Upgrading Memory only, would it help?

[Mayfriday0529]

I posted here before that i wanted to upgrade my CPU and Mobo before. Unfortunately i no longer have the money to do it so i was thinking of maybe just updating the memory but i wanted to know if you think that would help me or not.

Currently this is my system specs
Athlon T-bird 1.33mhz
384 Ram DDR PC 2100, Two sticks: 128 & 256
Two Hard drivers, 120 & 20 gig
Windows XP PRO

I find it hard now to run programs like Photoshop with bunch of programs open, i have to kill everything just to get some funtionality.

I was thinking of getting a 512 stick and keeping the 256 making it 768 ram.

Do you think that will help and hold me off until i can do a good upgrade.

 

[Lemodular]

It would help some, but why not get a gig? sounds like you only have 2 slots so 2x512. if that's not feasable, what ever you add now will help, esp. with photoshop. Also, make sure you have plenty of scratch space for Photoshop.

 

[bolomite]

It will definitely help, you could probably pick up a 512 stick of pc2100 pretty cheaply in FS/FT

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: bolomite
It will definitely help, you could probably pick up a 512 stick of pc2100 pretty cheaply in FS/FT

pricewatch is showing me a 512 stick for 25$ lowest price.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Lemodular
It would help some, but why not get a gig? sounds like you only have 2 slots so 2x512. if that's not feasable, what ever you add now will help, esp. with photoshop. Also, make sure you have plenty of scratch space for Photoshop.

The Scratch space is what it uses from the hard drive correct? i just have the default settings going on photoshop.

 

[Lemodular]

Yeah, it's like cache space, but make sure you have lots of room, Photoshop is a hog.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Lemodular
Yeah, it's like cache space, but make sure you have lots of room, Photoshop is a hog.

If i remember when you set that up, they recommend you put the scratch space on another hard drive correct?

I only have two hard drivers one 120 and a 20 gig which i use for back up.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Another question, pricewatch shows the cheapest 512 ram stick at 25$ but most of this places warn you to check if the ram will be compatible.

*Only very few VIA and SiS chipsets support memory made by high density x4 DRAM chips (Intel and AMD chipsets DO NOT support high density memory). High density x4 DRAM types are such as 32Mx4, 64Mx4, 128Mx4 DRAM chips.

*Please check compatibility with motherboard manufacturer before purchase. Your system will not be able to boot up or only recognize half of the memory size if it does not support high density memory.

If it doesnt work its a 30% restocking fee

How can i tell that if it will work, my mobo is old Chaintech 7KJD

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Another question, pricewatch shows the cheapest 512 ram stick at 25$ but most of this places warn you to check if the ram will be compatible.

*Only very few VIA and SiS chipsets support memory made by high density x4 DRAM chips (Intel and AMD chipsets DO NOT support high density memory). High density x4 DRAM types are such as 32Mx4, 64Mx4, 128Mx4 DRAM chips.

*Please check compatibility with motherboard manufacturer before purchase. Your system will not be able to boot up or only recognize half of the memory size if it does not support high density memory.

If it doesnt work its a 30% restocking fee

How can i tell that if it will work, my mobo is old Chaintech 7KJD

bump

 

[KoolDrew]

Yes it would help. Get some PC3200 RAM that way when you do upgrade you can use it in your new PC without losing performance from having crappy RAM.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Yes it would help. Get some PC3200 RAM that way when you do upgrade you can use it in your new PC without losing performance from having crappy RAM.

According to Chaintech website my Mobo supports
# Two 184 pin DDR DIMM up to 2GB
# Supports PC1600/ PC2100 DDR SDRAM modules

Can PC3200 be put in instead and can you mix and match?

 

[KoolDrew]

Yes you can use PC3200

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Yes you can use PC3200

Can i Mix and match PC2100 and PC3200? I actually saw online this week a 512 PC3200 for the same price as a PC2100 stick.

 

[leigh6]

Sure. It will just run at pc2100 speeds. Actually it would be prudent for you to buy pc3200 if it isnt too much more than the 2100 for future use.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: leigh6
Sure. It will just run at pc2100 speeds. Actually it would be prudent for you to buy pc3200 if it isnt too much more than the 2100 for future use.

thanks that's what i'll do

 

[KoolDrew]

thanks that's what i'll do

Good decision :thumbsup:

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

thanks that's what i'll do

Good decision :thumbsup:

I almost got a 512 stick for 30$ from Newegg but by the time i went try and buy the price had gone up.