Is having 768MB of memory possible?

Question

I have a Dell Dimension 4550 desktop/pc and im looking into buying DDR SDRAM for it. It only came with 256 MB, and has 2 slots. I want to get a 512MB card, but im not sure. If i get 512MB will it be added on to my 256MB memory making my pc have 768MB? Or is that not possible and it needs to be either 256, 512 or 1024 MB total memory?
Also, does the memory the pc comes with take up one of my 2 card slots?
I mostly want to know if its possible to support 768 MB of memory.
My PC doesnt support dual channel memory.

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

I have a packard bell, and i did exactly that. it came with 256, i bought a 512, now i have 768. Dont be surprised if windows only tells you you have 704, you DO have 768, its lying. support of dual channel is beside the point. and yes the original memory (256) looks just like the new module that you will buy (512) and takes up one slot. All modules take up 1 slot. pc world sells 512 memory for bout 30 quid. if you do this though you wont have slots left. try buying a 1gb module bout 50 quid.

Answer 3

I run my Dell Dimensions XP855 server with 3X 256mg as it allows the memory to be spread between the modules, yours might take PC 100 or 133 check the spec before buying you can use 100 in a 133 machine but not the other way around, it will run $ 60.00 -70.00 US.

I am a MCSE and A+ tech and do tech work along with installations and repairs.

Answer 4

Memory
Architecture
DDR SDRAM
Memory connectors
two
Memory capacities
128-, 256-, and 512-MB non-ECC DDR SDRAM
Minimum memory
128 MB
Maximum memory
1 GB
Memory type
DDR 333 (non-ECC) only on computers with a 533-MHz system clock speed DDR 266 (non-ECC) on computers with either a 400- or a 533-MHz system clock speed

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4550/specs.htm#1101572
so 256+512=768MB of RAM

Answer 5

I would recommend either calling Dell or checking their website to find out how much memory your motherboard supports.

Odds are that you can have 768MB without any problems but you should always check with the manufacturer for compatibility before upgrading. It is easy to destroy your motherboard if you fail to install RAM correctly.

Answer 6

Some will and some will not. BIOS may pitch a fit if they are not ballanced. The orginal 256 MB takes up one slot.

Answer 7

dual channel memory support information will be listed on the motherboard booklet of your pc, so try to search and find it out depending upon your mother board make it depends. mostly some of the major mother boards support dual channel memory.

Answer 8

you should keep multiple memory slots equal. if you had 3 slots then 3x256mb would be ok. 512mb+256mb may not be recognized by your bios. you would be better off with 2x 512mb.

Answer 9

om what myles_wolfers said, windows is not lying about having 704 of memory, there is 64 MB missing for video memory

Answer 10

Yer it should be alright to have 768MB =-) Just make sure you know what you are doing when inserting the card.
You don't want to get a nasty shock =O