MAX RAM question

bigG · 17 Dec 2008 at 20:46

Seasons Greating ALL!!!

I have a querry about ram. When you install the maxium amount of RAM to a motherboard, does it have to be split across all slots?

E.g I have a very old dell laptop, inspiron 4000, it says i can put a maxium of 512mb ram in it. does this mean 2 x 256mb modules, or can i put 1 x 512mb module in.

Regards

G

Kennysevenfold · 17 Dec 2008 at 20:49

Hi mate, you should be fine with either way, but i would tend to put 2 x 256mb in to enable dual channel mode if you already have a 256 installed

but either way is fine

bigG · 17 Dec 2008 at 23:59

Thanks

I will install 2 then.

G

bobbydigital · 18 Dec 2008 at 10:11

If you have the memory lieing around or a friend does you could put in a 512mb and try another stick in the laptop, sometimes the max memory quoted was just based upon the availability of memory when the laptop was made. I have a laptop that says 512mb max, with 512mb in each slot and it shows 1gb and works fine.

bigG · 19 Dec 2008 at 00:52

bobbydigital said:
If you have the memory lieing around or a friend does you could put in a 512mb and try another stick in the laptop, sometimes the max memory quoted was just based upon the availability of memory when the laptop was made. I have a laptop that says 512mb max, with 512mb in each slot and it shows 1gb and works fine.

I bought 2 x 512mb from a shop, and neither of them work. when i put the old ram back in the laptop works fine. so i'm going to presume they are dead, and get a refund. (hopefully)

And then probably buy 2 x 256mb from oc.

G

Nitristion · 19 Dec 2008 at 09:32

It may be that the new RAM you bought isn't supported by your mobo. Whats your mobo's specs, and what RAM were you trying to put in?

Kennysevenfold · 19 Dec 2008 at 15:19

could be a speed incompatability.?

were the 2 x 512mb moduals the same speed, timming and voltage as the 256 that was in there.?

bigG · 20 Dec 2008 at 10:14

The speed rating is different, the module in the laptop is pc100, and i bought pc133, :eek:

Kennysevenfold · 20 Dec 2008 at 17:22

lol that might just be your problem :O

higher speed ram can be down clocked easily enough,

if you pop in the Pc133, boot into the bios and set the speed manually to pc100 and it should work, assuming the timmings and voltages are the same.

bigG · 20 Dec 2008 at 18:06

Kennysevenfold said:
lol that might just be your problem :O

higher speed ram can be down clocked easily enough,

if you pop in the Pc133, boot into the bios and set the speed manually to pc100 and it should work, assuming the timmings and voltages are the same.

The laptop does not 'post'. and therefore i can't get to the bios.
As for the rest the voltage etc match, it was just the speed that was different.

Cheers

G