Quick RAM question

soshiv · 08-26-2009, 12:45 PM

Trying to fix up an old laptop that has 256MB of PC2100 Memory. Can I add another stick in the other slot but 512MB PC2100? Or does it have to be matching size (256MB)?

Madcatz · 08-26-2009, 12:51 PM

you can usually mix up the sizes and it will be just fine. I'd check the detailed specs of the laptop first though, see what memory it can take and how much. PC2100 may not be that cheap or available anymore, you may be able to use PC2700 which is usually pretty cheap and widely available.

soshiv · 08-26-2009, 01:01 PM

It says supported memory speed 266 which is PC2100, no mention of 333... =(

Madcatz · 08-26-2009, 01:21 PM

ahh, 2700 can clock down to 2100 speeds, but I'd play it safe and get 2100, newegg still has some available (only 8 though) or you may be able to find some at a local retail store like best buy, office max places like that.

keithen16 · 08-27-2009, 12:03 PM

no u cant mix up the sizes in 2 slots if you have 512mb in one slot and u put 1gb in the other that wont work. if you do that which i tried it and your pc will beep when you start it upo and it wont work until you have both sticks the same frequency. example 1gb stick in one slot and another 1gb stick in the other slot that will work fine. so if you want 2 ram sticks then they have to be the same type, kind. trust me hope this helps.

Madcatz · 08-28-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithen16

no u cant mix up the sizes in 2 slots if you have 512mb in one slot and u put 1gb in the other that wont work. if you do that which i tried it and your pc will beep when you start it upo and it wont work until you have both sticks the same frequency. example 1gb stick in one slot and another 1gb stick in the other slot that will work fine. so if you want 2 ram sticks then they have to be the same type, kind. trust me hope this helps.

ummm yeah...you can very well mix sizes, its not prefered to mix speeds. Want proof? How do you think some laptops come brand new with 3gigs of memory? they don't make 1.5gb memory sticks. Having a 512, and any other size of memory is fine. The only way it won't boot up is if the additional stick is a different speed that the motherboard doesn't support, or if that stick put it over the maximum amount of supported memory (alot of old laptops only support a max of 1gb of ram), or if its a bad stick of ram.

I am a pc tech, mainly working on laptops, I've upgraded more laptps with different size memory sticks more than I can remember. It works fine.

Cobracon · 08-29-2009, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithen16

no u cant mix up the sizes in 2 slots if you have 512mb in one slot and u put 1gb in the other that wont work. if you do that which i tried it and your pc will beep when you start it upo and it wont work until you have both sticks the same frequency. example 1gb stick in one slot and another 1gb stick in the other slot that will work fine. so if you want 2 ram sticks then they have to be the same type, kind. trust me hope this helps.

Not to mention the fact you are apparently confusing RAM capacity (expressed in MB or GB) with RAM frequency (expressed in MHz or GHz). They are 2 different animals.

keithen16 · 08-29-2009, 04:31 PM

thats weird cause when i tried to install a 512mb stick in one slot and a 1gb in the other slot it didnt work. mabye because my 2nd slot was broken. sorry to go against you mabye ur right. every pc is different.

08-26-2009, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
soshiv Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 57 OS: XP	Quick RAM question Trying to fix up an old laptop that has 256MB of PC2100 Memory. Can I add another stick in the other slot but 512MB PC2100? Or does it have to be matching size (256MB)?

08-26-2009, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,389 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Quick RAM question you can usually mix up the sizes and it will be just fine. I'd check the detailed specs of the laptop first though, see what memory it can take and how much. PC2100 may not be that cheap or available anymore, you may be able to use PC2700 which is usually pretty cheap and widely available. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

08-26-2009, 01:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
soshiv Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 57 OS: XP	Re: Quick RAM question It says supported memory speed 266 which is PC2100, no mention of 333... =(

08-26-2009, 01:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,389 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Quick RAM question ahh, 2700 can clock down to 2100 speeds, but I'd play it safe and get 2100, newegg still has some available (only 8 though) or you may be able to find some at a local retail store like best buy, office max places like that. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

08-27-2009, 12:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
keithen16 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san diego Posts: 89 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate	Re: Quick RAM question no u cant mix up the sizes in 2 slots if you have 512mb in one slot and u put 1gb in the other that wont work. if you do that which i tried it and your pc will beep when you start it upo and it wont work until you have both sticks the same frequency. example 1gb stick in one slot and another 1gb stick in the other slot that will work fine. so if you want 2 ram sticks then they have to be the same type, kind. trust me hope this helps.

08-29-2009, 04:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
keithen16 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: san diego Posts: 89 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate	Re: Quick RAM question thats weird cause when i tried to install a 512mb stick in one slot and a 1gb in the other slot it didnt work. mabye because my 2nd slot was broken. sorry to go against you mabye ur right. every pc is different.