PDA

View Full Version : Question about RAM

Chinasaur
08-12-2006, 03:39 PM
Sup people...I hope someone can enlighten me about RAM compatibility. If I want to buy a 1 gig Apacer ddr stick, will it have any issues running next to an Apacer 512MB stick that is NOT ddr?

My pc's been slow in handling certain programs, which is why I need more physical memory. I would go to a store and ask, but in this case I don't like going in without knowing what I'm looking for.
Tao
08-12-2006, 04:07 PM
yes, cause even if your motherboard supports both ddr and non ddr ram, by mixing the two, the best case scenario would be that your ddr ram runs at the speed of the slower older ram. the worst case scenario is that your computer won't support mixing ram types and won't work when you put the two in.
bluemonq
08-12-2006, 04:25 PM
Also, double-speed only works when both sticks are the same size. What manufacturer and model PC do you have?
Chinasaur
08-12-2006, 04:48 PM
^uh, custom built with ASUS K8VX mobo.
bluemonq
08-12-2006, 05:02 PM
That's the one that slots in the Sempron or Athlon 64, correct? Don't try running DDR and non-DDR then. If cost is an issue, drop in two sticks of 512MB DDR. Remember, it's only double-rate with double-chips. You'll have to get two 1GB (and should if you can) as the next step.
hooligan
08-13-2006, 11:14 AM
Dual channel ram will probably only give you a significant boost if you're running Pentiums from what I heard. As for having more RAM, the more the merrier. And listen to Bluemonq, he's got the right point. Do they actually make non-DDR 512 sticks?
bluemonq
08-13-2006, 12:31 PM
Dual channel ram will probably only give you a significant boost if you're running Pentiums from what I heard.
Well, his motherboard won't take anything else. And maybe it's just habit from working with SIMMs but I've just gotten habituated to the idea that you always install RAM in pairs for the least amount of problems.
As for having more RAM, the more the merrier. And listen to Bluemonq, he's got the right point. Do they actually make non-DDR 512 sticks?
Yes they do. I tried putting one in a Thinkpad X20, but the BIOS limit was 512MB and IBM had already soldered in a 64MB chip :mad:
hooligan
08-13-2006, 01:35 PM
Well, his motherboard won't take anything else. And maybe it's just habit from working with SIMMs but I've just gotten habituated to the idea that you always install RAM in pairs for the least amount of problems.

Yes they do. I tried putting one in a Thinkpad X20, but the BIOS limit was 512MB and IBM had already soldered in a 64MB chip :mad:

lol, i can't believe that, but i guess people need those large sticks in their old machines to run XP.