RAM upgrade

[skyrayder]

Researching adding RAM. The spec's show the motherboard has only 2 RAM slots and that the max it supports is 8GB.

Currently have a 1GB (DDR3- 1066) and a 2GB (DDR3- 1333) installed(factory). 

Do I relpace with 2 4GB (DDR3- 1066 or DDR3-1333) ?    Or 1 8GB (DDR3- 1066 or DDR3- 1333) ?  Spec's say 8GB will run at

DDR 3-1066.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The memory upgrade specs indicate the maximum size memory module you can install per slot is 4 GB.

Memory upgrade information
Dual channel memory architecture
Two DDR3 DIMMs (240-pin) sockets
PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066)
PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333)
Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered
Supports 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB DDR3 DIMMs
Supports up to 8 GB on 64-bit systems (DIMMs run at DDR3-1066)

So, you would install 2 x 4 GB of either DDR3-8500 or DDR3-1333 memory.

I would get the 1333 MHz memory (PC3-10600).  It will probably be easier to find and maybe even less expensive.

[skyrayder]

Is there any particular brand that you would recommend?   I saw Crucial somewhere in the info on upgrading.  I am familiar with Kingston, put some in an older pc I have.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I have used this memory with great success on a couple of my HP desktop PC's that used DDR3-1333 memory.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220480

It will also downclock to 1066 MHz, because I have 4 x 4 GB in a PC that can only run the memory at that speed.

[skyrayder]

Thank you Paul.  I greatly appeciate your time and consideration.  I had read the info you highlighted but, it just didn't 'plug in'.  I also was not sure if there was such a thing as a 1066 speed chip or if all 1333's would down clock. Thanks again for simple, straightforward answers that did not cloud the issue.  See far to much of that when seeking help with almost anything.  I will post the results of my upgrade.  Hopefully it will put some life back in this 8 1/2 year old workhorse.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Yes, there is such a thing as a 1066 Mhz chip.

It is called PC3-8500.   An example below.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAHR582T6297

[skyrayder]

I get that doing a 1066 chip has no advantage over a1333 that down clocks to 1066.  Is there any advantage to going with the strip that already works at 1066?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

None that I know of, unless you can find 2 x 4 GB PC3-8500 memory modules that cost less than the 1333 model I posted.

I think you will be hard pressed to find those at a lower cost.

[skyrayder]

In your opinion, do you think upgrading the RAM will help remedy the serious case of the blahs this machine seems to have gotten in the last couple of months.  Used to have several things running at the same time and it seemed to work fine, not overworked.   I try to keep things cleaned up but if I have a couple of programs running it really gets pokey. Spinning wheel of death just keeps on spinning. Wondering also about clearing out some of the programs that were factory installed that I never use (or are they tied into the system with a bunch of shared thuings?) but, don't want to create a disaster or worse, kill it. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

IMHO, maxing out the memory should help a lot for two reasons.

1.  The obvious increase from 3 GB to 8 GB.

2. The not so obvious efficiency in going from SDR memory mode (which your PC is running in now because of the mismatched memory capacity), to DDR mode, which allows the PC to run the memory more efficiently than in SDR mode.

You can uninstall any programs you don't need.

Worst case scenario, is you clean install W7 and start fresh by using the W7 product key on your PC's case.