A question about RAM

[The Mole]

A mate has asked me to get him some new RAM and i can't find out what type he needs. I am assuming standard DDR2 would work.

He is running Vista is their any way to check?

Also if he does not have a free slot is it ok to just remove the lesser amount and replace it with the new RAM?

[NemesiS]

Download SIW from http://www.gtopala.com/

That will tell you exactly what he has without removing it. Otherwise, just pull it out and have a look on the stick.

If there is only one stick in there with no spare slot, it is fine to pull it out and replace it with one that is bigger. Just bear in mind that Vista 32 only supports 3.4GB Ram. I'm assuming he won't have the 64Bit vista by default if this is a laptop or a desktop for that matter.

If it is a desktop, there will be about 4 slots on the MB. Check the motherboard make and model number and go to the manufacturer website to see what is the maximum it will allow and what speed you can go up to.

If he has 2 slots, just get two sticks of 2GB and lose about half a GB of memory allocation.

[The Mole]

Ok it is a desktop machine running Windows Vista 32.

His machine currently has 1gb ram and runs extremely slow.

I noticed you said Vista 32bit only supports upto 3.4gb of ram, does that mean if i put 2 lots of 2gb in it would cause problems? Or would it just see it as 3.4gb?

SIW is fantastic just what i was looking for cheers for that link

[briareos_kerensky]

Nope, you can install as much RAM as you want, the OS will just map (use) a total of 4gb (system + video RAM), and in system properties you'll see 3 or 3.5gb of installed RAM, depending on the amount of video RAM your graphic card has.

[abigsmurf]

One thing to remember : your ram will only run as fast as your slowest stick and DDR ram works better in matched pairs. You can see a huge performance boost actually taking out the existing ram and replacing it with 2x2gb sticks at the fastest your mobo can handle.

[Ian(not Ian)]

If you can get the PC onto t'internet goto crucial's webiste, they have an app which you can d/l and run. It will not only tell you which RAM you have but will give you a list of low-priced RAM you can order.
Vista 32 you'll be wanting a maximum of 4GB.

[FelixofMars]

Also depends on the age of the PC, I just change my motherboard and processor and the old one (3 years old) could only handle DDR 1. I would check his MB can support it before buying :P

[MattyD]

And check what front-side bus (FSB) speeds his MB supports. Older / cheaper MBs tend to only support low FSB speeds.