Computer RAM Upgrade Question?

Question

My machine is a little dated. It still performs well for what I use it for (graphic design, programming.) I am considering buying some RAM in hopes of increasing my computer's speed. However, I have a few questions that I haven't been able to find via research yet.

Here are my current specs
Mainboard : Asus M2N-SLI DELUXE
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Memory: 2048MB RAM (2 x 1024 GB Kingston DDR2-SDRAM PC2-5300 (333MHz) - [DDR2-666] )
Display: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT (1016 MB)

I have been doing some research. I believe only DDR2 RAM will work in this board, also it is 240 pin (All DDR2 is?)

I have came across many options in DDR2 RAM. I am not interested in overclocking.

I am wondering about the following:
- is it best to buy (2x2GB) or (1x4GB) sticks?
- Will all DDR2 RAM work with my machine?
- Can I mix my current kingston RAM with my newly purchased RAM? (my board has 4 RAM slots)
- Do you think it would be more viable price wise to upgrade my board to support DD3?

Thanks alot for your time reading this. I appreciate your time and help.

Answer 1

"is it best to buy (2x2GB) or (1x4GB) sticks?" - 2x2Gb so that you still have dual channel support for your RAM.

"Will all DDR2 RAM work with my machine?" - Yes, but if they are not the same speed, then all the RAM will clock down to the slowest RAM speed.

"Can I mix my current kingston RAM with my newly purchased RAM? (my board has 4 RAM slots)" - Yes, brand does not matter.

"Do you think it would be more viable price wise to upgrade my board to support DD3?" - Only if you are willing to spend money on a new motherboard, processor and RAM.

Answer 2

Sure, upgrade to as a minimum 2Gb, the brand new general. Go to the dell internet site and to find out what style you need. Should be wherever from $20-forty. This may drastically broaden your computer systems efficiency. Computers have become cheaper, and that you can get a decent dual core processor for $500 and as a minimum 2Gb's of ram and an extraordinarily roomy 200Gb difficult drive. For those who desire to make that bounce. You in most cases cannot improve the portraits card in that laptop in view that PCI express did not fairly come on that many computer systems back then, so if you happen to upgrade your whole laptop after which upgrade the images card for a some distance advanced computer than the one you've correct now.

Answer 3

It would be a better decision to go with 2x2gb sticks because that would leave more room for further expansion and also decrease airflow restriction.



Not all ram will. I suggest Corsair - works with all popular brands (Yes Asus especially!)



Im sure that you can only do that if the frequencies are the same. Otherwise i dont think so.



No, It will not improve performance any more than DDR2.

Answer 4

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2/M2NSLI_Deluxe/#specifications





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CPU Support AMD® Socket AM2+/ AM2 Phenom FX(2000MT/s)/Phenom(2000MT/s)/ Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64/ Sempron

AMD Cool 'n' Quiet™ Technology

AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing

AMD Live!™ Ready

Chipset NVIDIA nForce® 570 SLI™ MCP(media and communications processor)

Front Side Bus 2000 / 1600 MT/s

Memory Dual channel memory architecture

4 x 240-pin DIMM, support max. 8GB DDR2 800/667/533 ECC and non-ECC, un-buffered memory

*When installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended.

Expansion Slots 2 x PCI Express x16 slot at x16, x8 speed

Support NVIDIA®SLI™ technology (both at x8 mode)

2 x PCI Express x1

3 x PCI 2.2

Scalable Link Interface (SLI™) Support two identical NVIDIA SLI-Ready graphics cards (at x8, x8 mode)

ASUS two-slot thermal design

ASUS PEG Link

Storage NVIDIA nForce® 570 SLI™ MCP supports:

- 1 x Ultra DMA 133 / 100 / 66 / 33

- 6 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s

- NVIDIA MediaShield™ RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 and JBOD span cross Serial ATA drives

JMicron JMB363 SATA controller supports:

- 1 x Internal Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s

- 1 x External Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s port on back I/O (SATA On-the-Go)

- Support SATA RAID 0, 1 and JBOD (by 1x External SATA & 1x Internal SATA)

LAN Dual Gigabit LAN controllers support NVIDIA DualNet® technology

NVIDIA nForce® 570 SLI™ MCP built-in dual Gigabit MAC with external Marvell PHY

- Support Teaming and Fail-Over functions

- Support TCP/IP Acceleration

Audio ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC

Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking

Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out on back I/O port

IEEE 1394a TI 1394 controller supports 2 x 1394a ports

USB max.10 USB2.0/1.1 ports

ASUS Unique Features AI Nap

AI Gear

Advanced Thermal Design:

- ASUS Fanless Design:Heat-pipe Thermal solution

ASUS Crystal Sound:

- ASUS Array Mic

- Noise Filter

Overclocking Features Intelligent overclocking tools:

-ASUS AI NOS™ (Non-delay Overclocking System)

-AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)

-ASUS PEG Link (automatically performance tuning)

ASUS O.C. Profile: overclocking configuration-sharing tool

Precision Tweaker:

- vDIMM: 15-step DRAM voltage control

- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125V increment

- Stepless Frequency Selection (SFS): allowing FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 400MHz at 1MHz increment

- PCI Express x16 Frequency from 100MHz up to 200MHz at 1 MHz increment

Overclocking Protection:

- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

ASUS AI Booster Utility

Adjustable FSB frequencies with fixed PCI/PCI Express frequencies

Special Features ASUS EZ DIY:

-ASUS Q-Connector

-ASUS CrashFree BIOS3

-ASUS EZ Flash2

ASUS Music Alarm

Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard port(purple)

1 x PS/2 Mouse (green)

1 x Optical S/PDIF Out port + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Out port

1 x External SATA

2 x LAN (RJ45) port

4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports

1 x IEEE 1394a port

1 x COM port

8-channel Audio ports

Internal I/O Connectors 3 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0 ports

1 x Floppy disk drive connector

1 x IDE connector for two devices

7 x SATA connectors

1 x CPU / 4 x Chassis / 1 x Power Fan connectors

1 x ADH connector

1 x IEEE1394a connector

1 x Parallel connector

Chassis Intrusion connector

Front Panel Audio connector

1x S/PDIF output connector

CD audio in

24-pin ATX Power connector

System panel connector

4-pin ATX 12V Power connector

BIOS 4Mb AWARD BIOS, PnP, DMI, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3

Manageability WOL by PME, WOR by PME, Chasis Intrusion, PXE

O/S Compatibility Windows Vista/XP/2000

Accessories 1 x SLI bridge

1 x ASUS Q-Connector Kit(USB, 1394, system panel; Retail version only)

1 x ASUS Array Mic

1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable

1 x Floppy disk drive cable

6 x SATA cables

3 x SATA power cable for 6 devices

1 x 2-port USB2.0 module

1 x IEEE1394a port module

1 x I/O Shield

User's manual

Support Disc Drivers

ASUS PC Probe II

ASUS Update

ASUS AI Booster

NVIDIA MediaShield™ RAID

Anti-virus software (OEM version)

Form Factor ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.5cm)