upgrading ram win xp pro

[islandman4567]

I've got 256MB of ram now , I'm thinking of adding another 256.

would that be enough? I'm not using the computer for gaming, just surfing and burning the odd dvd. it just seems sluggish right now.

If I have one stick of 256 MB memory , can I add another of a different brand ?

can I add another stick like a 128MB ? or would I have to get another 256MB stick?

also , the memory I have now is sd ram. I think I read somewhere that you cannot combine ddr and sd ram. is that correct?

 

[WoodPeckr]

512 of ram is nice, 1024 (1gig) is even better.
You have to match the type of memory you now have.
Memory is cheap and the best way to upgrade your PC performance, go for 1 gig if you can.

You can never have too much memory.

 

[loco2.0]

I beg to differ on how cheap RAM is, because if it's an older PC and let's say it's using PC100 it starts getting a bit steep. You should have no problem mixing the amounts of memory (124+256MB) but make sure you match the type to keep things simple.

 

[Perry Mason]

The advice I got is that 512 is plenty... 1 gig very nice... above that, for what you are doing (same as myself) it is a waste because the swap file gobbles up most of it so the improvement in performance is, at best, marginal.

OK, you Geeks: did I get good advice?

Perry

 

[Meister]

I beg to differ on how cheap RAM is, because if it's an older PC and let's say it's using PC100 it starts getting a bit steep. You should have no problem mixing the amounts of memory (124+256MB) but make sure you match the type to keep things simple.

You are correct SDRAM is more expensive.

It sounds your computer is a few years old. Instead of throwing money at RAM in an old CPU you may want to just buy a new box. For example you can buy a brand new Acer AMD Athlon 64 3500 for around 400 dollars with 512 Ram.

 

[toughb]

Absolutely

512 of ram is nice, 1024 (1gig) is even better.
You have to match the type of memory you now have.
Memory is cheap and the best way to upgrade your PC performance, go for 1 gig if you can.

You can never have too much memory.

Increase ram and match type. Brand is not an issue.

New $400.00 computer, woo, you get what you pay for. I do not recommend Acer nor MDG nor Dell.

 

[loco2.0]

I beg to differ once more. Dell, MDG, etc are not bad depending on the user.

 

[tboy]

256 mb ram? Hell, my watch has more memory than that! lol (just kidding but 256? no wonder your machine is sluggish to say the least)....

Ram is THE best way to increase performance. Arguable there are many factors that determine a computers speed but that is the fastest and easiest.

While you can mix brands, I don't reccommend it. The new stick should match the current memory exactly, this includes but not limited to: parity, speed, type (ddr, ddr2, PC2700 PC3200 etc), it SHOULD be the same size (especially if you're putting it in the same bank) and the specs should be as close as humanly possible (CL 2.5-3-3-7 etc) and buffered/unbuffered.

If I were you I'd check the specs on your motherboard and then shop around. 1 gig can be had for $112.00 of DDR. Cheap in my book.

How old is your pc anyways? Is it an at? Atx? for a couple of dollars more you could probably upgrade the mobo, memory, and processor.

What I'd do if I were you is pull of your cover, look for the brand name on the motherboard and the model number then go to the manufacturer's website and see what type of memory you can install.

 

[Meister]

Increase ram and match type. Brand is not an issue.

New $400.00 computer, woo, you get what you pay for. I do not recommend Acer nor MDG nor Dell.

I'm not sure if upgrading a 5 year old Pentium 4 really makes sense over spending a couple of hundred dollars extra on something that will be much faster all around. At 400 dollars you don't really care if the computer breaks after 2 or 3 years.

 

[tboy]

I'm not sure if upgrading a 5 year old Pentium 4 really makes sense over spending a couple of hundred dollars extra on something that will be much faster all around. At 400 dollars you don't really care if the computer breaks after 2 or 3 years.

Well, add a hundred bucks and you can get an asus motherboard, 1 gig ddr2 memory and a pentium duo core processor....throw that in your atx case with existing drives and you've got a pretty nice pc....

Too many people forget that a computer is just a box full of components. To upgrade you don't have to replace the whole thing.

Think of your home stereo setup: you've got an amp, dvd player, tape deck (possibly), vcr (what the hell are they again? lol), cable box, you get the same setup with a pc only it's all contained in ONE box instead of 5....

 

[WoodPeckr]

You are correct SDRAM is more expensive.

Didn't realize SDRAM got that expensive, it used to be real cheap.

When bought 3 sticks of 128MB PC133 SDRAM a few years back, to max out my PC memory to 384MB, it only cost $15/stick. It cost $45 plus tax then.

 

[tboy]

Didn't realize SDRAM got that expensive, it used to be real cheap.

When bought 3 sticks of 128MB PC133 SDRAM a few years back, to max out my PC memory to 384MB, it only cost $15/stick. It cost $45 plus tax then.

LOL well, when I upgraded my 486 from 4 mb to 20 the extra 48 pin ram cost me 800 buckaroos!

 

[antlerman]

upgrading the ram is one thing...
but if you are gamming....then it is best to check the graphics card.
You can have alot of memory...but it without a good graphics card to process and delivery you are almost back a square one.

Got to check both.

 

[islandman4567]

thanks everyone.

as I mentioned before , I don't need it for gaming so I think a memory upgrade will be sufficient.

any special brand to look for or to avoid? recommendations on where to buy?