Upgrading Memory

[Hanspuppa]

Hello caloak, I had a system with memory configured exactly as you posted. It ran in single mode, not dual mode and certainly not triple mode.

As I understand it, in order to run in triple mode, all the memory modules have to be the same in every other slot on the motherboard. They need to be of the same capacity, speed, and timings.

HP sent me another system with 9 GBs of memory and it was configured with 3 X 2GB modules and 3 X 1 GB modules.

Inserted in the first channel slot was a 2 GB module, the second channel slot was a 2 GB module and in the third channel slot was a 1 GB module.

The second channels were configured the same. I verified that even though I have always thought that all the modules had to be the same capacity, I ran CPU-Z and it showed the memory to be running in triple mode.

Hope this helps.

[caloak]

Thanks a lot for the quick reply.

You do not leave your name or credentials .. I am assuming your are HP employee .. which is great .. a very good service here.

I D/L both CPUID and PC Wizard and ran both. As near as I can tell I am running "triple" mode according to the CPUID stats on the Memory window.

I am taking your well written reply to mean .. all I would need do to upgrade the RAM is to add 2 - 2GB DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333MHz) RAM to the two slolts? (take out the single 1GB RAM)

When I look at CPUID it is giving me 667 Maximum banwidth ... shouldn't this be 1333? Which is twice the 667?

Also do you think the additional 3GB RAM will make much difference?

Cal

[Hanspuppa]

Hello caloak, No, I am not an HP employee. I'm just here to try and help other HP Customer with some of their issues.

While I do know a lot about computers, I don't know much when it comes to those that really know computers, and there are many here that meet this standard.

I've been working on computers since shortly after they were first built and released to the general public, some 35 years ago.

Computer memory can be, and probably is, the most complex components of a computer. This because, even though there is a standard for computer memory, not every memory supplier adheres to the standard.

What this essentially means, is that all memory of a certain rating, is not the same as that certain rating that another supplier markets.

When mixing memory brands, it seems to be a tossup as to whether you can get one set of modules from one supplier to work when installed on a system with memory from another supplier, even if both memory modules have the same specifications.

OEM vendors have their own specifications for memory, so only certain memory will be supported for their systems.

If I were to upgrade the memory, I would check the existing memory, type, speed, latency, and chip configuration.

Then go to a memory vendor, such as Crucial, Kingston, OCZ, GSkill, or any other memory vendor and run the memory configurator and see which of their memory modules they recommend for your HP system. Then check the module model and compare them to the specifications of your existing modules. They should be the same. If not, choose another vendor.

I use Kingston, not that they are any better than any other vendor, but simply because they have a lifeting warranty, and I have never had an upgrade issue when mixing Kingston memory with existing other brands, and I've done quite a few of them over the years

The 667 maximum is correct, since this speed is doubled to reflect 1333.

I really don't think adding 3 GBs more memory would show any noticeable performance in your system at all.

There may be a slight performance increase but not much. Your system is probably not accessing more than 5-6GBs of memory now. My system, with 9 GBs of memory, only accesses about 3-4 GBs at most. The other 5GBs just sits there. Some of it may be used in the background for very short periods of time, but I have never seen it used. If you are into gaming, you would access more memory than the ordinary computer user.

There have be some issues raised when systems were fully poplulated with 12 GBs of memory, while others report they had no trouble.

Hope this answers some of your concerns.

[Big_Dave]

caloak,

The e9280t PC is a triple channel memory PC. I am using one right now.  CPU-Z should be showing triple channel mode.  My system is 9GB.

Slot #1 --2gb

Slot #2 --2gb

Slot #3 --2gb

Slot #4 --1gb

Slot #5 --2gb

Slot #6 -- open

[Heng]

Hi,

My PC is a1170d Pavilion.  HP website shown following. 

  Two 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets

  Non ECC memory only

  Supports PC2 3200 (400 MHz) and PC2 4200 (533 MHz) DDR2 DIMMs

  Supports 1.8v DDR2 SDRAM

  Maximum HP/Compaq approved memory is 2 GB   

My current RAM is “nynix 512MB 1Rx8 PC2-3200U-333-12”. 

The PC response is slow and I need to upgrade the memory. It is difficult to find the older version RAM and cost more.  Will following version fit for my PC?

   Kingston                         DDR2  667MHz  1GB/2GB  ( PC 5300 )

   Apacer/Kingston           DDR2  800MHz   1GB/2GB  ( PC 6400 )

[Big_Dave]

Heng,

Use the memory tool at Crucial to find the correct memory. Buy a matched pair of 1 GB dimms.  Understand what the return policy is before your buy.

Check the bios level of your PC.  Version 3.15 is the latest bios level posted.

[PJA01]

Hi Big Dave (et al),

I have an HP Pavilion p6345a with memory specs below.

It currently has 2 x 2GB DDR3 DIMMs (presumably operating in dual channel mode).

Can I add an extra 1 x 2GB DDR3 DIMM ... or will this stop dual channel mode from operating ?

(the Kingston website says DIMMs must be added in pairs for dual channel mode?)

Many thanks !

Memory

4 GB

Amount: 4 GB

Speed: PC3-10600 MB/sec

Memory upgrade information

Memory upgrade information:

Supports DDR3 DIMMs only

Dual channel memory architecture

Four DDR3 DIMM (240-pin) sockets

DIMM types:

PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333)

PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066)

Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered

Supports up to 16 GB on 64-bit PCs

Maximum memory only if using 4GB DDR3 DIMM modules. 

[Big_Dave]

PJA01,

If your are not running a 64 bit OS then the extra memory is not needed.  I don't see any reason why adding a 2GB dimm would be a problem.  You end up with a  6 GB PC.

If you are looking at improved performance then look for a better video card but match it to the size of your power supply.

[PJA01]

Cheers, thanks Big Dave !

[robpou]

OK, I'm a pretty seasoned guy when it come to computers and upgrades. That being said, I've run into a problem that has me seeking help on this issue. I'm working with:

ASTEROPE Motherboard

Model: RC410-M Rev. 1.1

Memory Installed: 2 GB DDR2 PC6400 Unbuff CL6 ( 2x1GB) Crucial & A Off Brand

Processor: P4 2.80Ghz

Windows 7

This is the problem: I had installed the off brand of PC6400 when I received the motherboard. The computer works fine although I do a lot of audio and video editing with it and I figured another stick of memory would do me justice in performance and speed. I went to Crucial and purchased the same memory with the same specs as previous installed. The issue is that the bios only reads one bank. I tried different variations and with both modules installed, it only reads one bank of memory. I tried to reset the bios and still have the same results. I know it is not the memory because both work individually in either bank and simultaneously but reading only one bank.

Any help would be appreciated,

Rob