Memory

[Charlotte]

How can I see how much memory I have on my pc? I think this comp needs some more

[Kiros]

If you have Windows XP or 2000 (I think), then just go to start >> right click My Computer >> Properties. Look in the lower part of the information window and you should see some specs.

If you have a different Windows operating system or you don't see a My Computer in the start menu, go to your desktop >> right click My Computer >> Properties. There should be some specs somewhere in there.

Enjoy :)

[Charlotte]

I knew it was something related to My Computer. I right clicked the C Drive first :P

it says i have 256. is that good? cuz i have a lot of songs on itunes and i cant run anything else with it running. it gets really slooooooooooow

[Kiros]

Actually 256MB is the reasonable minimum. I think the completely bare minimum for XP is 128MB. If you plan to use it only for web browsing, typing, and printing, then it should be fine. Though for listening to music and watching videos (especially while doing anything else), I'd recommend at least 512MB and at the fastest speed your motherboard will support. By the by, what kind of RAM does your motherboard take (SD, DDR, DDR2, RD)? I could help you find a good package on TigerDirect if you know the RAM type, how much RAM your motherboard can take, and the compatible speeds of RAM. If you don't know the specifics, we can get you a utility to help. :)

[Glasgow]

Lol, i dont thinks he would know that, chances are she needs DDR2 or DDR, like most Computers need.

[Charlotte]

I think I'd need to run the utiliy but see my other computer is being difficult and wont connect to the internet. So I cant run it.

[Glasgow]

Well, you say it wont connect, if your on a LAN connection, go into Control Panel > Network Connections > And press on the LAN connection icon. And then it should work. Thats what i did when my computer wouldnt connect to the internet

[Kiros]

Ok, Charlotte, do you have any geek friends that could take a look at your RAM? :P If you are comfortable with opening up your PC's case, look for the RAM slots. Are the slots about the length of your index finger, or are they about an inch or two bigger? If the slots are about the lenght of your index finger, the RAM should have to be tilted at a 45° angle and then slid out. If the slots are longer, then there should be two "clamps" or switch-like things at each end of the slots. If you are completely sure you can do this, make sure the computer is completely unplugged, then pop out a stick of RAM by pushing down those clamps (really, the stick should just pop right out). If you do go ahead with this, make sure you remember the way the RAM went in (because it can be confusing for first-timers). Handle the stick by its thin edges - do not touch any gold/silver pins or chips on the stick. Now, look where the pins are, remember if there is only one hole or if there are two holes (cut out semi-circles really). If you see a sticker on the RAM stick, read it. Also try and read any text printed on the chips. Slide the stick back in the way you took it out. Very carefully, apply pressure the the top of the stick (and if you can, try and pull up on the clamps ). With a little force, the stick should pop right back in. But if you think you are forcing it too much, make sure the holes (really, breaks) in the stick are lined up with the breaks in the slot. Once the RAM is back in the slot, make sure it's secure and won't fall out (if it does, it's not in correctly).

Now then, if you do not want to take that kind of risk, see if a technical friend or family member can help. Though I do warn you, if that is the only stick of RAM in the computer, and it breaks, the computer will not work at all.

Though understand, if you do want more RAM, you have to put it in your computer the same way, so you might want to try this.

If you or a friend does do what I've requested, be sure to post the details here.

[Glasgow]

A pretty good site with accurate instructions > http://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/hack-attack-how-to-install-ram-138665.php

Good luck Charlie

[Charlotte]

Gah I'll have to think about it. I think I can do it, but I'l see who'll be willing.

[Glasgow]

:) You're a pretty gal, im sure lots of people will be willing to.

[Charlotte]

Yeah, but they'll want something in return :P

[Aηdy]

tell em where to shove it if they do :D

im sure a nice friend wil do it just as a favour. what about your dad or uncle or somebody?

[Charlotte]

Well I got my internet working on this computer, so you said there was a utility?

[Kiros]

Well, I was going to Google for one, unfortunately, Google has some secure protocol and my firewall is acting up because of our internet getting cut off last night. I need to restart my computer, but I can't until later when no one is playing on my server :?

If Paul would like to find a utility, then you won't have to wait so long :P Eh.. sorry for the inconvenience...

[Charlotte]

It's no problem. No rush.

[Charlotte]

bump...

[Underage_Thinker]

I assume you have a prebuilt computer, whitch means you could just type in the modle number on the manufacturers website and find all the specs of your computer that whay. That would probly be safer for your if you don't feel comfertable opening your comp.

[Charlotte]

Ok where do I go. I have a dell

[Underage_Thinker]

ok go Here (http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn) Up in the top left hand corner mose ove desktops select what modle you have then in the page it shows you scroll down to were it talks about memory. If it dosn't say it on that page click continue at the bottem of the page and it will tell you their.

[Charlotte]

Umm I dont understand what I'm getting out of this

[Underage_Thinker]

You want to figure out what type of ram you have, right? B/c if you know what modle your dell is and find that modle on the dell website it will tell you what kind of ram your computer has. You need to know this in order to be able to by more ram b/c if you don't get the right ram it won't work. so your getting the information you need to make your computer better.

[Charlotte]

I dont see my model :confused: Dell must have changed them, so what now?

[Underage_Thinker]

Here tell me your modle number and ill just find it for you:) .

[Charlotte]

Dimension 4600

Thanks, sorry for being a bit difficult lol.

[Underage_Thinker]

Ok the Dell Dimension 4600 uses DDR memory.

[Kiros]

Wow, I should have just asked the model number :P

Anyway, the 4600 appears to only take 333MHz (PC-2700) memory. I found some pretty good deals for you. It just depends on how much RAM you want.

Though let me break something down for you first... The term "bank" basically means to group. If you bank two sticks of 512MB, then it becomes 2x512MB and it can be referred to as a bank. Now, you could put just one stick of 1GB in one slot and it would equal the same amount. Though like I'll mention in just a bit, banking allows for faster access of memory. This is why it's wise to go with 2x512MB instead of 1x1024 (1GB) whenever possible.

I'd definitely recommend going either 2x512MB banked once or 2x256MB banked twice. Both setups will give you 1GB of memory, but banking up the 4 slots your computer comes with will enable the NorthBridge to communicate with more RAM at once (faster overall performance). Though the 2x256MB banked twice will fill up all your slots, so I'd actually recommend the 2x512MB bank if you are planning to use it in combination with your current RAM or if you think you might upgrade the RAM later on.

If you want the very best performance, I would recommend going Dual Channel. If you just want a bit better performance, then Dual Channel is not needed at all. (Dual Channel basically allows a bank of 2 sticks to act as one while having the speed advantage of banking.)

I'll go ahead and list some good RAM choices, however, I will not list any Dual Channel - if you would like to get some, just ask and I'll happily find some (there's plenty of choices for your computer, so do not fear ;)). Everything below will be in order of greatest size and performance to least.

1024MB
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=235787&CatId=549
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1785988&CatId=549

512MB
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1558854&CatId=843
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=38813&CatId=843
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=576573&CatId=843

256MB
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1056182&CatId=842
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=576572&CatId=842

Of course, if you would like to bank two sticks together, you would really have to go Dual Channel to get the full affect, but you don't have to. If you do not go Dual Channel then you will simply have to put the RAM in the next available slot(s). Dual Channel requires the bank to either be in slots 0 and 2 (first and third one) or in 1 and 3 (second and fourth one). Note that this is for a motherboard with only 4 RAM slots.

Ok, hope that helps in some way. :D If you want to buy one of those, yell at me to get on AIM and I'll help you through it - same thing for installing the RAM in another computer.

[Charlotte]

Ok, so if I do the 2x512MB bank, I can have that plus the 256MB I already have?

So since I have 4 slots then I'd have 2 512MB and 2 128MB?

[Kiros]

Yep, that's how it would work, unless the 256MB is just one stick, which it is very possible that it is. I haven't looked it up whether it's one stick or not. In any case, you'll either have 3 slots filled up, or 4 slots filled up at the end (which is good for performance) :)

[Charlotte]

Ok thanks. When I get some more money and time I'll let you know.