Installing more RAM

I need more RAM in my PC. I need 512 MB's of RAM actually. So I'm wondering, is RAM something that I can install myself? Or should I get the store to put it in for me? I don't have too much experience when it comes to adding things to my machine, the best I've done is add a wireless ethernet card. Also, does it depend on what kind of motherboard I have or something?

The reason I ask is because I need more RAM and I'd like to pay as little as possible to get it.

EDIT: My PC specs (if it matters): Windows XP Home, AMD Athlon, 857 MHz, 256 MB RAM

Add it yourself ... it's super easy. Just unclip the old RAM and add the new stuff. It also depends on what RAM. If you have PC133 RAM (I think most likely) they need to go in pairs. So if your 256 is a 128 and another 128 stick ... and you want 512 ... you can get one 512 stick or 2 256's. If you have just one 256 in there ... then you can get another 256 ... sometimes though different manufacturers RAM isn't compatible so you're probably better off buying a single stick of 512 rather than buying a 256 and adding it to your existing one. I had that problem and got stuck with a useless 256.

only simms need to go in pairs, dimms can go in 1 at a time.

Po,

Just check exactly which RAM is compatible with your motherboard too, I recently bought 512 for an Athlon 1900+ and it would not work becaue it was ' 8 chip' whatever that is. I finally found that the motherboard would on take '4 chip' so I swapped it with my father in laws whose PC it would run in.

I found a similar problem with Windows XP AND my BIOS when I tried to install a 200GB hard drive. Windows XP will not see biggert than 127GB hard drive for a Windows intstall, I HAD to make it into two partitions! Windows XP with SP2 built in is ok, BUT XP with SP2 added will not work.

IPete2.

OK none of you have mentioned anti-static precautions! If you have an anti-static wristband use it! If not, leave the PC plugged into the mains but switched off (In UK this means it is earthed, not sure about US). Then don't wear static clothes like jumpers that spark, hold both hands on the metal case for at least 5 seconds, maybe even change hand positions, then fit the RAM (it's easy). DO NOT touch the chips as you can short them (no sh*t), only hold the PCB (board) . Fit carefully yet firmly. Depending on your board support + flexibility you may need to hold some fingers under the board near the RAM area so it doesn't flex to much. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the tips all. I didn't know RAM came in 'sticks' and that you could combine multiple sticks. This is good news becuase if I've already got one 256MB stick then I can buy another which is cheaper than buying one 512MB stick. Sounds easy enough to add a stick, but ermm, I'm not exactly sure where the RAM is in my tower....

open the case, there will be the CPU with a massive fan+heatsync on it, all your cards plugged into special slots and these empty long slots with one with a 256Mb RAM chip in it abouit 6 inches long. The others will be empty, your new RAM will go in one of thoses (nearest to the existing).

When you press the new ram stick down the clips on the sides will kind of close, help them do so as you push down for a gentle and firm fit.

Also, they only go in one way. Remember not to get DDR2 ram as it's unlikely you support that. Use the memory checker on www.crucial.com 's site in order to find the correct (probably 184 pin 333) memory that fits your motherboard.

512 does improve the overall xp experience. The jump to 512 stops all those annoying pauses on a system like that. 256 is insufficient.

Hi Po, my advice is this. If you've never every installed memory in a PC and you dont want to risk damaging your PC then get a local store to do it.

Is memory easy to install?. Yes, its very easy.

However, first of all you need to make sure the memory you buy is the right one. Of course (Athlon 850mhz), you need DIMM for the specs you've listed. What about the age of your motherboard, does it only work on 100mhz & 133mhz memory or will it support 266, 333, 400?. Is your motherboard too old to support 1 stick of 512mb?. Does it require the older 8 or 16 chip sticks?. Some DIMM's are are only 4 chips and older motherboards will only support half its size.

Overall, if you are unsure about any of the above its best to get a store to fit and test the required size you want.

Qube gives sage advice: let a local store do it and watch them and learn from them this first time.

Well, I`ve taken out both the RAM sticks that were in my computer. They are both 128MB sticks, PC133, SDRAM. They have 168 pins and are made by AZENRAM. Thats all the info I need eh? While taking out both the sticks I noticed there were 3 stick slots, not just 2, does this mean anything?

So I should get one 512MB card then? OR 2 256MB sticks? Also, should I even go up to 1Gig RAM?

3 X 512

That's like $400 :( I can spend no more than $200...

Stick with 512mb, it is perfect for everyday computing.

1 gig + is for hardcore gamers, content creators etc...

Ok, I'm off.

How are you posting here without ram in your PC? :-P

My suggestion (as you asked for it), is to buy a 512mb stick of PC133 ram and install it all back in.

When you do this, make sure the 512mb stick is closest to the the CPU (in the slot closest). Install the other 128mb sticks in the remaining two slots.

This should give you a grand total of 768 of Ram with the best ram readily available for usage, and the rest for overflow (any time you need more than 512 mb of ram for some odd reason).

It's true that if you buy only a single 256 it might not pair properly with your existing 256, I have seen this more than once personally, so a 512 would me best case RAM = 768 worst = only 512 and a spare 256Mb to pick your teeth with or whatever.

Well, I went to the store and the guy said a 512MB card woudn't work on my motherboard so instead he suggested I just get a 256MB one and combine it with my 2 128's to make 512MB. He gave me a high-dense 256MB stick and he told me to hope it would work. It didn't. So I took it back and got a less-dense one and it does work. I put it in slot 1 and the 2 128's in slot 2 and 3. It works, but when I check My Computers properties, it says that I only have 384MB RAM instead of 512. All the sticks are in right... but the third one doesn't work?? Any ideas?

my suggestion is, go to service center and let guys do their jobs and everyones will be happy...I'm saying this becouse its obvious that you not sure what, how and where to do..so if you stuck with that, better leave guys whos knows things to finish everything for you..

But the expert guy TOLD me to do it myself. He said it is very easy, and it was very easy. The third slot for some reason isn`t working though.

Your motherboard may not support more than 384MB. That is a rather old system you have, similar to my three main systems. One has a limit of 384MB or RAM. One has a limit of 512MB of RAM, and one has a limit of 1GB of RAM. I would check the manufacurer's site for the specs on your motherboard if it is a storebought computer, or the manufacturer's site for your motherboard if you built the system for yourself. They should tell you the max amount of memory your system can handle.

*sigh* Time for a new computer me thinks. 5 years isn`t that old is it?

My brand new Adobe Creative Suite 2 that I got today - for under $300 CAD I might add - is running a tad bit sluggish :) In fact, it takes about a full 5 minutes to load a group of images. Meh.

Another catch is that some older motherboards may not support double-sided memory sticks (with chips on both sides, not just one), or may only support them in some of the slots.

another catch is that if the memory is of a different speed, you tend to need the slowest memory in the first slot.

So, if you haven't already tried this, see if it makes any difference when you change the order of the dimms.

You can also try to see how much memory your PC reports using just your new 256MB dimm -- if it gets recognized as a 128, then it may be too big for your PC. If it gets recognized as 256, then your PC may have a 384MB maximum.

I switched around the dimms and I deffinately have a 384MB max. This woes me. I guess I really do need a new computer.

LOL PO!!! The warranty only last for 3yrs now a days. 2 at best sometimes..

I usually upgrade my home systems every 3 years (except for the servers, which go 5 before upgrades).

This isn't true as when the BIOs boots up the pc, it does a buss scan and auto configures to the slowest component (IE Ram Stick).

This was true back in the 286 & 386 days though ;-)

The main reason for having the largest stick first is because of the way the addressing and allocating works. Its best to keep as much as you can on one chip. When you use more than 256 (doubtfull on your spec pc), then it will start to fill the other chips.



This isn't the best approach in my opinion. If someone is willing to learn, why not start learning? Having someone else do it for you just because you haven't done it before is just an excuse.

How do you think these guys at the 'service center' know how to do all that? They started out somewhere as well. And I will put good money that less than 40% of them went to school for anything in computers!

Congrats po, you just installed your own Mem sticks. 15 more components and you might be able to apply for your A+ certs ;-)

With DDR perhaps, but it was still true with PC100/PC133 DIMM's as well, including my Athlon 1200+ which was faster than the computer of the original poster. So, still something to consider.

(I had mixed/matched some PC100 and PC133 sticks in my Athlon 1200, and it would only boot & detect all memory if I put the PC100 in the first bank)

You guys must have super-motherboards or something, all I ever remember from installing RAM is that they're a total <bleep> to fit into the slot correctly so the little latches click into place....

Yeah, they were real hard to get in at first, the top half would never go all the way in. Then I got pretty good at it, I'm suprised I didn't break the things.

The waffer platers on the board are pretty tough and flexible (for the most part). Unless you bend it to a semi-sharp angle, it shouldnt crack or split a data race.

They are a pain because you want the best connection between the stick and the slot. Loose connections aren't as good conductivly as a tight connection.

My experience of fitting ram is that no matter which slot you try to stick it in, the ram connector will always be about 0.5mm bigger than the actual slot so you literally have to RAM the RAM in there and to make matters worse there's always some wires or other PCB stick up in the way making your life even more difficult.

Easy to fit, but a pain in the arse to actually get it into the slots.

Check my first post in this thread. The BIOS can be a problem too - so go and check out that first.

See if your bios needs an update - you will need to find out the motherboard name and visit their website - you will need the actual motherboard number and the bios (hold 'delete' down on boot up until the bios (looks like a DOS screen) pops up.

Now take your time to see what is on screen and find the BIOS version. When tiy are done exit using the 'Exit without changes' option just in case.

Then go search their website.

Updating the BIOS can be a bit daunting - I had to sit on the phone to Mousey who kindly helped through the process. If you know someone who has done it ask them for advice, but do it yourself and be very careful.

Good luck.

And the number one rule for updating a BIOS: only do it is absolutely necesary. If you know it fixes your problem, great... But if everything is working 'fine', then the risk isn't worth it just for the sake of having the latest version.

There's always a small chance you end up with a paperweight when doing something as low-level as a bios flash. I've had one Pentium 350 and a Linksys router turn into unusable bricks after failed BIOS updates.

(The linksys lost the network connection in the middle of the new firmware update, the Pentium looked like everyhting was going perfectly, the installer program verified that the motherboard was the correct version and the image file was not corrupted -- but after applying it it nonetheless wouldn't boot up anymore.

Put the 256mb in slot 0 (nearest the CPU) and the 128mb sticks in slots 1 & 2.

If you put smaller memory before bigger memory in the slot sequence a lot of motherboards will only detect subsequent slots as being the size of the early chip.

Failing that check the layout of the slots on the main board, a lot of 3 slot motherboards have 2 slots grouped together and the 3rd slot stood alone. Sometimes this means you should use the solo slot by itself OR the pair of slots and not all 3 together, sometimes this means the pair of slots need to have identical chips.
(This was common on CPU's with a 32 bit external databus, which if I recall correctly is the case with the Athlon chip you are using.)

I don't think that I'm going to bother with updating the BIOS. Seems too much of a risk for a computer that's dying anyways.
Banshee: That's the way I do have my RAM setup at the momment.

Those mobo's as you describe where a pair had to be identical was to allow a memory speed boost of upto 10% (note, upto) wooohooo. If you used mis-match pairs then it required you to put the memory in slots 1 & 3. What a crazy system that was.



Quite right, I only ever saw that on Althon mobo's and typically VIA chipset ones.