Thread: Looking to buy some more ram..

  1. #1
    ... kermit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    1,534

    Looking to buy some more ram..

    Hey guys, I want to buy a couple more sticks of 512 DDR 400 ram - I already have 2 in my machine now - they are not anything special, just 'over the counter' sticks. Anyway, I was wondering what effect it would have (ie, would it be bad to do this?) if I got another brand name but still DDR 400? I don't want to pay a mint for ram, and I am not looking to squeeze every last ounce of efficiency out of my machine. But if its bad to mix brand names, I don't want to do that either..

    Possibly something like this?

  2. #2
    User
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    499
    I mixed brands of RAM on my Old PC®. Basically, it had 64MB, and I had just upgraded another computer with new RAM, so I ended up with an extra 64MB stick of DIMM. I just stuck it into the old PC and it runs much faster (especially Slackware).

    Try it, and make sure that if you buy it from a store that they allow you to return it if it doesn't work. I know Staples has that policy.

  3. #3
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Out of scope
    Posts
    4,079
    As long as it's the same specifications and a respectable manufacturer, it shouldn't matter if you mix brands.
    Sent from my iPad®

  4. #4
    Dump Truck Internet valis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    357
    This is cheaper, 5 stars with 300 some votes is pretty good.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220037

  5. #5
    ... kermit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    1,534
    Ah, but unfortunately Newegg does not ship to Canada...

  6. #6
    Registered User Frobozz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    546
    Why not just a single 1GB stick? Last time I looked the cost was about the same if not cheaper to go one.

  7. #7
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    8,446
    Kermit would have to buy 2 1GB sticks then. To make for the same memory he plans to have
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  8. #8
    User
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    499
    Ah, but unfortunately Newegg does not ship to Canada...
    Lucky for me that I happen to have an American address I can ship to.

    Just go to your nearest computer store and get it over with.

  9. #9
    Registered User Frobozz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    546
    Quote Originally Posted by Mario F.
    Kermit would have to buy 2 1GB sticks then. To make for the same memory he plans to have
    Nothing stopping him from using a 1GB stick and his current two 512MB sticks together. Just not sure on the downsides to that.

  10. #10
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    9,607
    If you have a dual channel DDR400 board, you will want two sticks of identical RAM. If the sticks do not match your current memory then dual-channel will be disabled by the BIOS. The chipset you are referring to runs best with dual channel so it is advisable to do everything in your power to ensure it enables itself.

    RAM is fairly cheap now but beware as some of the timings are just awful. I recommend Corsair, Kingston, and Crucial. I do not recommend PNY as I've had trouble mixing it with other brands. PNY seems to only like other PNY RAM. However, I don't recommend mixing brands of RAM in the first place so that is probably a moot point.

    Most boards require slots 1 and 3 to be filled for dual channel to work, and some use 2 and 3. My ASUS board uses 1 and 3, and if a stick is in number 2, I'm not quite sure what happens. My guess is 2 1MB sticks is far better than 2 512's and a 1MB stick. For DDR400 you must think in pairs which is why when you go to buy your RAM, you will find out that they sell in pairs.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. RAM upgrade
    By BobS0327 in forum Tech Board
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-10-2008, 08:14 AM
  2. Ways to save RAM when RAM is very limited
    By suzanne_lim in forum C Programming
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 02-07-2006, 01:39 AM
  3. Programming and RAM
    By spveer in forum C Programming
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-16-2005, 11:17 AM
  4. pointerz
    By xlordt in forum C Programming
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-11-2002, 08:31 PM