Newbie upgrading my computer, What Ram to use to ASUS M4N68T

oscardvine · 03 Mar 2012

Hello!

I currently have 4gb ram:
Memory Module : A-Data 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)
Memory Module : A-Data 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

My mobo is: ASUS M4N68T
Is it safe to add 8gb more RAM? I have 4 RAM slots, two are occupied by 2x 2gb as mentioned above.

I'm thinking about adding two of these:
A-Data 4GB (1x4096MB) CL9 1333Mhz

Kapacitet 4 GB Hastighet 1333 MHz Minneshastighet 1333 MHz Formfaktor 240-pin DIMM Spänning 1,5V
I don't understand much of it, and sadly it's in swedish. the product number is: AD3U1333C4G9-B

Wishmaster · 03 Mar 2012

You would probably be better off just removing what you have and replace it with a 8GB thats 2 modules. A 2x4GB Kit.

Essentially, you want to keep it in matching pairs of 2 since its a dual channel board. I would not use 3 modules.

But, in regards to upgrading, what exactlly are you trying to accomplish and why?
Going from 4-8GB may not help you at all, and if it does it may not help much at all unless you have need for it. I mean, if you really have need for it it will be helpful but ....

If the purpose is to speed up your computer, Im sorry to say you will likely be disappointed.

oscardvine · 03 Mar 2012

I make music, and alot of software are loading their sounds on to the RAM. I just want more headroom, cause sometimes it gets heavy on the computer.

you say it's dual channel, but why does it have 4 slots? aren't the other two slots usable? Sorry if this was a stupid question, i'm really new to this.

Thank you for helping me, I appriciate it very much!

Wishmaster · 03 Mar 2012

Ok, to clarify what I meant..

Yes dual channel. And by pairs, I mean pairs in the slots. So you want to use either 2 or 4 of the slots. Not 1 or 3 of them.

So you can get a kit that say 4 modules at 2GB each, or 2 modules at 4GB each.
Its easier on the memory controller if you only use 2 of the 4 slots, but it will be fine if you use all 4.

Also, you are better off with a matching set. You do not really want to mix and match brand with different settings/capacity. it may work out OK, but it may also cause you alot of headaches.

oscardvine · 03 Mar 2012

oh now i understand.

will it be a bad idea to have two 2gb next to two 4gb? or should i just go with 4gb all the way?

bobkn · 03 Mar 2012

oscardvine said:

oh now i understand.

will it be a bad idea to have two 2gb next to two 4gb? or should i just go with 4gb all the way?

Having two 2GB and two 4GB may work, but there's always a chance that the new RAM won't be compatible with the old. (As it's a desktop system, you may be able to set the RAM timings and voltage in the BIOS to make them play together.)

Asus has a QVL (qualified vendors list) for RAM, but they list no sets of 4GB modules.

ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS M4N68T

That probably means that they simply haven't updated the QVL in a while.

If you wish to be conservative, see what www.crucial.com offers. They guarantee compatibility. (Their server is down for maintenance at the moment.)

I suggest getting 4X4GB, mainly because DDR3 1333 DIMMs are relatively inexpensive at the moment.