adding memory - where to buy?

I ran Crucialscan, and so I have some options for adding memory to my 256 MB system. I'd like to take the 3 GB (+.25 GB) option @ $95,but I'm wondering if the same items might be available at Frye's etc at a better price.

"Each memory slot can hold DDR PC2700, DDR PC3200 with a maximum of 1GB per slot."

BTW how much of a "problem" is it to add "unmatched" components (say, 1 GB now, 1 GB in a month)?

Also, I can post info from Everest about my hardware, but is there any chance that adding 3 GB memory is a waste of money?? (I read that 3.5 GB is the XP maximum memory)

Thanx

 

I'd personally only get 1GB unless you use large programs and/or things like large spreadsheets which I doubt as 256MB barely can run XP by itself and that you've lived with this for years.

 

Christa712: IIRC, folks can't PM here until they have made a certain # of posts (12??)....bumped my head on this a while back myself.

Auggiedoggie - thank you for the insight re necessity for more than 1.25 GB....maybe I'll rachet this back.

.

 

I agree with augie - I noticed a huge performance difference when going from 512MB to 1 GB, but not so much when I then went to 2 GB on the same computer a while later.

 

I run 1gb and 1/2gb on XP and its fine.. memory4less.com is by far the best place I have found to buy ram. They use brand name, cheaper price the anyplace I found and great customer service (that means alot)

 

Thank you all for the insights and information.