compatible parts and part numbers. (cpuid.com)

For reliability and best dual‑channel performance, prefer matched modules (same capacity, speed and timings) sold as a kit. Mixing sizes or speeds will often work, but the system will typically run all memory at the lowest common speed and may reduce multi‑channel benefits or introduce instability; buying matched pairs avoids that risk. Consult vendor population rules for the platform before mixing modules. (kingston.com)

After fitting new DIMMs follow a short validation workflow: power up and confirm the BIOS/UEFI reports the expected total; if not, power down and reseat the sticks. Boot a trusted bootable tester (MemTest86) and let it run multiple passes; if errors appear test one DIMM at a time in each slot to isolate a bad module or a bad slot, then update BIOS/firmware if needed before RMA’ing memory. This sequence finds most post‑upgrade problems quickly. (memtest86.net)

Note: the thread’s suggestion to use a system‑info tool was on point — tools avoid guessing which DIMM type is required — and older OEM desktops can be pickier than custom boards, so using a vendor compatibility selector or buying a matched kit minimizes surprises. These extra checks make the upgrade quick, stable, and repeatable for others following the same thread. (crucial.com)

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for Sardukar

U can get a 256MB stick and ad it to your existing RAM = 512MB.
Crucial, Kingston are really decent, and not usually much more than
some of the lesser known, less trusted brands.
Yes, very very easy. Have the machine off, ground yourself (hold onto bare metal on the case while its plugged in) unplug, and install. thats it.

Member Avatar for J☼E

ok now i need to know what kind to get

i have a dell dimension 4600what other information do i need to know in order to buy?

Member Avatar for oalee

ok now i need to know what kind to get

i have a dell dimension 4600what other information do i need to know in order to buy?

Of what I know about the Dell Dimension 4600, it supports PC2700 (333-MHz) or PC3200 (400-MHz) DDR SDRAM (non-ECC). Just get either of the two types and it should work.

*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=*
* I am the oceans... Still, still yet always in constant *
* motion... Quiet but never afraid, Silent but always awake...*

* And no God nor Man can control where you roam... *
* No boundaries cast forever you last.... *

*=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*

Member Avatar for J☼E

i dled adia and it said i have ddr sdram but i already knew that..

Member Avatar for J☼E

yay i got 256 mbz and installed now im at 512 and i can tell a huge difference, battlefield 1942 loads levels 1:21 seconds faster than it did before! a whole minute and 21 seconds! it was a good investment....

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.