What Ram would benefit

[rabbyp]

Hi,

 

I have just bought a new Dell pc which has come with 4GB of ram.

 

I would like to upgrade the ram to the pc's full potential.

 

On the website it says it can take 8gb of ram and it has 4 slots so I'm assuming the best way to go would be 4 x 2gb? :confused:

 

I have looked at high speed ram but I really know nothing about it but im guessing there is a difference if one site sells a 2gb Ram for £19.99 and another brand is £59.99.

 

What ram would be best for this pc? I use alot of music programs that can be quite hard on the memory.

 

This is the spec as new

 

Product Information

 

• AMD Phenom X4 9750
  
• (2.4GHz, 2MB Cache)
  
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
  
• 4GB memory
  
• 500GB hard drive
  

• Blu-Ray player and DVD Rewriter
  
• 512MB ATI Radeon HD4350 graphics
  
• 6x USB ports
  
• Media card reader
  

Full product information about Dell Inspiron 546 / 8721 - Desktop PC with 20" monitor Hide product information about Dell Inspiron 546 / 8721 - Desktop PC with 20" monitor

Full specification

 

BenefitProcessor TypeAMD Phenom X4 Clock-Speed2.4GHz Cache2 MB

Operating-SystemWindows Vista. Home Premium

RAM Memory4096 MB

Hard Disk Capacity500 GB

Optical Drive 1Blu-Ray Player and DVD-RW

Graphics Memory512 MB ATI Radeon HD4350

Sound CardOnboard Soundcard included

Media Card Reader

No of USB connections 6

Network LAN10/100 Ethernet

 

 

 

Thanks for any help

[Jelly Bean]

Hello there.

 

Ok you do not say how many slots are already filled on the mainboard.

 

Do you have 2x2 gig installed or 4x1 gig installed?

 

I would asume you have two slots filled with 2 x 2 gig DDR2 and have two slots free?

 

If the above is correct you only have reason then to buy a further 2x2 gig RAM.

 

Use this scanner to give you more accurate reading:

 

Memory upgrades from Crucial.com - About Crucial:Media Toolbox

 

Post results please.

 

Ok the diffrence in prices?

 

You could go for Kingston value or a better branded and faster speed etc.

 

However I do like to fit the same brand and speed of RAM into each slot rather than mix them.

 

If you could give a little more information it would help.

[rabbyp]

I am in work at the moment but I can post the results this evening around 6.

 

Is there a great difference between the likes of these

 

Kingston 2GB HyperX RAM - KHX9200D2K2/2G £76.99 - Free Delivery

 

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/PC-Memory/Kingston-RAM/Kingston-Computer-Memory---2GB---FB-DIMM-240-pin---DDR2-%28Kit-of-2%29

 

Thanks

[Jelly Bean]

Yes the diffrence is the second one looks more like value RAM to me,the cheaper ended Kingston.That second one looks over priced to me.

 

You need to stick to same speeds as already installed in your PC unless you plan to replace all the RAM and go for a faster speed.

 

If you run crucial scanner we will get a better idea on what you need.

 

Hey after 6 is fine.

 

Compare prices on your links to prices on Amazon just as an example:

 

Amazon.co.uk: ram - Electronics & Photo

 

Note how cheap Kingston is?

 

I would rather go for Corsair or OCZ RAM.

 

Note the price of this Corsair 2x2 gig:

 

Corsair - TWIN2X4096-6400C5 4 GB PC2-6400 DDRII-SDRAM: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

 

Cheaper than what you posted and a better brand.

 

If you note the RAM has a case:

 

OCZ OCZ2G8004GK 4 GB DDR2 PC2-6400 Dual Channel Memory: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

 

This is much better for more powerfull computers.It is heatsink RAM which will stay cooler and evenly distribut the heat.

 

If funds are limited then Kingston/Crucial value Ram would do the job but I do not like to mix and match.

 

Just a few examples and you can see the price diffrences.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

If this is 32bit Windows then it wont even see 4GB.

[rabbyp]

Hi This is what the scan brought back.

 

I am using 32 bit home premium. I take it that means I cant upgrade to 8gb of ram?

 

 

 

Your Crucial System Scanner Results

 

We have received your question. Response times vary, but you will receive a response from a Crucial representative.

 

 

 

The following is a list of what our scan was able to detect:

 

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: Inspiron 546

Motherboard Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

Motherboard Model: 0F896N

 

 

 

http://www.crucial.com/images/dropArrow_expand.gifYour Computer Specifications

 

 

 

1024 MB

 

1024 MB

 

1024 MB

 

1024 MB

 

 

 

• <LI class="">Maximum Memory Capacity: 8388608 MB <LI class="">Currently Installed Memory: 4096 MB <LI class="">Available Memory Slots: N.A. <LI class="">Total Memory Slots: 4 <LI class="">Dual Channel Support: N.A. <LI class="">CPU Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD <LI class=" sfhover">CPU Family: AMD Phenom 9750 Quad-Core Processor Model 2, Stepping 3
  
• CPU Speed: 2400 MHz
  

[Jelly Bean]

All four slots are filled.

 

Maynard is correct a 32 bit OS only reconises a certain amount of RAM.

 

It only uses a certain amount.64 bit OS reconises a lot more RAM.

 

But looking at the 4 gig you have already installed that realy should be enough and your computer should run fast and smooth.

 

Your running a quad core also,your PC must be fast.

 

Question is do you realy need 8 gig in there?

[rabbyp]

Im not sure if I do or not cause I havent installed all of my software yet but my last PC ran XP professional with 4 gb of ram and couldnt handle the amount of memory that the music software needed and simply just crashed out.

 

This is why I went for something with the option of 8gb which is what the guy in pc world told me it could take (what he didnt say was that the OS wouldnt be compatible)

 

I am entitled to a free upgrade of windows 7 in october. Is getting the 64 bit an option?

 

Thanks for your help

[Jelly Bean]

Ahhh Windows 7 64 bit.

 

Then I would def go for the 4x2 gig RAM.

 

Your computer you have now is running DDR2 and a good data speed.

 

Your XP computer possibly was running SODIMM or just plain DDR at a slower speed include XP into that mix and the PC would not be as fast.

 

Lets say as an example your Vista PC has 4 gig DDR2 and its speed is 800 mhz.

 

Lets say as an example your XP PC had 4 gig of DDR 300 speed.

 

See were I am going with this?

 

Xp running on single channel lower speed and Vista running on dual channel a lot faster speed.

 

Vista uses the RAM much better than XP.

 

You bought from PCWorld?

 

The ploy there is give wrong advice so you upgrade a computer and spend more cash in there stores.

 

But the diffrence is you are running DDR2 dual channel RAM which is fast so you should see the diffrence in speed plus you have a quad core processor.

 

The RAM doesnt just give you speed you have a quad core CPU which is like for single core processors in one.

 

Sorry I am pratling on,just trying to say you now have a higher grade computer and it should be able to run your software with no issues with 4 gig.

[rabbyp]

I tried windows 7 there & they only seem to offer the upgrade the same as what you already have. I have 32 bit so I can only get 32 bit upgraded

 

Thanks for putting it in english for me. I understand what you're getting at.

 

Ill get everything I need installed and try to get it up and running, hopefully with no glitches but if worst comes to worst Ill just put my hand in my pocket and upgrade to 64 bit, but heres hoping I dont have to :)

 

Thanks again. Much appreciated

[Jelly Bean]

You are very welcome.

 

Yes install all your software first and test the system and see how it runs,if it runs great no need to upgrade anything.

 

Yeah an upgrade is 32 bit to 32 bit.

 

Let me know how she runs though as you appear to have a decent computer and I hope it all goes well for you.

 

JB.

[Tootech]

Windows 7 has a Resource Monitor you can access from Task Manager, and I think Vista is the same (correct me if I am wrong JB).

 

I've had a look at mine, Windows 7 64 bit with 4GB RAM - 35% memory usage. It's worth running all of your programs and watching memory usage to get a feel for just how much is being used in Vista.

 

That will give you an idea of how Windows 7 will use memory, and don't forget 7 is quicker and slicker and Vista :)

[Jelly Bean]

Windows 7 has a Resource Monitor you can access from Task Manager, and I think Vista is the same (correct me if I am wrong JB).

 

You are correct Tootech.

 

I agree if the memory usage is monitored I am sure with a quad core and 4 gig RAM your programs should run great.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi,

I also could probably help if I knew which software you intend running, as a for instance, "Make Musics, Finale", if running the Garriton real orchestra plug in, or whatever they are calling it now,:D in earlier versions of Finale, (mine is still 2006 LOL) Processor use showed as 100%, this also meant large amounts of memory also in use during play back. It probably still is a real resource hog.

Band in a Box is also quite hungry if running the latest real instruments as these are in WAV format and not really MIDI. Therefore also using large amounts of both processor time and RAM.

Or are you using something even more exotic like Cubase ;)

Let me know and I will see what I can find out for you.

Nev.