My step Dad offered to give me 2 of his 256mb modules of RAM. I guess we have the same type of RAM so it will work on my computer. If i add those i will have 1gb of memory. Should I do that or go to compUSA and buy a 512 stick for only 30 dollars. Will it make any of a difference if I get two 256's or one 512? Even though they both amount to 1gb, after adding it to my 512mb of memory, which one will work more efficient?
2006-08-02 03:13:58 · 9 answers · asked by Fourtonfour 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
My 512 amount of memory is 2 256's so if I add the other 2, I will have four 256's....
2006-08-02 03:15:04 · update #1
Both a stick of 512 mb ram and two sticks of 256 mb ram each will be of no difference with each other...but the question is do u have 4 slots to add the 4 sticks of ram....check this first.... moreover a 512 mb ram is more efficient than two 256 mb RAMs...
i hope that will help u....Best of Luck...
2006-08-02 04:48:13 · answer #1 · answered by k_rapture 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on slots on your motherboard. If you have 4 slots available for one type of RAM then go ahead not a big difference. However if you only have 2 slots then you will ahve to looka t getting the 2 512 sticks or even better 2 1gb sticks if your board supports this much RAM. Hope this helps
2006-08-02 10:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by hardirish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you sure you have 4 memory slots? if all of your ram is not the exact same, you will not be getting dual channel, so the 512 would be better. actually 2 512's is better than 4 256s
2006-08-02 10:18:37 · answer #3 · answered by Alex F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think u cannot add two more modules of 256 mb coz u already have 2 installed.u wont have any more slots in ur mother board...
most mother boards come with 2 memory slots..if u have more then go ahead....
but if u dont have i will suggest buy two 512 mbs in exchange for the old ones.....
if u have 4 memory slots....before installing the ram from ur dad...
check for the specifications...if they r same as what is installed in ur pc then u can...
otherwise u can run into system unstability.
2006-08-02 10:16:46 · answer #4 · answered by SAURAV 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding more RAM always a good thing. But pay attention on several items:
How many slots do you have?
What your current memory speed DDR?-PC????
If some of the memory slower. They will follow the slower speed but if you always use 100% or your RAM you won't feel a lot of different because the size will overcome.
If you have limited slots and you will upgrade your computer again. Probably better options will be upgrading to 1 1GB stick. Therefor it will open options for you for another upgrade
2006-08-02 10:28:51 · answer #5 · answered by r_yapeter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it really dosent make any difference. infact its an advantage if one 256 goes bad u can replace with another for much lesser price as compared to one 512.
but it also depends on how old are the RAM's u getting from your step dad.
if they are more than a year old then jsut go for new ones.
amit
2006-08-02 10:17:55 · answer #6 · answered by desai.amit 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends. You should have posted your make/model of computer or motherboard. Then we could better answer.
Newer systems can use dual channel mode for RAM - this requires memory be installed in identical pairs. If memory is NOT installed in identical pairs, then you operate in single channel mode which is slower. If your board doesn't support dual channel mode, then I would try to install single modules as large as I could. - that way, when you next upgrade, you don't have to throw out one module to replace it with a larger one. BUT, this is free memory, so it's no big deal. I'd accept the offer myself.
2006-08-02 10:37:48 · answer #7 · answered by lwcomputing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either way would work and would not be a noticeable difference to you.
2006-08-02 10:17:04 · answer #8 · answered by Just Bored!! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure it's the right RAM and speed i.e. DDR2 800 (PC2 3200)
2006-08-02 10:19:02 · answer #9 · answered by Not_Here 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋