I have a HP computer with 512mb RAM and 4 memory slots. The orig configuration was 2 256MB cards. I bought 2 additional 1GB cards and installed them in the two open slots. The computer does recognize all installed cards. However i was wondering if i should have placed the new cards in the orig space occupied by the first two smaller cards and moved the two orig smaller cards to open slots or not even used the two smaller cards at all? Anyone have any idea of what is the best config to optimize speed of the system? thanks

As long as all the modules are being recognized you are good to go. The only problem i could see you running into is if you mixed the memory and the memory channels. In other words, if you adjusted one of your 256mb modules before putting in the new memory. With most setups nowadays your memory slots are color coded and you will want memory of the same type in the same color slots(i.e. 256mb modules in green and 1gb modules in pink or vice versa).

Ocean, dtto on bigfoots posts. Most PC's these days have what's called DUAL CHANNEL ram slots. For example, my compaq is a 2.4ghz P4 w/HT. It has Blue/Black/Blue/Black (4 total) buss slots. The blue is for DDR ram to achive 800mhz front side buss speed. So, I would put once mem card in the 1st blue slot, skip the black, then fill the other blue. But, I have 3 of the 4 filled now and all have the same TYPE ram. My speed checks still show the 800mhz ability. If you put 2 different speed types in your pc, regardless what's in the BLUE slot, the motherboard will step down to the slower speeds. This holds true to all MB's. I just put 4gb in my new Gateway. It's the DDS2 5300 ram and my MB was the same way, but the 1st 2 slots were WHITE for DDR2 and the last 2 are black for the slower ram. Here's a site with good info:
http://home.pacbell.net/dbk4297/memory_what_kind.html

I have a program on my PC, can't remember the name, but it says what type mem you have, buss speeds, ram speeds. I'll upload the name when I get home and find it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tc1uscg,

Thanks guys for the info. I learn something every time i come here!

quote:

Originally posted by Oceanstation:
Thanks guys for the info. I learn something every time i come here!

I can't find that program I mentioned anywhere. I'll keep looking but it doesn't look good.

I have had great luck going to crucial.com. You can run a scan, they will give you options and even tell you what slots to put everything in

jumping in here...If the PC came with two 256M slices then it's likely a little old (in technology time) so it's possible the BIOS will not recognize the extra ram. You didnt mention if the computer will boot or not, if it does then it leads to me a BIOS issue. I would remove the 256M sticks and see if it detects the two 1GB ones. If so, BIOS is your issue. Of course as mentioned before you could have it in the wrong slots but I'll submit it will boot either way if all the sticks are the same bus speed (i.e. 800mz, 1066mz, etc..). From what your mentioning seems like a size issue vice a speed issue.

Personally I would have just removed the 256M cards and replaced with the 2 1GB ones and stagger the placement of the modules. Sometimes loading up all slots on certain mother boards causes voltage issues and tweaks need to be made in the bios to get them to boot correctly.

quote:

Originally posted by tc1uscg:

quote:

Originally posted by Oceanstation:
Thanks guys for the info. I learn something every time i come here!

I can't find that program I mentioned anywhere. I'll keep looking but it doesn't look good.

CPUidz works pretty good for reporting all kinds of memory and cpu info. You can find it over at CPUID.com

quote:

crucial.com

Thanks for the suggestion about crucial.com

They had good prices and made it pretty painless.

quote:

Originally posted by tc1uscg:

quote:

Originally posted by Oceanstation:
Thanks guys for the info. I learn something every time i come here!

I can't find that program I mentioned anywhere. I'll keep looking but it doesn't look good.

I FOUND IT. It's called CPU-Z V1.44. Don't let the name fool you. It provides a WEALTH of info (and it's free). You can get it here:

CPU ID