quick question about adding memory

[gflores]

now i just want to make sure... i have a dell dimension 8300 and i currently have 256 mb ddr sdram. i have 4 memory slots, 2 of which are empty and i'm pretty sure i have 2 banks of 2 memory configuration. so.. first of all, i'm required to get ddr sdram? 2nd. i have to buy 2 sets of 128mb if i wanted to have 512mb, right. i cant just add a 256mb module? thanks for the help.

also on the crucial site, i chose my system and dimenion 8300, etc. and for memory, there's 2 different types of 128mb...

128MB DDR PC2700
? CL=2.5 ? Non-parity ?
$27.99 (USD)

and

128MB DDR PC3200
? CL=3 ? Non-parity ?
$29.99 (USD

which one should i get? is there really much of a difference at all? it says in the site that the lower CL it has, the faster it goes. so why does the latter cost more?

 

[Hyperlite26]

Hey G, yes you do need ddr ram. Second, to run in ddr mode you have to use ddr in pairs. So you are correct that you will need to add 2 more sticks of 128 which will give you an overall config of 512MB and you will have all your mem slots filled.

As far as the 256MB stick goes... I think you could add that, and it would increase your RAM overall, but you would not be running in DDR mode which defeats your purpose.

 

[Hyperlite26]

PC3200 is faster than the 2700 even though the CL rating is lower on the 2700. For 4 bucks I'd go PC3200.

 

[gflores]

ok, thanks hyperlite26 for the quick response

 

[redhatlinux]

Seems that somebody is getting confused by DDR and Dual Channel. Two sticks of memory are required for Dual Channel but DDR only requires 1 stick. You should have no problems adding a 256meg stick, unless your mobo is Dual Channel (Intel 865/875).

 

[Steven the Leech]

Check your motherboard Manual. should support 256/512 modules. Better safe than sorry.

 

[lucky9]

or you can buy a 256mb stick and put it in one of the remaining slots and still have 512. you need to have the 128's in the same memory channel and the 256 in the other memory channel to retain duel memory.then it's an easy upgrade to 3/4 gig of memory later by just moving the sticks around. the only thing is to remember that for duel memory both banks have to be the same amount total of memory.