Adding memory to Vista system

Hello! Following up a recommendation from this forum to add memory to my computer (currently 1GB), I have ran the Crucial scan and found that my system can support up to 4GB. I read somewhere that Vista 32 bit cannot use more than 2GB, but I was thinking of adding the 2 x 1GB kit anyway with an eye to the future (if and when I upgrade to Win 7, for example). Does that make sense? (I have two empty slots and the existing two hold 512MB each).

Also, as to quality, is there much difference between brands? The cheapest items on the list are made by Crucial. Thanks for your input!

Maxdata 1.87 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo 6300
1024 MB memory
250 Gb HD + 1 Tb External HD
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N ATA Device [CD/DVD drive]
Vista Home Premium 32 bit Service Pack 2 (build 6002)

 

Go ahead and get the RAM if your system supports 4GB.

But while you are at it, upgrade to Windows 7 as well. With that kind of gear, you will notice a world of difference performance and compatibility wise.

Crucial RAM is good. Kingston is good. You're fine with that.

 

Here's some jargon from MS on that.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/aa366778.aspx

It does appear with Vista there would be some advantage of 4G over 2G. I don't know if it would really be discernible to the user though.

Use the MS tool to check system compatibility;
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx
:wave:wave

 

That sounds great, motc7, I'll be ordering soon. I appreciate your help!

Thanks for the links, brandypeppy, although the MS memory limits page flew a bit over my head! I'll do the compatibility test though.

Thank you both for answering so quickly! Cheers. :wave

 

Just for your information: 32-bit operating systems (like yours) generally can access up to 4GB of memory, but most will report the accessable figure as around 3.5GB. 64-bit systems can access a lot more, somewhere in the region of 164GB I believe.

In your case I concur with motc7 in that you should upgrade to 4Gb and Windows 7 as windows 7 is so much better than Vista and you will see a great performance gain with 4GB of RAM.

 

I am extremely pleased that mein opinion agrees with the Gestapo. :cool

BTW, I started a thread about you. Cannot reach you via PM Wanted to ask you a few things.

 

Good to have one more informed opinion, collins|. I was going to wait a little before getting Win7 but the consensus seems to be that there is no benefit in waiting for updates. I'm ordering the memory today. Thanks for the clarification! :cool

Rolitzgertz, you correctly deduced that those are exactly the sort of 1-2-3 instructions I need. You saved me a bit of time, thank you! If I mess up, you will all hear about it, no fear.

 

My PMs have always been enabled and I cannot find the thread you mention.

Thanks for the info

 

A little update on my RAM upgrade. I installed a 2x1GB kit from Crucial and on reboot got a “no boot filename received” error and nothing worked although the new memory was instantly recognized. I re-seated the new sticks and then changed the order, so the new (stronger) memory was in the first slot and the rest made two matched pairs. The recovery console was utterly useless and rolling the system back did not solve anything. The only thing that eventually worked was to change the boot sequence in BIOS making “hard disk” the first choice. Previously it had DVD/CD first, as I thought the choices would cycle depending on whether a CD was inserted or not. I have not tried changing the order back as I have no other option to go online if this pc fails. Does this sound OK to you?

I should add that the new memory is working well and I have noticed much better overall performance and increased download speed, so many thanks to Halo and everyone else for advising me well. :cool

 

It should probably okay going forward but this does sound a little strange. :confused

It sounds like some setting in your BIOS got changed from the new install, though I've never run into that.

Depending on your level of concern, you could try removing the MOBO battery for ~20 minutes, this would reset the BIOS to default.

Though if everything seems okay right now, this might be more of an academic exercise than any real problem solving.

 

I agree, brandypeppy. Even if I knew what a MOBO battery looks like, :confused I'm not comfortable messing around in there. Thanks anyway! So far so good, I'm happy with the new memory. :wave

 

Try to take the RAM out. Then turn on the computer without the RAM for about 30 Seconds. Put the RAM back in and tell us if there is any progress.