Upgrading RAM on a Dell

[Bacchus_whine]

Do I have this right?

My Dell 4600 has 4 slots with two being used (2 x 256 MB). As long as I match the type and speed (crucial) and just put them in the empy slots everything is okay. I want to add two 512 MB sticks (1.5 total).

From a performance standpoint does it matter where I put the sticks? Should I put the 512 sticks in slots 1 & 2 (moving the existing 256 sticks to slots 3 & 4)?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Bacchus_whine Do I have this right? My Dell 4600 has 4 slots with two being used (2 x 256 MB). As long as I match the type and speed (crucial) and just put them in the empy slots everything is okay. I want to add two 512 MB sticks (1.5 total).

Yes, that's right...unless your motherboard supports Dual Channel DDR then you have to install the RAM in the right memory slots in order to enable Dual Channel DDR function.

Originally Posted by Bacchus_whine From a performance standpoint does it matter where I put the sticks? Should I put the 512 sticks in slots 1 & 2 (moving the existing 256 sticks to slots 3 & 4)?

It may not make a difference, but in the older days you would have to install the larger stick of RAM in the first memory slot and then work your way down. But if your motherboard supports Dual Channel DDR you would put the 512MB sticks in slots 1 & 3 and the 256MB sticks in slots 2 & 4.

What are the specs of your computer including the motherboard make and model.

Cricket

[Bacchus_whine]

CURRENT SPECS
Dell Dimension 4600
Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.4GHZ
512MB DDR SDRAM @ 333MHZ
Geoforce4 64MB (AGP Slot)
17 Inch CRT from 1999

UPGRADE PLANS
512MB DDR Memory (crucial)
Geoforce 6600 GT, 128MB, AGP 4x/8x (Chaintech, newegg)
Turbo Cool 425 Watt Dell PSU (PC power and cooling)
17" 8MS, LCD, 550:1 compression (NU, Newegg)

[glc]

Are you buying generic Crucial ram or ram from their configurator? You should get it from the configurator so you get the compatibility guarantee, the generic stuff may or may not work properly.

The 4600 has a dual channel motherboard, so the slot assignments are important. It *should* currently be running in dual channel if it came with a pair and you haven't moved them around, just put the new pair in the other 2 slots. Buy the dual channel kit, you can use either the PC3200 or the PC2700 pair, won't make a difference, price is the same.