Ram replacement

[DrBejar]

Hey everyone!
I have a quick question, i want to buy new ram for my pc, but not sure what to find to buy them. all i know is it's DDr2 and i want to go up to 8G of ram, i got 5G of ram at the moment.

Windows 7 professional 64bit
AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual core Processor 5400+
5G ram / ATi Radeon HD 4650 1G
480W power supply
going to upgrade video card to either 5850 and 5870
or ATI 5670 since it's a mid range causal gamer card.

 

[richc46]

Welcome
The best advice that I can give you is, Do not buy 3gb of ram. This is called mix and match a big NO No. Go out and buy all that you need.

 

[seavixen32]

I agree totally, do not mix and match RAM.

Run Crucial's memory scanner for best advice on what you can install and in what configuration.

 

[TBoyd]

I assume that your motherboard supports dual channel memory, as you haven't listed the exact model in your specs. If you already have 2x2Gb matched dual-channel memory modules, then buy another 2x2Gb dual channel set of modules. If you don't already have a dual channel set, get 2 sets of 2x2Gb dual channel modules & be sure to place them in the correct dimm slots per ASUS' recommendations.

It would help greatly if you can get the specific model for your motherboard. You could go to RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, SSD at Crucial.com & run the system scan. It will give you the info you need to choose your ram. It is a great tool to use in your case - no matter whether you buy Crucial ram or not.

Sorry - After posting I noticed that SeaVixen beat me to it!

 

[seavixen32]

It makes a change TBoyd. It's not often I beat anybody at anything!

 

[DrBejar]

Welcome
The best advice that I can give you is, Do not buy 3gb of ram. This is called mix and match a big NO No. Go out and buy all that you need.

i didnt put the ram in before.
it's 2G, 1G, 1G, 1G so i should buy 2x2G? or buy a whole new 4 set?

 

[DrBejar]

I agree totally, do not mix and match RAM.

Run Crucial's memory scanner for best advice on what you can install and in what configuration.

Memory upgrades from Crucial.com - Determine My Memory Needs
this is what i got.
i buy things on amazon because i feel more better there.
not sure if you can help me pick it out on there?

 

[richc46]

Go buy a whole new set. RAM is not that expensive. You never want to mix and match. Why open yourself for potential problems?

 

[DrBejar]

I assume that your motherboard supports dual channel memory, as you haven't listed the exact model in your specs. If you already have 2x2Gb matched dual-channel memory modules, then buy another 2x2Gb dual channel set of modules. If you don't already have a dual channel set, get 2 sets of 2x2Gb dual channel modules & be sure to place them in the correct dimm slots per ASUS' recommendations.

It would help greatly if you can get the specific model for your motherboard. You could go to RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, SSD at Crucial.com & run the system scan. It will give you the info you need to choose your ram. It is a great tool to use in your case - no matter whether you buy Crucial ram or not.

Sorry - After posting I noticed that SeaVixen beat me to it!

it's all good, heres what i got, posting it to you so you can also see.
Memory upgrades from Crucial.com - Determine My Memory Needs

 

[DrBejar]

If anyone of you guys dont mind helping me pick the right ones on Amazon?
that's where i buy stuff and i feel more safe.
i will buy a whole new set to get to 8G of ram since each solt can hold max 2G.
please and thank you guys for helping me.

is this the right ram?
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-Channel-P...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1309020545&sr=1-10

45$ for the 4G of ram

 

[stormy13]

As reputable if not more so than Amazon,

Newegg.com - PNY Optima 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model MD4096KD2-800

$4.00 a kit cheaper, and faster speed to boot.

 

[DrBejar]

As reputable if not more so than Amazon,

Newegg.com - PNY Optima 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model MD4096KD2-800

$4.00 a kit cheaper, and faster speed to boot.

that's a PC2 6400, dont i need PC2-5300?

 

[stormy13]

If you want slower that is up to you. The page for your motherboard is down at Asus at the moment, but your motherboard actually supports up to DDR2 1066,



but it is definitely not worth the price difference for the little bit extra speed.

By the way a couple of things to consider if you do go to 8 GB,

1. If you plan on upgrading the rest of your computer any time in the near future and had intentions of moving the memory, you won't be able to as all AMD and Intel boards now take DDR3.

2. Don't be surprised if you do take it to 8 GB and this happens,

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

Note When the physical RAM that is installed on a computer equals the address space that is supported by the chipset, the total system memory that is available to the operating system is always less than the physical RAM that is installed. For example, consider a computer that has an Intel 975X chipset that supports 8 GB of address space. If you install 8 GB of RAM, the system memory that is available to the operating system will be reduced by the PCI configuration requirements. In this scenario, PCI configuration requirements reduce the memory that is available to the operating system by an amount that is between approximately 200 MB and approximately 1 GB. The reduction depends on the configuration.

Basically means that you will have somewhere around 7 GB available; could be a bit more or a bit less; depending on what is connected to the motherboard (which is pretty much everything from the video card to the sound card, etc).

 

[TBoyd]

A couple of good choices....

If anyone of you guys dont mind helping me pick the right ones on Amazon?
that's where i buy stuff and i feel more safe.
i will buy a whole new set to get to 8G of ram since each solt can hold max 2G.
please and thank you guys for helping me.

is this the right ram?
Amazon.com: PNY OPTIMA 4GB (2x2GB) Dual Channel Kit DDR2 667 MHz PC2-5300 Desktop DIMM Memory Modules MD4096KD2-667: Electronics

45$ for the 4G of ram

You should be fine with 2 sets of either:

Amazon.com: Corsair XMS2 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) PC2-6400 800 MHz 240-PIN DDR2 Dual-Channel Memory Kit - TWIN2X4096-6400C5: Electronics

OR

Amazon.com: Crucial Technology CT2CP25664AA800 4GB 2GBx2 240-pin DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Kit: Electronics

PC2 6400 will give you a little more speed than your current ram & your motherboard will handle it easily.

Just remember when you get the sets, be sure to install the memory modules in the correct dimm slots. I'm not sure about your motherboard requirements for this. Many motherboards require you to install one set in dimm slots 1 & 3, and the other set in 2 & 4. Otherwise you will not be taking advantage of the dual-channel advantage. (See my edit below, - it's 1&2 and 3&4).

Another note - You can go with PC2 8500, but on rare occasions some motherboards have intermittent issues when running the fastest ram & maximum capacity that they are advertised to handle.

Edit - I just checked your motherboard manual & you need to install one matched ram set in dimms 1 & 2, and the other set in 3 & 4

I also noticed a note in the manual about limitations on 8 GB of PC2 8500, so I'd definitely go with the PC2 6400 to avoid any possible headaches!

 

[DrBejar]

If anyone of you guys dont mind helping me pick the right ones on Amazon?
that's where i buy stuff and i feel more safe.
i will buy a whole new set to get to 8G of ram since each solt can hold max 2G.
please and thank you guys for helping me.

is this the right ram?
Amazon.com: PNY OPTIMA 4GB (2x2GB) Dual Channel Kit DDR2 667 MHz PC2-5300 Desktop DIMM Memory Modules MD4096KD2-667: Electronics

45$ for the 4G of ram

You should be fine with 2 sets of either:

Amazon.com: Corsair XMS2 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) PC2-6400 800 MHz 240-PIN DDR2 Dual-Channel Memory Kit - TWIN2X4096-6400C5: Electronics

OR

Amazon.com: Crucial Technology CT2CP25664AA800 4GB 2GBx2 240-pin DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Kit: Electronics

PC2 6400 will give you a little more speed than your current ram & your motherboard will handle it easily.

Just remember when you get the sets, be sure to install the memory modules in the correct dimm slots. I'm not sure about your motherboard requirements for this. Many motherboards require you to install one set in dimm slots 1 & 3, and the other set in 2 & 4. Otherwise you will not be taking advantage of the dual-channel advantage. (See my edit below, - it's 1&2 and 3&4).

Another note - You can go with PC2 8500, but on rare occasions some motherboards have intermittent issues when running the fastest ram & maximum capacity that they are advertised to handle.

Edit - I just checked your motherboard manual & you need to install one matched ram set in dimms 1 & 2, and the other set in 3 & 4

I also noticed a note in the manual about limitations on 8 GB of PC2 8500, so I'd definitely go with the PC2 6400 to avoid any possible headaches!

thank you very much for the help
going to buy them next week