SoxFan1 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Ok, so I just installed a brand new stick of 512 MB ram into my computer (DDR DIMM) boosting my memory output to 768 (1 - 512 and 1 - 256). What the hell happens now? And how exactly do I know that I put it in the correct memory bank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 If you have a Mac it's extremely easy to tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 14, 2006 -> 01:03 AM) If you have a Mac it's extremely easy to tell. Then, obviously I don't have a Mac. HP 760n, as a matter of fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Lol...no idea. On a Mac...Apple System Profiler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 14, 2006 -> 01:08 AM) Lol...no idea. On a Mac...Apple System Profiler. Thanks for that. In my next life, I'll be sure to remember that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3E8 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Sometimes you have to fill the slots on the motherboard in a specific sequence. Could also be compatability issues. If you installed it correctly the difference should be noticable. You would be able to run more applications with less slowdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 11:09 PM) Thanks for that. In my next life, I'll be sure to remember that. Well, I'm going to go out on a limb....and say you have at least 512 MB. LOL. I'd check and see what they sell them with if they still do..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(3E8 @ Jan 14, 2006 -> 01:14 AM) Sometimes you have to fill the slots on the motherboard in a specific sequence. Could also be compatability issues. If you installed it correctly the difference should be noticable. You would be able to run more applications with less slowdown. Well, there is 2 memory slots on my motherboard, due it it's crammed location between the PCI and AGP slots, I have no clue as to which is bank 1 and bank 2. The computer is functioning at about the same speed but I haven't really put it to the test yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish71 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 11:03 PM) Ok, so I just installed a brand new stick of 512 MB ram into my computer (DDR DIMM) boosting my memory output to 768 (1 - 512 and 1 - 256). What the hell happens now? And how exactly do I know that I put it in the correct memory bank? If your system is up and running right now you most likely did ok. But in general.. Boot your computer up. When the system boots it goes through a self test called POST where it tests hardware components. Most likely if it is installed correctly, it will report a memory size change and ask you to press a key to continue or it will ask you to go into BIOS and then save the new changes. At that point it will then boot up into windows and you should be able to see the memory size by right clicking on My Computer and properties or go to Control Panel and double click on the system icon. Now if your system doesnt boot at all, then either you have the wrong type of memory, or your system requires pairs of identical memory in the banks. So if you have 4 DIMM slots, you will have bank0 and bank1(2 DIMM slots equals a bank). In systems that require identical DIMM banks, you can get away with a 512 in bank0, and the 256 in bank 1. You may have to review your motherboard markings to see the bank information, it is usually printed right next to the DIMM banks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jan 14, 2006 -> 01:17 AM) If your system is up and running right now you most likely did ok. But in general.. Boot your computer up. When the system boots it goes through a self test called POST where it tests hardware components. Most likely if it is installed correctly, it will report a memory size change and ask you to press a key to continue or it will ask you to go into BIOS and then save the new changes. At that point it will then boot up into windows and you should be able to see the memory size by right clicking on My Computer and properties or go to Control Panel and double click on the system icon. Now if your system doesnt boot at all, then either you have the wrong type of memory, or your system requires pairs of identical memory in the banks. So if you have 4 DIMM slots, you will have bank0 and bank1(2 DIMM slots equals a bank). In systems that require identical DIMM banks, you can get away with a 512 in bank0, and the 256 in bank 1. You may have to review your motherboard markings to see the bank information, it is usually printed right next to the DIMM banks. Well, there was no change in the boot-up process but I did check the System and it does confirm that I have 768 MB of RAM working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish71 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 11:20 PM) Well, there was no change in the boot-up process but I did check the System and it does confirm that I have 768 MB of RAM working. Adding memory is always good to a computer. But adding memory doesnt always equal speed up. The only time you will see significant speed up by adding memory is if your system was below the recommended memory and your system was paging(using the hard disk to swap programs out in and out of memory). As it was said before in this thread you should be able to open more programs than before without as much of a performance hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jan 14, 2006 -> 01:26 AM) Adding memory is always good to a computer. But adding memory doesnt always equal speed up. The only time you will see significant speed up by adding memory is if your system was below the recommended memory and your system was paging(using the hard disk to swap programs out in and out of memory). As it was said before in this thread you should be able to open more programs than before without as much of a performance hit. Cool. Thanks for the help SSI. I am running a bunch of cleanup now just trying to get rid of unneeded crap and clean up garbage. I am also defragmenting the hard drive. I do all this monthly just to keep the computer from becoming a tower of junk. The memory was suppose to be for my sister but it turns out we ordered the wrong one and now it is mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonkeyKongerko Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Best way to check your current memory usage is to hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE and go to the performance tab. Physical memory there will be the RAM you installed so the total should be something like 786432 indicating 768MB. Your computer will almost always be doing some paging, the 'Commit Charge' total shows you the total memory your system has: virtual (page file) + RAM. If you wanna see what programs are draining the most memory, just head over to the processes tab. Firefox, for one, can consume alot of memory if you have a bunch of tabs open and extensions. I hate it for this reason, but it's still the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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