I want to upgrade my RAM but...

[Alastair]

...I'm a bit of a PC dummy

Looking at Crucials system checker and recommendations it says I have 1GB at current that comprises of 2x 512mb. I have 2 free slots left.

Is it really just as simple as buying either another 2x 512's or 1x 1GB or even 2x 2Gb, opening up the PC (when it's off obviously) and sticking in the new cards? Switch on and it'll all work just fine?

It's a Dell Dimension 5150 by the way running XP something or other.

[BeyondJumpFish]

Yep, its that simple. Just make sure its fully clipped in. It'll only go in one way so no worry of plugging it in backwards or anything.

[ExpertKing]

Be mindful though, unless you're running an X86_64 system then 4G's will not be fully used Alastair.32-bit systems ( PAE not taken into account ) can only handle around 3.2G's iirc.

[Alastair]

Thanks guys. I'll get onto that soon. Was thinking of 3G max anyway as Crucial mentioned similar, not that I know what your on about though ExpertKing

[ExpertKing]

lol..that's fine I wouldn't worry about it then.

[fishbowlhead]

Thought id post my question in here save starting a new thread. Just bought 2x2gigs of ram for my laptop (Fujitsu Siemens AMILO, vista, duel core 1.8) However the laptop is only detecting 3 gig of ram, both the sticks are 2 gig, and both work fine on there own (both detected as 2 gig on there own) but only 3 gig when together.

Is there only so much ram the laptop can take? detect?

[Hohum]

If you're using a 32-bit operating system then you won't be able to use the whole 4gb due to memory addressing limitations.

[fishbowlhead]

If you're using a 32-bit operating system then you won't be able to use the whole 4gb due to memory addressing limitations.

yes its running at 32-bit. So would i be better off swapping a 2 gig back for a 1 gig then seeing as itle only be able to use 3 gig?

[Alastair]

Finally got round to doing this yesterday and it worked perfectly. Has made a massive difference too so thanks for the advice guys.

[sj33]

yes its running at 32-bit. So would i be better off swapping a 2 gig back for a 1 gig then seeing as itle only be able to use 3 gig?

No because at least with 2x2GB sticks, you get to make use of dual channel, which you would not with a single 1GB stick. There's no harm in the RAM being 'capped' to 3.2GB, other than being unable to utilise 800MB of memory.

Eventually, everyone will have to switch over to 64-bit operating systems when 3.2GB becomes too little.