Suppose a computer currently has four memory slots, each with a 512MB memory module in it.
New memory for this computer is $129/GB, and it only comes in 1GB modules.
There are two possible options:
(i) buy 2GB of new memory, stick 1GB modules in slots 1 and 2, and keep the original 512MB modules in slots 3 and 4. End result = 3GB installed, and 2x512MB modules sitting in a box in the closet somewhere... Cost = $258.
(ii) buy 1GB of new memory, stick it in slot 1, and keep the original 512MB modules in slots 2, 3 and 4. End result = 2.5GB installed, and 1x512MB module sitting in that box in the closet... Cost = $129.
I seem to remember that it is recommended (?) to only keep equally-sized pairs of memory modules in paired slots... is this correct?
What, if any, are the disadvantages of a setup like option (ii) above?
A little extra memory would be nice, but this computer's CPU seems to get overloaded long before the RAM runs out... so it's not at all clear that the extra $129 is worth it... since it will only buy half a GB of more memory... that is, of course, unless there are problems with pairing different-sized memory modules that would make it necessary to buy a new pair of same-sized modules in any case.
Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
.
New memory for this computer is $129/GB, and it only comes in 1GB modules.
There are two possible options:
(i) buy 2GB of new memory, stick 1GB modules in slots 1 and 2, and keep the original 512MB modules in slots 3 and 4. End result = 3GB installed, and 2x512MB modules sitting in a box in the closet somewhere... Cost = $258.
(ii) buy 1GB of new memory, stick it in slot 1, and keep the original 512MB modules in slots 2, 3 and 4. End result = 2.5GB installed, and 1x512MB module sitting in that box in the closet... Cost = $129.
I seem to remember that it is recommended (?) to only keep equally-sized pairs of memory modules in paired slots... is this correct?
What, if any, are the disadvantages of a setup like option (ii) above?
A little extra memory would be nice, but this computer's CPU seems to get overloaded long before the RAM runs out... so it's not at all clear that the extra $129 is worth it... since it will only buy half a GB of more memory... that is, of course, unless there are problems with pairing different-sized memory modules that would make it necessary to buy a new pair of same-sized modules in any case.
Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
.