Computer memory upgrade recommendations?

[vi5]

I have a Dell Dimension 4600 Desk Top. Right now I have two, 256mb memory components in there. I'm looking to upgrade to two 512mb ones. But I've heard memory can be a very picky thing and some won't work in some computers. For instance I've heard Kingston brand doesn't work well with Dell.

Any advice? Could I just walk into Best Buy or Comp USA and pick up two things of 512 DDL memory there?

[ET Awful]

1. You could, but you'll pay through the nose.

I recommend ordering it from www.newegg.com or the like.

If it's a newer Dell, then it is most likely using regular DDR memory (double check to insure this first, either by looking in your manual, calling Dell or even using the memory finder application at www.crucial.com).

Newegg will give you the lowest price and cheapest shipping of pretty much any other retailer.

Once you find out the type (probably PC3200 or the like), then you can decide on brand. I recommend Corsair or Mushkin (both available at Newegg). They're not the cheapest brands, but they are the most reliable.

Hope that helped.

[McKenzie]

2. not familiar with Dell 'puters but

unless you are a gamer, or an overclocker, I'd go for a cheap, generic brand. It's only gamers and overclockers in the main who worry about front-side bus speed etc. If you are not a gamer, and don't handle graphics very much, 512 M/byte is fine and will run XP competently.

ps we have a Computer Group>>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

[vi5]

3. I'm doing a lot of video applications actually...

uploading video, editing, etc. It's slowing my computer down pretty heavily.

[RagingInMiami]

9. what's an overclocker?

[McKenzie]

15. a speed demon - link inside

I've posted the section of an overclocker's website that is most relevant to the inter-relationship between RAM and the "front-side bus" speed I mentioned above. Click home page for more.

Basically it's about tweaking components to get the highest speeds possible. Gamers do it a lot and often burn out CPU's (processors) in the process.

http://www.ocfaq.com/article.php/overclocking/35

[sir_captain]

4. Two best brands are

Corsair and Mushkin

If you're going to pull out your existing memory, I'd say pick up two sticks of 512MB of either Corsair or Mushkin running at DDR 3200 from a place like newegg.com

You'll save a lot of money.

If you're going to keep your existing memory, you need to find out how fast it's running as RAM only runs at the speed of the slowest constituent.

[BlueJazz]

5. Is your virtual memory/paging file set to 2 1/2 times ....

...the size of your memory?
In your case that would be 1280

[vi5]

6. What does that mean, and how do I check?

All I know is that when I ordered the computer last year it was with 512 DDR memory. I opened it up recently and it had 2 sticks of memory so I assumed it was 256 each.

[BlueJazz]

8. Go to:

Control Panel
System
Advanced
Performance...Settings
Advanced

On the bottom under "virtual memory" the "Total paging file size for all drives" should be 1280

if not than hit "change" ...make sure "custom" is checked and change to 1280 and hit "Set"

On Edit: Make sure "initial" and "Maximum" are both set to 1280 than "set"

I set both fields (initial and Maximum) to 1280 because windows usually does a lousy job. :)

[vi5]

11. What happens if I don't do that?

If I have two sticks of 512 it will only be 1,024mb's of memory. If I don't make that change what problems will I encounter?

[BlueJazz]

12. Well..the paging file is "virtual memory"..In other words.....

Windows writes to your hard drive as if it were going to your memory chips...BUT...since it takes a lot longer to go back and forth between the processor and your hard drive than to just go to your memory chips, "stuff" gets slowed down.

If the Paging file is set too low than windows constantly "Races" back and forth between the 2 (processor and hard drive)

You don't want it to do that...you want to tell windows "Look...don't change the paging file and waste my time"

To Techs: Yes, I know it's more complicated than that but I don't think vi5 wants a detailed lesson on Memory stuff. :)

[vi5]

13. Thanks. If it's as easy as you say I will do it.

I appreciate the help.

[BlueJazz]

14. No problem...It's just a thing of telling windows to......

"Stay focused on my graphics and don't fret and worry about changing stuff that, right now, dosn't matter...you and your procesor have enough to do right now (Getting your graphics up) without having a fit on making sure the paging file is set to your "liking".." :)

As I said...Getting Info from your Memory Chip is WAY faster than waiting for the hard-drive to give out the same info...

[Lerkfish]

7. go to 18004memory.com...

they'll buy your old memory and use that to offset the price of your new memory.
I've dealt with them in the past many times and been very satisfied.

I've also used
www.crucial.com
and they've been good.

to find all sorts of inexpensive computer items, you can also try:

www.pricewatch.com

but caveat emptor...they have satisfaction ratings on the vendors and some do not score high, so pay attention.

[SlackJawedYokel]

10. Crucial has a wizard

that can tell you exactly which RAM fits your computer.

For 512mb sticks for your desktop Crucial reccomends:
CT413712 DDR PC2700
CT413566 DDR PC3200
Roughly $85 each stick.

But I've heard memory can be a very picky thing and some won't work in some computers. For instance I've heard Kingston brand doesn't work well with Dell.
What you typically want to avoid is generic RAM.
That said, I just put 2 sticks of generic 512 PC133 cas3 into an older Abit mobo and it works perfectly fine.

Recent motherboards use not only DDR RAM, but dual-channel RAM so that matched pairs 2x256/2x512/2x1024 are faster than 1 stick 512/1024/2048, etc.

Good luck.

Cletus