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Old 06-24-2006, 04:51 PM   #1
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Double memory, what will result?


I have a 256 RAM chip. If I buy an identical chip and install it as well I guess that means I would have 512 RAM right? What would result? Would my programs open twice as fast?

Would this be the same as pulling out my 256 RAM chip and replacing it with a 512 RAM chip? Why is it that two 256 chips cost less than one 512 chips?
 
Old 06-24-2006, 05:20 PM   #2
cwwilson721
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A few answers then
  • Yes. Two 256MB chips will give you 512MB. But the question is: Can your motherboard handle it? Some older boards have a ridiculus RAM restriction. If you have a newer (less than 3 years old) motherboard, it shouldn't have a problem.
  • Odds are it will not open twice as fast. There are many other hardware things going on, but you should seee a increase in overall performance.
  • A single 512MB chip will do the same thing as 2 256MB (in general. There are tiny differences, but nowhere near enough for a user to notice)
  • As for cost, cramming more and more bits on a chip requires better and better manufacturing. If it costs more to make, it costs more to buy. An example: You can buy 2 15" CRTs for ALOT less than a 30" (Just an example, but the idea is there)
 
Old 06-24-2006, 05:58 PM   #3
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Maybe 128 MB extra RAM but then see if you can get a new disk .. ?

The slowest component is the disk in a computer .
 
Old 06-25-2006, 09:02 PM   #4
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Another reason it costs more (and is arguably better to do) is that if you get a 512 stick, that means that you still have an extra slot to put even more memory in later, as opposed to filling up two slots with two 256 sticks.
 
Old 06-25-2006, 09:04 PM   #5
cwwilson721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oxagast
Another reason it costs more (and is arguably better to do) is that if you get a 512 stick, that means that you still have an extra slot to put even more memory in later, as opposed to filling up two slots with two 256 sticks.
And thus, spend more money, and then it'll be 'buy a hdd', then 'Hmm, that flat panel looks nice'....

I do that EXACT same thing...lol
 
Old 06-25-2006, 09:06 PM   #6
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Gotta leave myself room for excuses...
 
Old 06-25-2006, 10:35 PM   #7
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When buying more RAM, it's always a better idea to double up on size. To illustrate, let's assume that you have two slots, and a single 256 stick, but want more:

Option A - buy another 256. Total = 512
Option B - buy 512. Total = 768

Sure the 512 will cost more than the 256, but fast forward a year or so, when you want still more RAM, and want to get up to 1G. If you selected option A, you'll need to buy two 512 sticks, and the pair of 256's will be collecting dust. If you selected option B, you'll only need to buy 1 more 512 stick.

Overall therefore, option A would result in you buying 3 more sticks total in addition to the one you've already got, with 2 of the 4 being removed from the PC. Option B would result in you buying two more sticks in addition to the one you've got, with only 1 being removed from the PC. Long term, B is the better choice assuming of course that your mobo can support the RAM, as cwwilson already pointed out.
 
Old 06-25-2006, 11:45 PM   #8
cwwilson721
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Another rule of thumb for hardware:

Always get as much RAM and HDD as you can afford.
You will always use it.
 
  


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