Memory upgrade

[Brickcounter]

I want to add 1 Gb memory to my existing 512Mb
I have a Giga-Byte GA-7VTXE motherboard which supports DDR SDRam
The existing memory type DDR PC2100 is in the first slot of 3
I will get 1 Gb DDR PC3200 to add
My question is: will it make any difference in which slot I put the new
memory?
i.e. is it worth moving the existing memory to slot 2, then the new to slot
1? Or just put the new to slot 2?

--
Windows XP Pro SP1
Gigabyte GA-VTXE 1.0 motherboard
AMD 1.4 Althon XP processor
512 Mb RAM
Radeon 8500 graphics card

 

[Paul]

I want to add 1 Gb memory to my existing 512Mb
I have a Giga-Byte GA-7VTXE motherboard which supports DDR SDRam
The existing memory type DDR PC2100 is in the first slot of 3
I will get 1 Gb DDR PC3200 to add
My question is: will it make any difference in which slot I put the new
memory?
i.e. is it worth moving the existing memory to slot 2, then the new to slot
1? Or just put the new to slot 2?

--
Windows XP Pro SP1
Gigabyte GA-VTXE 1.0 motherboard
AMD 1.4 Althon XP processor
512 Mb RAM
Radeon 8500 graphics card

Start by testing the new 1GB stick by itself. Place the 1GB stick in
the slot furthest from the processor. Get a copy of memtest86+ from
memtest.org and prep a new floppy with it. The memtest86+ floppy is
self-booting, and you boot the computer for the first time after
the new memory is added, with that floppy. Allow the tester to run for
two full passes (there is a pass counter on the screen). It could take
a couple hours.

If the memory is error free, then add your existing stick. Place the
existing 512MB in the slot nearest the processor. With three slots,
in a single channel memory config, using slot 1 and slot 3 distributes
the loads a bit better. The slot choices make a tiny difference, and if
you didn't follow the rule, it probably wouldn't make any difference.

Now test with memtest86+ again. Sometimes, the added bus loading leads
to memory errors, and you want to find them with memtest86+, and not
by crashing Windows instead.

If the memory is crap, it is not going to matter how you arrange the
slots. So I expect your test results will be definitive.

When changing the memory, remember to unplug the computer, or at
least switch off the power strip that the computer is plugged into.
The idea is, you want +5VSB from the power supply to be disabled.
I like to unplug the computer to ensure that there is no power in
the chassis. RAM can be damaged, if sticks are plugged in while
the green LED on the motherboard is still glowing because +5VSB
is present. Taking some antistatic precautions is also a good
idea, and at a minimum, keep the chassis and the antistatic packaged
RAM at the same potential. A wrist strap makes that easier. You
clamp the alligator clip, to some shiny (conducting) metal on the
computer chassis. Or the screw on an I/O connector. That keeps your
body and the computer at the same potential, so no static jumps
from the memory socket, to the new RAM as it is inserted.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103808

Naturally, people install RAM without stuff like that, but I
mention it for the sake of completeness.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[Brickcounter]

Many thanks for the comprehensive advice Paul
bc

Start by testing the new 1GB stick by itself. Place the 1GB stick in
the slot furthest from the processor. Get a copy of memtest86+ from
memtest.org and prep a new floppy with it. The memtest86+ floppy is
self-booting, and you boot the computer for the first time after
the new memory is added, with that floppy. Allow the tester to run for
two full passes (there is a pass counter on the screen). It could take
a couple hours.

If the memory is error free, then add your existing stick. Place the
existing 512MB in the slot nearest the processor. With three slots,
in a single channel memory config, using slot 1 and slot 3 distributes
the loads a bit better. The slot choices make a tiny difference, and if
you didn't follow the rule, it probably wouldn't make any difference.

Now test with memtest86+ again. Sometimes, the added bus loading leads
to memory errors, and you want to find them with memtest86+, and not
by crashing Windows instead.

If the memory is crap, it is not going to matter how you arrange the
slots. So I expect your test results will be definitive.

When changing the memory, remember to unplug the computer, or at
least switch off the power strip that the computer is plugged into.
The idea is, you want +5VSB from the power supply to be disabled.
I like to unplug the computer to ensure that there is no power in
the chassis. RAM can be damaged, if sticks are plugged in while
the green LED on the motherboard is still glowing because +5VSB
is present. Taking some antistatic precautions is also a good
idea, and at a minimum, keep the chassis and the antistatic packaged
RAM at the same potential. A wrist strap makes that easier. You
clamp the alligator clip, to some shiny (conducting) metal on the
computer chassis. Or the screw on an I/O connector. That keeps your
body and the computer at the same potential, so no static jumps
from the memory socket, to the new RAM as it is inserted.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103808

Naturally, people install RAM without stuff like that, but I
mention it for the sake of completeness.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[Shep©]

I want to add 1 Gb memory to my existing 512Mb
I have a Giga-Byte GA-7VTXE motherboard which supports DDR SDRam
The existing memory type DDR PC2100 is in the first slot of 3
I will get 1 Gb DDR PC3200 to add
My question is: will it make any difference in which slot I put the new
memory?
i.e. is it worth moving the existing memory to slot 2, then the new to slot
1? Or just put the new to slot 2?

According to this your board does not support the RAM you want to add,
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/148/2

 

[Brickcounter]

Thanks, but I note that review is 4 years old, and probably pre dates
anything higher than PC2100.
According to Crucial it should be OK, but I've emailed Gigabyte for
confirmation
bc

 

[Shep©]

Thanks, but I note that review is 4 years old, and probably pre dates
anything higher than PC2100.
According to Crucial it should be OK, but I've emailed Gigabyte for
confirmation
bc

OK.Just didn't want you getting RAM that may cause problems.You may
have some mucking around to do getting to the two ram sticks to play
nice as the faster one will need to run at the slower specs od the
system.This can mean manually changing the RAM settings in the BIOS if
it's not automatically installed and also clearing the CMOS without
power to the board if the system fails to boot.
It's common with RAM boot failures for the BIOS to contain incorrect
data that can only be cleared this way after a failed boot.You may
even have to do this several times until you get the settings right.

Once you have it correctly installed,
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php
Win98 can have problems with the Vcache setting with 512+ meg of ram
but it's easily fixable with Cacheman freeware,
http://www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=downloads
and this program is also useful in winXP.

HTH

 

[Brickcounter]

OK.Just didn't want you getting RAM that may cause problems.You may
have some mucking around to do getting to the two ram sticks to play
nice as the faster one will need to run at the slower specs od the
system.This can mean manually changing the RAM settings in the BIOS if
it's not automatically installed and also clearing the CMOS without
power to the board if the system fails to boot.
It's common with RAM boot failures for the BIOS to contain incorrect
data that can only be cleared this way after a failed boot.You may
even have to do this several times until you get the settings right.

Once you have it correctly installed,
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php
Win98 can have problems with the Vcache setting with 512+ meg of ram
but it's easily fixable with Cacheman freeware,
http://www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=downloads
and this program is also useful in winXP.

HTH

Gigabyte confirm what you say - use the speed the board was designed for, as
faster speeds would be downgraded anyway, and may not work.

It concerns me that a site like Crucial offer the higher speeds
automatically, without comment or advice.
Thanks again
bc