more Ram

  • Thread starter Thread starter KRK
  • Start date Start date
K

KRK

Hello,

A follow-up to my earlier thread.

I am thinking of increasing my RAM to 4Gb from 2Gb.

According to the manual there are 2 memory slots accessible from the
underside of the PC (Toshiba laptop), and 4Gb is OK (2 * 2Gb).

I need to know what is already installed, ie 1 * 2Gb module, or 2 * 1Gb
modules.

In other words will I need to buy 1 or 2 new 2Gb modules?

Vista Control Panel (System) confirms that I have 2Gb, but not how it is
arranged.

Can this be done from within Vista ? or do I need to get out my screwdriver
?

Thanks

KK
 
KRK said:
Hello,

A follow-up to my earlier thread.

I am thinking of increasing my RAM to 4Gb from 2Gb.

According to the manual there are 2 memory slots accessible from the
underside of the PC (Toshiba laptop), and 4Gb is OK (2 * 2Gb).

I need to know what is already installed, ie 1 * 2Gb module, or 2 * 1Gb
modules.

In other words will I need to buy 1 or 2 new 2Gb modules?

Vista Control Panel (System) confirms that I have 2Gb, but not how it is
arranged.

Can this be done from within Vista ? or do I need to get out my
screwdriver ?

Thanks

KK
Click to expand...

You can get out the screwdriver or download Belarc which will tell you
how many sticks you have:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

It's free.

M
 
Check what the memory adviser for your model says at
http://www.crucial.com/.

Most recent laptops work best with, or require, matched pairs of memory
modules. I would expect yours to have shipped with 2x1GB modules.
 
Hi,

As stated by others, you can use belarc or just pop open the cover (you
might as well do the latter as you will need to in order to add the new ram
later). Crucial.com is an excellent source of memory modules and will also
tell you the limitations of your motherboard.

My addition to this thread concerns usability of the additional memory. You
don't mention in either thread whether you are running the 32 or 64 bit
version of Vista. If you are running the 32-bit variety, be aware that the
most memory you will be able to address is roughly 3.2GB regardless of the
installed amount due to a limit on the number of addresses available in the
x86 build (roughly .8GB are reserved for addressing the system hardware, the
remainder are assigned to memory). If you are running x64, then you will be
able to address all 4GB.

The second consideration is whether or not you will be able to utilize this
added memory, as 2GB is more than sufficient for most users. Those that
might benefit are heavy gamers, users of autocad, and those that frequently
edit images or video. Basically, those that page heavily with 2GB - you
would notice a lot of disk activity as pages are acccessed. If you are not
paging frequently, adding ram is likely to be of little use for you, and you
actually may see a reduction in the memory response rate as many
motherboards knock the access speed down a notch when all sockets are full.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Hi & thanks

I have the 32 bit version.

I do notice a lot of disk activity, but there are so many background
activities in Vista, plus antivirus stuff etc etc, that I dont really know
what is causing it. I do do a lot of video & graphics stuff tho. I will try
the crucial site.

Thanks again

KK
 
Hi,

Then I would also recommend that you use a utility like autoruns to examine
what is loading as part of the startup group and limit the system to only
necessary programs. Many programs, when initially installed, set themselves
up in the startup group on the assumption that the user will want to run
that program immediately after logging on. Totally unnecessarry, but they do
it anyways. Disable the ones you don't actually need.

Autoruns: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Rick said:
Hi,

As stated by others, you can use belarc or just pop open the cover (you
might as well do the latter as you will need to in order to add the new
ram later). Crucial.com is an excellent source of memory modules and
will also tell you the limitations of your motherboard.

My addition to this thread concerns usability of the additional memory.
You don't mention in either thread whether you are running the 32 or 64
bit version of Vista. If you are running the 32-bit variety, be aware
that the most memory you will be able to address is roughly 3.2GB
regardless of the installed amount due to a limit on the number of
addresses available in the x86 build (roughly .8GB are reserved for
addressing the system hardware, the remainder are assigned to memory).
If you are running x64, then you will be able to address all 4GB.

The second consideration is whether or not you will be able to utilize
this added memory, as 2GB is more than sufficient for most users. Those
that might benefit are heavy gamers, users of autocad, and those that
frequently edit images or video. Basically, those that page heavily with
2GB - you would notice a lot of disk activity as pages are acccessed. If
you are not paging frequently, adding ram is likely to be of little use
for you, and you actually may see a reduction in the memory response
rate as many motherboards knock the access speed down a notch when all
sockets are full.
Click to expand...

I have two slots in my desktop. With only one full, I have Single
Channel Memory. With both full, I have Double Channel Interleaved
Memory. Are you saying that Single Channel is better?

M
 
listen pal, if you plan to install new modules, you need to pen the case.
Is it hard to open NOW and check what modules are installed.
What kind of nonsense problem i syours?

Got a screwdriver?
 
You have todo this:
Install 2+2GB.

NOT one 4GB stick and not 1+3GB (does anyone even sell 3GB?).
It has to be macthed 2+2GB, ok?

And if you buy new memory, forget what you have now, trash it, buy 2
identical modules ofrm same manufacturer, same part# - that's best for
matching.
memory is cheaper than dirt these days.

I recommend CORSAIR, not cheap Chinese junk, but American Corsair.
It cost me $40 for 4GB at Amazon.com
40 dollars for enormous amount of memory.
 
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