Memory upgrade. crucial?

[wiggerbeater]

Is Crucial the best place to go? Anywhere cheaper?

Anyway, I got a Dell inspiron 531, 5600 processor, 320 gb, and I upgraded to a 600 watt power supply. i have 2gb ram. 4 512s. They suggest 4 1gb for a total 4gb. This is slightly over $100. Can these be mixed and matched? Like can I have 2 512s and 2 1s for a total of 3? or do i have to put all the same? thanks.

[JLK03F150]

Yes you can keep 2x512MB and add 2x1GB for a total of 3GB. That will work fine.

Usually you want to match RAM slot colors - i.e. 2x512 in the blue slots, 2x1GB in the black slots. That will keep the dual channel memory feature enabled.

[wiggerbeater]

thanks. I think i will do that.

[wiggerbeater]

I see there are two different ones.

Part #: CT763014 • DDR2 PC2-6400 • CL=6 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-800 • 1.8V • 128Meg x 64 •

Part #: CT700772 • DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 128Meg x 64 •

what's the difference? one is a pc2 6200 and the other is 5300. one is a DDR2 667 and the other is a DDR2 800

[JLK03F150]

The difference is the speed that the memory runs. DDR2-800 runs at 400MHz and DDR2-667 runs at 333MHz. Download CPU-Z and take a look at the SPD tab. It will give you the spec of your current memory, and you want to match that.

CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

[RicheemxX]

lots of good info there, one thing though....you DO NOT have to buy Crucial you can go to any retailer and buy whatever memory is compatible with your system. Just looking at the part number on the Crucial site it looks like you'll be spending $27/stick or about $54. You can go over to Newegg right now and get 2x1gb of PQI or OCZ for $40 shipped if you shop it around you might even find something cheap via a 4th of july sale.

[wiggerbeater]

damn. already ordered from crucial last night. thanks anyway. dont know why i didnt think of new egg