Good for you, Jerry. I upped my HP laptop running XP Media Center version from 1GB to 2GB, and even with that I noticed an immediate difference, especially when I'm working with graphics. RAM is a cheap way of improving performance.

Jerry,
Good for you.
It feels so good to get past the 512MB rut and into the big time with 1GB.
I was so thrilled when I finally did it, and for cheap to.

Wish I knew how to do that. My old desktop is 512 and runs like a dream, but I would love to add another 512.

Good going!

Jane

jane if you can use a screw driver you can probably do it.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to install ram pictures

Thanks for your confidence Zep. Looks a little scary to me. Screwdriver?

OJ and Vodka.
Helps loosen up things.
Builds confidence.

Jane it is a screwdriver not a hammer. Even Mr.Thumbs here has installed RAM without a concern.

DA

Jane below is the link for crucial ram scanner, this will tell you what type you need...

Here is a link that might be useful: Ram scanner

Jane it is so easy on a desktop, have upgraded mine twice now, from 256mb's to 512 to now 1.18Gig just make sure you get the right one for your PC open up PC and you will see the slots that are open, the pkg. your memory comes in will have instructions to install mine did...

Too funny - actually I like a Manhattan on the rocks-2 cubes, then I can take on the world!

It's hubby's computer full of photos, if I mess up it's death!

You are really tempting me. I'd like to give it a shot. Need a few Manhattan's and a screwdriver....

Jane

Jane the screwdriver is to remove the side panel. You need no tools inside to replace or install memory. Your case may not even need a screwdriver, take a squint at the back and see. You may have a thumb screw or 2 to release.

Try it, then remove the side panel and have a nose around inside without even touching stuff. Preferably before the OJ and Vodka for added clarity although the drink may be a welcome relief afterwards.

Jane, just be sure to understand how the "slot" works. Some are just plug in with a downward push to "snap" others are at an angle and than push down sideways to a "snap", that's the way my notebook is. Bet the Desktop is a straight push down.

Try to not touch the contact, and unplug you computer's A/C, and grab the chassis, the bare metal, to get your electrical state equal to the Desktop. I understand this high density electronic stuff is very sensitive to static electric discharge. I can say, however, I've done a lot of handling without the "wrist-straps" normally recommended, and I've never blown any ICs.

I found Kingston the best price, and I think Kingston and PNY are both HQ market leaders. The Kingston site provides a memory translator, all you need is your computer make and model number, the site will give you the correct memory.

Oh yes, be sure you have a spare slot, or more. There may also be a need/requirement not to mix sizes, e.g., if you now have one memory chip at 512 KBytes and a spare slot, my case, add another 512 KByte chip, I don't think you can add a 1 GByte chip say given the above condition. My computer can go to 2 GBytes, and with two slots that requires two 1 GByte chips.

Thanks for the heads up. I have never opened that case in 6 yrs. Must be full of dust because its on the floor under the desk. I sort of remember it has 2-256. I think I can add two more. I think I ran a scan a few years ago to find out.

Might take a look, I'd like to feel more comfortable around these machines. They make me very nervous!

Jane

It really is easy to do especially in a desktop pc where there is normally room to move around with out having to take anything out to get to the slots.
You can pick up an anti-static wrist band at any electronics store for like $2, I think everyone that works on their pc should have one. You just put it on your wrist then clip it to the metal on the pc and no chance of a static charge frying anything.

If your pc is on the floor and has never been opened you would do yourself a lot of good just to open it up and get all the dust out of it, that in itself will help the pc run better, heat is the devil to a pc and dust causes them to over heat, the fans get full of dust and clog up. You would be amazed at how much dust gets in there. Do not use a vacuum to clean it though. Use some canned air to blow it out.

I just bought a new 1gig stick of DDR ram for my pc from newegg.com and it was only $18.99 for kingston which is a good brand. Prices are very good now.

Go to that crucial link and let it run the scanner on your pc it will tell you exactly what is in your pc now and what can go in there.
It depends on your pc as to whether you can mix and match memory. My new pc was fine with adding a 1 gig stick to go along with the 512 that was already in it, some older ones don't allow that.

If you are careful and take your time it is very easy to do, if you go to your pc manufactures site and do a search for your pc model they probably have some pictures there of the inside of your pc and show exactly where the memory goes. Most computers you just have to slide the side panel off to get inside.
this is another good tutorial with excellent pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: installing ram

For those of you that do not know what is inside your pc this is an exceptional free program that will run a scan on your pc and tell you every thing that is in there, just a wealth of info and all free. I advise putting it on every pc. I always put it on right away then use it to print out a full list of what is in the pc then after I update or add programs I run it again and keep the printouts in my computer file drawer.
it is called the belarc advisor, super easy to use too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Belarc Advisor

I may get up the courage to take a look inside this weekend. Do I have to buy the ram from Dell? It is a Dell computer 6-7 yrs old. remember installing XP on it and upgrading it to XP 2.

Question: what's the worse that can happen? Can I destroy the computer by doing this wrong?

Jane

Its usually pretty cut and dry. Memory stick will have a little notch,,an alignment slot - it won't allow you to install it backward. As long as you touch the metal case with your hand/arm/foot so your body is grounded you really shouldn't have much worry about hurting it.

First time doing a memory install is a world of apprehensive unknowns, but as long as you have the right type of memory, after you do it you'll say .. that was so simple an eight year old kid could do it.

NO you do not have to buy the memory from Dell. I would suggest someplace like newegg.com that sells a lot of memory and has a great reputation for easy returns and easy fast shipment.

As I said if you go up to that link posted for the Ram Scanner that Zep516 listed there for you, it will scan your pc and tell you exactly what you need. In fact you can order it from there if you want to. Then if you decide not to do it yourself you have the memory to take in with your pc to have it done at a local shop.

Jane,

Newegg, or direct from Kingston will cost less, and I know Kingston has a tool to give you the correct memory match.

Also, if you have small memory chips, e.g., less than 512 MByts, I'd check to see what the maximum memory you computer will support and just replace what you have with one or two larger chips. If you can take 1 GByte chips, buy one or two of those, if nothing bigger than 512, then buy at least two of those, if nothing bigger than 256, as you think you have, then keep what you have and add more 256, if they are available.

Yes, open and vacuum the dust out.

jane,

What is the model # of that desk top?

It's our old machine and my husband uses it for his photo editing. No one touches it because 'heaven help anyone who would mess up his pics.' I'd have to do this when he's not home, that's why I haven't run the scan yet.

It's a Dell Dimension 4600 XP Home
Intel PentR 4CPU 3.00 GHz
2.99 GHz, 512 MB of Ram
37.4 GB used
37.0 Free
Capacity 74.4 GB

That's all I could find out. I think we bought it in 01/02.

Thanks,
Jane

A one or two GB kit would be a nice addition.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crucial Memory - Dimension 4600

Sounds like a machine worth the upgrade of memory. As for the pictures, I strongly recommend they be copied to one or more backups: an outboard HDD and/or to CDs or DVDs. Some day the HDD will crash or other disaster will happen. Wait long enough, it will happen.

Again, I think I already said, the upgrade may needs to be done either with the same size memory chips you have, using extra slots, or you need to scrap the old chips and upgrade to the largest the machine can handle. The chip matcher tools should tell you that. For example, my Gateway notebook has two slots. The machine was purchased with one 512 MByte chip, and thus one spare slot. I didn't check, but I do not think I could put a 1 GByte chip in the second slot with the 512 MByte in the first. I was happy in any case just stepping up to a total of 1 GByte, thus I added a matched 512 MByte chip in the spare slot.

I remember for past experiences in the days of much smaller memory chips that if one mixed chip sizes there was some ording necessary, e.g., the biggest in slot "0", and matching of slot "pairs"...or something like that. Again, if you buy chips the same size you have to put in spare slots there should be no complexities to deal with.

I've been playing with the 2 memory slots in a Toshiba laptop. Vista, memory configuration is the same as xp - 2gb was max ... After the vista 'sp1' it will take a 1gb ddr2 module in slot A, the with a 2gb module in slot B ... won't start at all the other way around.

With the mismatched mem sizes its running async dual channel L-shaped mode, which apparently is a step down from the preferred synchronous dual channel if they were both the same size.

Jane,

I have been following this thread and I was wondering:

Has your husband been complaining about the operation of the system as it stands now? If he hasn't complained why not leave well enough alone? If he has complained then an upgrade to a GB would be in order. My position is anything over that would be excessive.

Does he go on the Internet when doing his photo editing? If he doesn't go on the Internet, have you pared out all non-essential applications on-board including AV and anything which would be running in the background? Doing so should restore some resources.

Finally I humbly ask this, what would your response be if you found out that in a clandestine activity he cracked the case on your computer and went inside, albeit with good intentions?

DA

damccoy, da-n good advice, but not much fun.

I upgraded my to 1 GByte simply because I wanted to see if the machine would run faster, be more responsive, it is. Could I live at the old speed? Sure, but then I didn't have to answer to anyone but myself if I screwed things up, then too, I am my harshest critic.

Jane, still be sure to back up the photos, if you/he hasn't already done so.

Jerry,

RAM is certainly an inexpensive upgrade, if needed or just desired.

I remember on my old Win98 system when I upgraded. Originally it had 3 sticks of 32MB in three slots. I went to Crucial and bought a pair of 128 MB. I pulled the original three and placed the new RAM in slot 1 and 2. The system booted up and the new RAM was recognized, 256 MB. Well, since the case was off I figured what the heck so I put a 32MB stick in slot 3. When I rebooted I was shocked. The system recognized the mismatch. A total of 288MB. Now that was cruising speed.

DA

You guys are funny! If he was sneaking around my computer, it would be divorce court. My husband and son are terrified to go near my machines (2). Both are used for work and if things got messed up I'd have to fix it.

He obsesses over his photos. He belongs to a photo group which meets weekly and they have competitions. They also display their photos in hospitals and libraries. He's actually sold a bunch (shocked). I have no interest in photos except to look at them. He will spend weeks working on one photo. He's not a photographer, just a hobby which he loves to do.

The computer he uses is really a great machine. It has taken such abuse, I still stand in awe that it works. Hubby knows absolutely nothing about computers and doesn't want to. Leaves all the problems for me to fix.

He has numerous photo programs on the machine and will have them running at the same time. He uses AOL and his photo buddies will be emailing back and forth sending each other photos to critique. Plus he has Media Player booming with all the flashing colors across the screen (he has 6 speakers hooked up to the computer. He's a classical/ jazz lover and copies music to the computer and also burns CDs. All this is going on while he's working in photoshop. Oh, I forgot Quickbooks, that's always running too.

Best part, when he's through for the night, he doesn't shut anything down. He shuts the computer down without closing anything. The computer freezes and stays that way until the next day. Or he does a manual shutdown complaining about the machine.

Its truly a sad state of affairs. I've given up on him and leave him to this poor, abused machine. Someone tell me why it still works, buried under the table surrounded by speakers and wires?

And I'm thinking of adding Ram...

Jane

I'm still worried about the photos being backed up.

My recommendation is if you want to try more RAM, it is really cheap, try it on one of your machines, leave you husband to sink or swim, after he does back ups.

More ram will help it shut down faster. Plus his programs will load faster.. photoshop users can never get enough ram.

Sorry about the long story, long day. Jerry, I have his machine set to back up on regular intervals. I put One Care Live - the whole suite, which does backup to disks. I, of course have to do that, but I do. I also run backups on a Maxtor Drive, set to automatically back up.

I'm planning to run that scan this weekend and will order Ram. If I chicken out, I'll hire someone to put it in. I don't really understand the difference between memory and resources. But I'm sure it will help, anything will.

Thanks for the confidence and support,

Jane

Well Jane with the intensity of his photo interests I do think an upgrade is a worth while endeavor.

Just so you know, if all goes bad I have an extensive roster of attorneys, both civil and criminal available to me. Just let me know. :)

Good luck! Enjoy!

DA

Thanks DA. Might take you up on it!

Jane

RAM is extremely inexpensive right now. I'd suggest to anyone they max out their computer's RAM if they do anything other than browse the web.
It seems a bit daunting if you've never done it, but it really is easy and makes a big difference!
kcred