Ram Question

[savingpvtgeorge36]

I just got a 512mb chip of ram from one of my friends for my laptop and i already have a 2 GB chip installed on it and I was wondering if it would be bad to have different size chips in at the same time.

Thanks:D

[Radical]

not really, it just increases your memories speed so you can have a faster PC so your good to go, but if you got Windows XP I heard that it only takes 2GB maximun and if you add more to it. it will only ignore it, but if you have VISTA then you do needed trust me I have heard the cries of people on how much VISTA needs to take like 3/4 GB to be fast.

[GRIMMAH!!]

after about 4 gigs xp will start to ignore extra ram, not 2

but yeah, it doesn't really matter if your ram sticks are different capacities..

[Zhorgh]

Ram answer!



Seriously though, the thing is that you should use RAM chips of the same brand, otherwise it can cause some serious screw-ups.

It's going to jam or just not work properly at all if they aren't the same brand; or the exact same type of chip, no matter the size, but same type.

No matter if they aren't the same size, mine are 256 and 512 and they still work, but they are, indeed, from the same manufacturor and same brand/type.


Said it enough? SAME BRAND/TYPE. :p

This happened to a good number of people I know, so yeah look out.

[Radical]

after about 4 gigs xp will start to ignore extra ram, not 2

but yeah, it doesn't really matter if your ram sticks are different capacities..

<3 that's why I love you Grimmah... you rock my world (not gay). :p



Ram answer!

Seriously though, the thing is that you should use RAM chips of the same brand, otherwise it can cause some serious screw-ups.

It's going to jam or just not work properly at all if they aren't the same brand; or the exact same type of chip, no matter the size, but same type.

No matter if they aren't the same size, mine are 256 and 512 and they still work, but they are, indeed, from the same manufacturor and same brand/type.

Said it enough? SAME BRAND/TYPE. :p

This happened to a good number of people I know, so yeah look out.


Oooo shi- better check mines too then! <3

[Renek]

I assume that the two sticks have the same speed and timings. Otherwise one stick could slow down to match the other.

[Assassin]

Max RAM for XP is 3.2 gb

I currently have 4 installed.

[ThEgg]

but if you have VISTA then you do needed trust me I have heard the cries of people on how much VISTA needs to take like 3/4 GB to be fast.

Not true, my gaming computer only has 2 GB, it's still really fast. I've thought about upgrading to 4 GB since RAM is so cheap, but it's not really that big of a deal. So long as you take care of your computer and don't put loads of **** on it and have tons of background programs leeching RAM, you're good to go with 2 GB.

Vista requires like 768 MB, I believe, so 2 GB is plenty.

[Mr. Box]

Vista checks how much RAM is free, and uses some % of that.

When user needs RAM for other processes vista frees RAM until minimum.

I dont know why it does that, but its intented feature... Prolly speeds up it or something.

[Pada V4.5]

It preloads the programs you use the most, so that you can open them faster. For example if you play MB2 a lot, it will load some of the game, when you start the pc.

[Gabriel]

Max RAM for XP is 3.2 gb

For 32 bit versions, the maximum is 2^32B (= 3.2GB)
For 64 bit versions, the maximum is 2^64B (= approx 16EB (16 Exabytes = 17.2 Billion GB))

In other words, the maximum RAM for XP 32 bit and Vista 32 bit = 3.2GB
the maximum RAM for XP 64bit and Vista 64bit is too high to even mention :p

[Emiel Regis]

*slaps Gabriel*
Learn to count foo' ;)

2^32 = 4 294 967 296 = 4GB

However, about 750 megs is used for other devices... in other words it's lost :p

And on original question - if you want to run dual-channel, for most mobos different ramsize is a no-go.

[Gabriel]

2^32 = 4 294 967 296 = 4GB

However, about 750 megs is used for other devices... in other words it's lost :p

and 4GB - 750megs == 3.25GB, your point? :p

[Deathspike]

RAM isn't related to computer speed, just random memory storage. If you don't have sufficient for the opened applications, it will start writing to your HDD and you'll notice that effect. For both XP/Vista on 32-bit you can go up to 3GB of RAM, while you could easily use 8GB on 64-bit. The chips dont have to be of the same brand, however you want to make sure they have the same speed (and you arent using dual channel).

[savingpvtgeorge36]

ok thanks guys you've been quite helpful