Can my system upgrade from 2gb to 4gb ram?

[bball1523]

I'm wondering if some of you can please help me to know whether my desktop computer can handle an upgrade from 2gb to 4gb ram? Also what brand/model of ram should I get for 4gb?

my specs are:

Intel Core 2 Duo e8400 3 ghz, Gigabyte EP35-DS3P Rev. 2.0, ASUS 9600 GSO 348 mb, 2 GB (2x1gb) DDR2-800 Crucial Ballistix (only running 1 at the moment), Echo Audiofire4 soundcard, Seagate 120gb, BenQ 1620 DVD Burner, Antec Basiq Plus 550w PSU, Samsung 20" widescreen LCD, Win XP Home SP2

 

[bntran02]

Yes... In fact it supports 8GB

 

[bball1523]

would you happen to know if a 2x2gb pair of ram works on my mobo if it isn't listd in the memory support list for my mobo?

 

[bntran02]

I've never used the "supported memory modules" list. It is just a list of memory modules that a company has tested first hand. I've never came across a memory module that did not work with a motherboard as long as is the correct memory type (DDR, DDR2, DDR3)

 

[bball1523]

oh ok.

Do you know if there's a way to combine one Crucial ballistix 1gb ram with 2 Corsair 2x1gb ram sticks? They are all 800mhz pc2-6400 DDR2, but the crucial is listed as CAS 4, 4-4-4-12 while the corsair is listed as CAS 5, 5-5-5-18. When I went to the bios on my desktop, the crucial ram says 5-5-5-18, even though I don't recall ever changing the ram to that setting.

Do you think if I just stuck the two Corsair ram sticks in the desktop, that everything would run fine?

 

[Emulex]

with such cheap ram prices - just get matched pairs. 4x2gb = win

 

[abekl]

with such cheap ram prices - just get matched pairs. 4x2gb = win

Correct. Matched pairs is the way to go. I would go with just a single matched pair for 4GB as the OP is running a 32-bit OS.

 

[Blain]

with such cheap ram prices - just get matched pairs. 4x2gb = win

Loading up every DIMM slot on the MB = win... Really?
Even if he's running Windows XP Home as he posted... Really?

How about we advise him to simply load 2 x 2GB DIMMs?

No matter what, he should sell off those Ballistix modules while they're still working.

 

[VirtualLarry]

No matter what, he should sell off those Ballistix modules while they're still working.

This. They have a high failure rate.

Replace with Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 2x2GB, or Gskill DDR2-800 2x2GB, or even Adata DDR2-800 2x2GB. I've used the first two successfully. Owned some A-data, but sold it off without opening the package. Should be fine though.

If OP is planning on moving to Win7 64-bit soon, then consider TWO 2x2GB kits of the same kind. (4x2GB)


Edit: Get the 1.8v standard voltage memory, with 5-5-5-x timings, where x is usually 12 or 15 or 18.

 

[skipsneeky2]

Go for kingston

cheap,reliable always compatible

 

[bntran02]

oh ok.

Do you know if there's a way to combine one Crucial ballistix 1gb ram with 2 Corsair 2x1gb ram sticks? They are all 800mhz pc2-6400 DDR2, but the crucial is listed as CAS 4, 4-4-4-12 while the corsair is listed as CAS 5, 5-5-5-18. When I went to the bios on my desktop, the crucial ram says 5-5-5-18, even though I don't recall ever changing the ram to that setting.

Do you think if I just stuck the two Corsair ram sticks in the desktop, that everything would run fine?

Yes it will work. But as everyone else has stated, just get a pair of 2Gb sticks and throw out your old ram.

You might be able to find 4GB kit for $40 if you look hard enough. That's only $10 more than a 2GB kit