Help Understanding Memory Upgrading

S

SirDeity

Big Geek
I currently have 2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533 MHz and I'd like to upgrade to 4GB of memory. I'm thinking of purchasing 2GB kit (1GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-6400 from crucial.com to put in my two free memory slots.

First, the obvious question: will this work? Crucial says it is compatible but I don't know if they think I'm planning to add the memory or replace the memory. I don't want to replace the memory, I just want to add more memory. Will the two sticks I already have work with the two sticks I have to add?

If they do work together, how will they perform? Will all the memory through the older memory sticks perform not as good as the memory through the better, newer memory sticks? Will the memory sticks (new and old) all combine their specs or will all my memory as a whole only perform as well as the slowest and least sophisticated memory stick installed? If you don't mind taking the time to do so, please explain to me how it'll work with 2 sticks different from 2 other sticks all installed and how they'll function together (the more examples the better).
 
First of all it depends on what hardware u've got....then if u r using XP' it doesnt utilizes the memory more than 2GB efficiently....
Also you might like going through [link=http://www.hardwareforums.com/ddr-speeds-pcxxxx-ddrxxx-cheat-sheet-12882/]this link[/link]
 
[link=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx]Memory Support and Windows Operating Systems[/link]
 
I use Windows XP professional and I was thinking the extra memory would be good for the games I play... for example, one game in particular recommends at least 1.5GB of RAM... and with its memory leak that ultimately causes crashing I assume doubling the memory in my system will approximately double the length of time I have until the game crashes from another memory leak. Also, the game runs very laggish, expecially in areas where there is a lot of "stuff going on" (usually vegetation and weather). The game I'm talking about is Gothic 3 and currently I believe it is the most hardware intensive computer game on the market.

So more than 2GB will actually hurt my performance or just won't have any positive effects? I haven't checked out the links you gave me yet but I will after submitting this response.

And for other hardware I'm using a dell XPS Gen 4, Pentium 4 Prescott DT 80547 3.6Ghz processor, 80GB 10,000RPM hard drive, EVGA GeForce 7950GT KO Superclocked video card, 460watt power supply, and you know the memory already. The chipset is 925XE I think

P.S. I also use a lot of CAD programs which use a LOT of memory... but again, I don't understand the limitations and utilizations of memory...
 
Only RAM is not the major factor of performance when you talk about gamings....
What are the specifications of your computer???
 
SirDeity said:
I use Windows XP professional...

....And for other hardware I'm using a dell XPS Gen 4, Pentium 4 Prescott DT 80547 3.6Ghz processor, 80GB 10,000RPM hard drive, EVGA GeForce 7950GT KO Superclocked video card, 460watt power supply, and you know the memory already. The chipset is 925XE I think
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what other computer specs I could possibly list... what do you mean by computer specs? I already listed what I thought were the computer specs.
 
In general, when u talk about Graphics Design, you look more towards Processor speed and when u talk about Games then u look more towards Graphics Card...RAM requirements in both cases is always high.. You system seems very good to me but I dont have enough knowledge about Graphics Card, so cant tell ne thing about it...but i know one main thing that PCIe cards are the fastest Graphics cards....
There is one more thing u need to worry about, which is us PSU. For more information on PSU, have a look on [link=http://www.hardwareforums.com/power-supply-sticky-5218/]This THread[/link].

SD said:
I'm not sure what other computer specs I could possibly list... what do you mean by computer specs? I already listed what I thought were the computer specs.
Click to expand...
I think u've edited it later.....
 
Oh, yea I edited it immediately after posting because I forgot to add something. You must have added your response while I was in the process of editing. Sorry about that.

Anyway, the video card specs can be viewed here. It is almost a state-of-the art video card, only bested by the 8 series of cards which are out of my price range.
 
The answer to my original question is still unclear to me. I checked out the links your gave me and they were interesting but didn't seem to answer the question of what would happen if I use two different speeds of memory sticks together. The memory sticks I currently have aren't nearly as good as the memory sticks I want to add to my system. How will they work together?
 
If you add new RAM With more speed then it will forced to work slow like your old RAM....
[link=http://www.hardwareforums.com/added-more-ram-system-slowed-down-15540/]Go through This thread, it will clear your lot other doubts[/link]
 
So in order to notice an increase in memory performance I'd have to replace the 2GB already installed and wouldn't be increasing my total memory, but only its speed? Hmm... that's not really worth the cost of upgrading then. That is really unfortunate =(
 
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