Best place to get advice re adding memory?

[mandrill]

Hi!

I've got hooked on a computer game and have decided to boost my 2005 vintage computer which has 1000 gigs of RAM to 2000 or even 3000.

What is the best place to get advice on the particular memory set up my computer needs and the optimum upgrade?

Thanks for any info.

 

[ig-88]

http://www.crucial.com/

I don't know if they ship to Canada.

But at least, you can get information from their configurator, as to what kind of memory your machine takes, so you know what to order.

Edit: Here's the section for Canadian customers (if you decide to go through them):

http://www.crucial.com/international_guides/international.aspx?country=CANADA

 

[rajdip34]

Once you have it figured out, you can pick up Crucial memory in most local computer shops.

 

[tboy]

but before you invest in memory, make sure your computer OS will recognize it being there.

If you're running windows XP 32 bit edition, it will only "see" 2 gb.

Before you go and invest in memory, make sure that will allow you a decent resolution and frame rate for your game. Could be that your video card, sound card, processor, and Mobo aren't up to the task as well....

 

[WoodPeckr]

Check out your OEM website or give them a call.
They should should tell you what amount of RAM will max out your PC.

 

[newguy27]

Your manual for your old motherboard will tell you or simply look it up online after checking to see the model number of it.

Otherwise, 1000 Gigs of RAM is insane. I am guessing you mean 1 Gig of RAM.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Otherwise, 1000 Gigs of RAM is insane. I am guessing you mean 1 Gig of RAM.

LOL!
Good catch, missed that....

 

[enyaw]

canada computers, probably your best bet

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProdList&cmd=pl&id=RAM

 

[mandrill]

Before you go and invest in memory, make sure that will allow you a decent resolution and frame rate for your game. Could be that your video card, sound card, processor, and Mobo aren't up to the task as well....

What is a Mobo?

For sure, I need a better vid card as the one I have cannot run the game in its optimum mode. Where could I find advice on THIS particular area??

I can supply a list of tech requirements that the game interface gave me for optimum play if this will assist.

(I have a computer company I usually deal with. The problem with them has been historically that the dude spends far too long with my computer at his shop due to his own workload problems. And since I use the computer for work, this quickly becomes a hell-problem. So I want to do as much upgrading as I can by myself.)

 

[mandrill]

Thanks. I checked out the crucial website. Actually, this is my second attempt. I tried a few months ago and the guy at Staples just sort of got confused when I showed him the printout and this confused and discouraged me as well.

I will try again. Is there a reputable walk-in store in d/t that I can take my print-out of the Crucial page to and ask for in person help?

 

[danmand]

Thanks. I checked out the crucial website. Actually, this is my second attempt. I tried a few months ago and the guy at Staples just sort of got confused when I showed him the printout and this confused and discouraged me as well.

I will try again. Is there a reputable walk-in store in d/t that I can take my print-out of the Crucial page to and ask for in person help?

I have used canada computers for memory upgrades to 4 desktops and 5
lattops, all after checking with the crucial tool.

Only once had a problem, when one of the two sockets in a desctop was faulty,
so I could only use one. Lucked out on parallel memory access, but not catastrophic.

 

[tboy]

What is a Mobo?

For sure, I need a better vid card as the one I have cannot run the game in its optimum mode. Where could I find advice on THIS particular area??

I can supply a list of tech requirements that the game interface gave me for optimum play if this will assist.

(I have a computer company I usually deal with. The problem with them has been historically that the dude spends far too long with my computer at his shop due to his own workload problems. And since I use the computer for work, this quickly becomes a hell-problem. So I want to do as much upgrading as I can by myself.)

Mobo is short for motherboard. You can find out a LOT about your pc via the control panel and bios.

click on control panel
click on performance and maintenance
click on system
click on the tab titled: general. It will tell you the processor name/type, how much memory etc.

you can also take the cover off and see what kind of motherboard you have. It should be written right on the board somewhere. It should have the brand, type, model number etc.

 

[sizziler]

If you provide the make and model number of the motherboard, this question can be answered in no time. With that info, we can find the manual online with a list of compatible memory.

you can also take the cover off and see what kind of motherboard you have. It should be written right on the board somewhere. It should have the brand, type, model number etc.

Also as pointed out before the Windows version is needed too for the limitations on the memory size.

 

[blue_bawls]

Sizzler & tboy have pretty much nailed it. Your mobo & OS will give all the info they need to resolve your question/info request.

 

[mandrill]

Cheers, Comrades!

Will work on it. Appreciate the help.

 

[capt_avatar]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_xp

This link may help clarify the 32bit XP limit.

cheers all.

 

[ieggi]

Without knowing your exact specs, in all likelihood adding RAM won't really help your gaming performance.... especially on a PC that old.

 

[lonecoxxman]

http://www.crucial.com/

I don't know if they ship to Canada.

But at least, you can get information from their configurator, as to what kind of memory your machine takes, so you know what to order.

Edit: Here's the section for Canadian customers (if you decide to go through them):

http://www.crucial.com/international_guides/international.aspx?country=CANADA

Hey Man - - Thanks for putting me onto Crucial. I've been holdin off getting more Ram since my computer repairman told me he first needed to know the model # of my mobo, and then might have to order the right memory. This all takes not only time, but tying up my computer in his shop for long times. I'll try this myself and hope I can do the whole upgrade at home.
This is a great thread and a lot of others, particularly with reliable Woodpeckr
involved, have been helpful. I just wish I were enough of a techy to contribute.

 

[mandrill]

Mobo is short for motherboard. You can find out a LOT about your pc via the control panel and bios.

click on control panel
click on performance and maintenance
click on system
click on the tab titled: general. It will tell you the processor name/type, how much memory etc.

you can also take the cover off and see what kind of motherboard you have. It should be written right on the board somewhere. It should have the brand, type, model number etc.

Haven't taken the back off the computer yet, but I finally got around to checking the specs in the control panel. The computer told me the following info:

Intel (R)
PEntium (R) 4 CPU 3.20 GHz
3.19 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM.

Well, I understand the RAM part, but how does the rest affect me?

I also ran a crucial scan and got told I can use 4-4-4-12 unbuffered Non-ECC DDR2-800 memory plug-ins. I guess this should make sense somehow.


I am indeed running Windows XP. How do I find out if it is a 32-bit or 64-bit version?

Not sure about the video card yet. Appearance is important, but secondary to getting more memory to allow me to do the set up and scripting the maps for the game.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I am indeed running Windows XP. How do I find out if it is a 32-bit or 64-bit version?

If it's a few yr old version of XP, there's a 99% chance it's 32bit, especially since you only have 1 gig of RAM which is low for your specs.
32b XP will only use 3~3.5 gigs of RAM.
64b XP will use more than 4 gigs RAM but you have to find out the upper limit of your system.

FWIW, I put 4GB of RAM into my 32b Vista laptop and Vista reads/uses 3.52 of that 4GB and it flys.
I also dual boot that laptop with 64bit Ubuntu which uses 3.8GB of that 4GB RAM and flys even faster than Vista.


RAM is cheap. If your PC will take it, throw in 4GB and you will think you have a new PC.