BleepingComputer.com: Upgrading RAM?

Hi,

I'm working on a friends Acer PC. I've done an "Alt F10" re-install to get it to work again but it's still running slow.

I was thinking that it may need and/or could use some more RAM. I've looked inside and see that it has two 512 MB sticks of Nanya in two darker colored slots and it has two "Orange" empty slots. Does the different color slots indicate a different type of RAM needed?

I was hoping to encourage her to purchase some more RAM to help it run faster. But I need to know what to suggest to get and how much kind of stuff.

Can anyone help me out here? It's always appreciated.

Thanks,

John

PS How do you determine the make of the mother board? I've tried Everest with no success. If I could get the name I'd probably be able to find an actual photo and what not describing what's on it. The Acer site specs don't seem to say much other than it can handle up to 4 GB RAM, no description of color meaning?

This post has been edited by Johnz414: 13 December 2008 - 03:27 PM

Hi

Quote

No. The two 512Mb RAM sticks you have in the dark slots are most probably a matched pair working in dual-channel mode. If one of them had been in a dark slot and the other in an orange slot they would only work in single-channel mode. Dual-channel mode is faster than single-channel mode.
To put an extra 1Gb of RAM in the PC it would be best to fit another matched pair of 512Mb sticks. If you just went for a single 1Gb stick, it would work out slightly cheaper but would only work in single-channel mode.
If money is no object, and assuming your motherboard can support it, go for a matched pair of 1Gb sticks which will take your total RAM up to 3Gb.

Thanks,

Now how do I figure out what 1 GB RAM will work in it? As mentioned above I don't seem to be able to determine the MoBo maker for what RAM will work?

What else can I do to determine this other then emailing Acer?

John

PS I have emailed Acer but that will take who knows how long to get a response? Is there something that I can do now?

Hi

CPU-Z is a free utility which will tell you the make and model of your motherboard.
To download it go to this site http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Go to Crucial.com
http://www.crucial.com/
On the right of the page is the Memory advisor utility. Enter the make and model of the computer and it will tell you what's compatible and the maximum amount you can use
Remember you want to install in match pairs for best performance

I hope your not trying to substitute more memory for lack of a processor.

Yeah,

The chip in it is an AMD Athlon 64 3800+, probably not to much in the compute department as far as chips go, certainly not a duo corp.

The PC has an "ePower Maintenance" tool that checks memory and says that it doesn't need an upgrade.

I was thinking, sense it is still running slow, why not look into upgrading the memory. It does look affordable from checking out the site that garmanma suggested.

But I certainly will take any advice anyone wants to suggest.

Currently, I'm inclined to want to add some memory sense it doesn't seem like it's going to brake the bank, but if it really wont help then I guess I'll think differently.

John

FWIW: Some motherboards do support 2 different types of RAM, but both types cannot be used at the same time.

If you haven't done it yet...I suggest looking at the specs for the system or motherboard to see what is applicable.

Louis

That is a great link that garmanma sent you but you don't need to buy your RAM there. Just write down the speed and type of the RAM and check New Egg, Circuit City, Best Buy or whatever.

I use the Crucial memory advisor myself but I don't think I have ever bought from them.

Good luck.

DR