Adding Memory - Comments

I think for the lay man, there should have been just a few lines on how to recognize the type of ram module you have, to be able to purchase it in the first place.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Try the Crucial Memory Advisor Tool or System Scanner to detect your RAM, it works great.

Beware of the four ram slots that have 2 in parallel.So you can not use double sided ram. I was updating a Asus P4B533 4 slot board from 1Gig (2..512 MB) to 2Gig.Using Crucial to determine what I needed. I bought a 1gig ram.When I installed it my computer locked up. After reading my book on the board, I found you can't use double sided ram. I removed one of the 512 and ended up with 1.5 Gig.

I had the same issue as Scott - 2 of the slots require single sided RAM, so I got 1.5 GB instead of 2. I've not used the Crucial tool but you do need to know what you have in terms off DDR and speed (PC###). If the Crucial tool tells you, thats a bonus as some RAM is not marked. AIDA32 (free) will also give you exact details of existing RAM under MB, SPD. You get better results with a type match, even better results with a maker match.

Some MB's support different speed RAM but may run it all at the lowest speed present. Some suggest you put the fastest in the first slot. If you don't have the manual for our motherboard, it should be available from the makers web site with the MB's model number - usually printed on the board.

Finally, some MB's will support a bit faster RAM with a BIOS update. Check the makers web site for the current BIOS version and instructions. (The installed BIOS versions displays during your computers boot, usually at the top.)

The other issue people will occasionally run into is a RAM chip going south. So the RAM is present but one chip is bdt which causes read-write errors and random crashes. Its not that common but I've seen it a couple of times. The free Memcheck software can help check your RAM.

Hi, Bob. As you point out, RAM requirements have rocketed over the past ten years. I was asked some months ago to help a pensioner install a broadband service to her laptop. Before visiting, I checked out her telecoms service provider's website for minimum system specs and procedures. Her laptop had 64MB RAM; the minimum requirement was 128MB! The 'free broadband' service cost more than she had bargained for, without her even being able to use it!

I am having a problem installing 2 sticks of ram into my mother in law's computer. Both of the sticks work seperately and 1 has a heat sink cover on it but I did not think that would matter, but when I put them togather in the computer, it powers up and says it is not a matched pair. Any ideas? It is a Sony Vaio VGC-RB53.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There's probably nothing you can do, if the motherboard is reading the identifiers of the RAM sticks and expecting a matched set.

I added 128M RAM - it works but my HP printer dissapeared. it said something about RPC and 'Operation could not be complete'. microsoft's website didn't help at all. Anyone Any Ideas??

EDITOR'S NOTE: What operation could not be completed?

Touching the metal surfaces when the unite is unplugged, will not ground yourself or discharge static electricity when installing memory.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Okay... what's your suggestion?

I have an Hp a6019h pavillion that has two 240 pin slots with 1 Gigabyte in each slot. My computer will support 2 more gigabytes of memory. Is there an adapter that will allow me to install two memory sticks per slot? HP says there is, but who sells them?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I haven't seen such a device. Surprising that HP didn't try ti sell you one...

What should I do if the Ram is installed properly, but the motherboard does not reckognize the new memory?

I have 512m DDR2 400mhz memory in my dell E310 and want to add 1GB. Every thing I see at the store is DDR2 with higher numbers such as PC5300 ,6400 or 4200 with speeds of 667 and 533mhz. Can I use any DDR2 memory or do I have to buy the 400mhz size?

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Crucial site mentioned in the article may help. If not, I'd ask Dell.