Computer Memory? UPDATE!

[sig232]

I want to add some memory to my machine. I have four slots, two available, can I just plug in any old memory chips or is there a set up procedure.

I bought a couple of packs of Patriot 512 MB 333MHZ chips and am wondering if I just plug them in will the machine read them automatically or do I have to do some type of ID setup?
Anyone have any ideas?

The diagnostics program I ran said I have four slots that will take up to 1G each. But its not a new machine and has a Pentium 4 chip I believe. Only has 750+ of ram currently, using two slots.

Do we have any computer experts in residence??

[steviesterno]

you can add them, but it will read all four at the lowest possible level. say you have 3 500 mb and one 250, it will read them as 4 at 250 each. no set up should be required. HOWEVER! when opening your computer be sure to ground yourself and your tools first so you don't static charge anything important.

it's easy, should take 5 minutes.

hope that helps.

[Glen J]

Steve is correct, adding ram is probably one of the easiest things you can do. Just touch something metal to make sure you don't have any static charge, (Remember giving each other shocks as kids after rubbing your feet on a carpet?), and you should be fine. You will LOVE the difference.

[steviesterno]

oh yeah, afterward, do a system defrag and that should really clean up the extra junk, too.

[sig232]

Thanks guys I will get to it later today and let you know how it worked out. Darn thing is a bit bogged down with all the memory hog programs that run.

Just added a small back up 160G portable drive for backing up files. Slick setup and the backup was so fast I was amazed. Darn thing was only $58 at Fry's and its very small, fits in a little velvet bag they give you for travel.

The technology advances in the computer field are mind boggling.

[GSPKurt]

you can add them, but it will read all four at the lowest possible level. say you have 3 500 mb and one 250, it will read them as 4 at 250 each. no set up should be required. HOWEVER! when opening your computer be sure to ground yourself and your tools first so you don't static charge anything important.

it's easy, should take 5 minutes.

hope that helps.

I don't think that's right. It should read the total available. Do regular system maintenance, especially deleting temp. files and internet browser cache files. Defrag regularly. You could have a worm/virus as well, so do a thorough system scan after updating your anti-virus program. Also clean up your start-up files and it will start up and run faster.

[sig232]

you can add them, but it will read all four at the lowest possible level. say you have 3 500 mb and one 250, it will read them as 4 at 250 each. no set up should be required. HOWEVER! when opening your computer be sure to ground yourself and your tools first so you don't static charge anything important.

it's easy, should take 5 minutes.

hope that helps.

I don't think that's right. It should read the total available. Do regular system maintenance, especially deleting temp. files and Internet browser cache files. Defrag regularly. You could have a worm/virus as well, so do a thorough system scan after updating your anti-virus program. Also clean up your start-up files and it will start up and run faster.

Thanks for the tips.

I do most of that on a regular basis. But my wife put in a ton of vacation and wedding video files from the handy cam and has not yet done the editing and burned the DVDs. So my small hard drive is taxed to the max.

I did buy an external 160 G hard drive on Wed and backed up to that so I may just off load her stuff soon to solve part of the problem.

These darn programs are such memory hogs and the newer machines have lots of RAM to handle that problem. Adding more RAM should help.

[Ruffturn]

I don't think that's right.

I agree. Should read all of it, unless your system isn't capable of running the larger chips; but you've already said you can go up to 4G.

BTW, what program did you run that told you what you can use? Something from Kingston or PNY's websites maybe?

[sig232]

Thanks folks!

I plugged in my memory and it runs like a top. I think I have a 70% reserve at this stage.
The process was so easy that a teen could do it. Ha!Ha! the teens are way ahead of us in the computer game.

I ended up buying two packs of 512, recommended by the tech at Fry's for my aged machine.
So I now have about 2 G of RAM and it runs so much better I am amazed. Cost was only $22.50 per pack. I was going for the full 4 G but the tech suggested that the 512 chunks would run smoother on older machines. I don't have a clue so I followed his advice.

I stuck in a portable plug in hard drive with 167 G for backup and the cost was $58. prices sure have come down for computer stuff? My current drive is small and I intend to offload a lot of my pictures to get the usable space up a bit. I think I am only showing 17% of my drive available.

The program that I used, Fresh Diagnose, was from "FreshDevices.com" It will run through all your hardware/software and give you details like you have never seen before. Very user friendly and was freeware off komando.com website. Recommended by Kim Komando.

[mozoishere]

You should also notice a an improvement if you get your usable space to 50% or less and then run the defrag.

Try to blow out the case with some compressed air and get the temperature down a bit.

[sig232]

You should also notice a an improvement if you get your usable space to 50% or less and then run the defrag.

Try to blow out the case with some compressed air and get the temperature down a bit.


Yep, the case was full of dust bunnies. Cleaned out the place with my air bottle, power supply and all the mother board, slots, boards, etc. It needed a cleaning badly.

I ran my defrag and it ran a lot faster but I still am at 17% but will work on dumping out files today, since they are all backed up on the external hard drive. I will set a goal of about 50% per your suggestion.