RAM Problem

[jstayton]

Hey Everyone,

Today I bought two (2) 512MB RAM cards (for lack of a better word). There are two slots in my Dell Dimension 4100 for RAM, so I thought I'd buy two to make my total RAM 1024MBs. I won't be using the RAM the computer came with (a lousy 256MBs). Anyway, I stuck those babies in and booted-up without a problem. Well, it works, but something isn't right. The computer doesn't seem any faster loading programs! I checked Setup > Control Panel > System, and it only says 512MBs of RAM. So here's the problem... 1) Even with 512MBs of RAM, it doesn't seem any faster, and 2) the second 512MB "card" isn't responding/showing-up.

What's wrong? Thanks for any help.

 

[khtm]

What OS are you using? Does it show the correct amount of RAM when you boot up?


<< The computer doesn't seem any faster loading programs! >>


This is a big misconception that most people have. Upgrading RAM with most OSs from 128mb to 256mb WILL make a noticeable difference. Upgrading RAM with most OSs from 256mb to 512mb WILL NOT make a noticeable difference. Sorry to say it dude, but you just wasted $$ buying a GB of RAM (that is unless you use a lot of CAD/CAM or video editing software).

I upgraded from 256mb to 512mb with Win2k and noticed absolutely no change when exporting videos with Adobe Premiere. So I sold the extra 256mb.

-khtm-

 

[jstayton]

Thanks for the reply khtm.



<< What OS are you using? Does it show the correct amount of RAM when you boot up? >>



I'm using Windows ME. When I boot up it just shows the Windows splash screen while everything is booting up. But I know what you mean. My other computer shows the amount of RAM when booting up.



<< This is a big misconception that most people have. Upgrading RAM with most OSs from 128mb to 256mb WILL make a noticeable difference. Upgrading RAM with most OSs from 256mb to 512mb WILL NOT make a noticeable difference. >>



I'm not upgrading from 128MBs to 256MBs though. I'm upgrading from 256MBs to 1024MBs.



<< Sorry to say it dude, but you just wasted $$ buying a GB of RAM (that is unless you use a lot of CAD/CAM or video editing software). >>



That's exactly what I'm using it for. Video and photo editing software, particularly Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere.

So I'm still wondering why it's only showing 512MBs of RAM when 1024MBs is in there.

 

[Hessakia]

Win ME (or any other 9x OS) has major problems with more tahn 512 megs of ram..the reason your ram count shows up as 512 instead of 1024, is that your board only supports 256 meg DIMMS, so your 512's are only recognized as 256--as the comment made that you can't tlel a diff. between 256 and 512, he is wrong, you can, like you can have alot more programs opend up at once, etc.

 

[Endeffect]

Many motherboards (ie i815e series) do not allow more than 512mb of RAM. I've not seen many standard motherboards that do. I upgraded from 256mb to 512mb and noticed a _big_ difference, so don't let people tell you otherwise. Loading up large programs and handling large graphics & sound files is much faster...

But there is certainly a chance that 512 will be your limit.

 

[jstayton]

Thanks Hessakia and Endeffect!

Now I know why Dell was only showing 256MB DIMMS when I was using the "Upgrade" section of their site. I'm used to dealing with 1U servers that have mobo's that can handle up to 4GBs of RAM.

Anyway, I guess now the question is should I use one 512MB DIMM or two 256MB DIMMS? Does it really matter?

 

[khtm]

<< as the comment made that you can't tlel a diff. between 256 and 512, he is wrong, you can, like you can have alot more programs opend up at once, etc. >>


No, I'm not wrong. Haven't you seen benchmarks (like on Tomshardware) of memory upgrades? Past 256mb won't increase speed of opening applications. This is what I was referring to. Your computer WILL NOT seem faster. The speed that programs open is heavily processor dependent. You will be able to have more programs runnning at the same time, but they will not be faster.

-khtm-

 

[bevancoleman]

more than 256Mb of ram will only increase speed if you use really heavy applications, more than 512MB is compleatly unbenifital for the majority of people.

I run VB.Net beta 2 and that does like more than 256Mb of ram (B1 was even worse), but wven it dosn't use more than 512MB.

 

[Tannah]

yes running more than 256 megs of ram will speed you up.. well atleast it did on windows 2000 for me..
I really recommend CacheMan from www.outertech.com it really helps speed thing up, especally when you have over 128 megs of ram..

hmm running windows ME hmm you might want to change your OS as ME is knowed to be riddled with more bugs than normal for a M$ OS..
with the amount of memroy your running I'd say give 2000 a shot..

and stay far far away from XP (also knowen as the eXPermantal OS, or the eXPlosive os, its an eXPernience you will never forget, or want to repeat)