Hi, I would like to add more memory to one of my machines. Right now I have 256mb DDR on one stick with 1 extra socket. I went to newegg and entered the model of my machine and it came up with several possibilities. (can provide link if interested). Questions are: Can I increase to 1024 by using 2 512's? If so, is there a certain way to do it like adding one stick to the other socket and then if all goes right replacing the original one? Is there a difference in brands? Is kingston better than Corsair or is it just a matter of preference? Suggestions welcomed. Bluejay

Without knowing the exact make/model of your PC, we can't make any hard suggestions...they would only be guesses. Go to Crucial.com, enter the model info into the memory configurator, then use their suggestions. You don't have to buy from them, but you can use their info to help you shop elsewhere. Hopefully your PC doesn't use RDRAM.

Jam, I did that at newegg which is where I buy most of my stuff and this is the result. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ... . The machine in question is a Gateway 300x. The memory now is: 256mb DDR 266mhz CL2.5 PC2100.

I didn't know newegg had a memory configurator.

Yes,Upper left corner of memory section. You can do it by motherboard and chipsets as well, but I just used the model number. So from the info provided, what do you think? Also is my method of installation correct? Bluejay

Please, Could someone finish the answer to my questions here. Once again my response ends the thread and does not get a reply.It just gets dropped. I don't mean to sound like I am complaining, but it gets rather frustrating when information is supplied and the question still goes unanswered. Also this does not do much good for someone searching the archives for the same topic, and an unanswered post is what they see. Thanks Bluejay

yea that can be anoying when people get off topic lol...anyway, if u have a mobo manual i'd double check that ur comp can handle a full 1 gig. Older comps cant always handle as much. It should say the max each slot can take. As for order of replacement, i would remove ur old 256 and install both 512 at the same time. As long as u get the right ram using the memory configerator thingy it should be plug and play. If it beeps at you, u either got the right ram or did not shove it in hard enough. make sure u dotn instal backward. also be carefull of the clips that hold it in place, i'v broken them be fore and then ur tring to hold the ram in with super glue. (actualy worked thoguh) Since 2 512 chips will only get u a gig and a 512 and ur current 256 would get u 768 megs, i would recomend only buying 1 512 chip since the extra 256 wont make a huge difference and u can always buy another 512 chip later. since you only have one chip in there now i'm assuming ur ram does not need to be matched (both slots neededing to be the same) thus you can prob be fine just adding 1 512 chip. the difference between 768 and 256 will be night and day and that way ur not wasting ur 256 chip. As for brand, there really all the same thing, not to much of a differance. I personaly like Ultra, but i have used other brands with no probelms. I try and get a brand with the ram cooling heat syncs built on, cuz it looks cool and suposibly will make ur ram colder and more effitiant. who knows thoguh lol. Crosair is a good brand but i personaly wouldn't buy kingston becuase some of there other products are shotty and so i would guess there ram is to. I hope this helps you out.
-Cody

Ultra Gladiator Blk Mid-Tower w/500w V-Series
Intel DP35DPM Socket 775 Motherboard
Intel Quad Core Kentsfield 2.4Ghz Q6600 CPU
Ultra 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Dual Channel 2X1024
GeCub

Hi Cody, Thanks for the response. I did some checking before replying to you and my mobo will handle 1gig of memory. I can pickup Corsair 512mb sticks at newegg for $27 each. I think I am going to go with 1 512 for now. Because I am a bit suspicious of my original 256mb, I can pull it later to see if there is a difference and will still have 512. If not, then I will have 768. I too am a little leary of Kingston since my Kingston 1 gig flash drive crapped out at a bit over a year. If all goes well with this, I am going to upgrade my home computer which can handle 1.5gig. It's specs are in my profile. Will post back later. Bluejay