Posted: 2/10/2005 11:43:40 AM EDT
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I'm looking to upgrade the system memory of my 2 year old computer. It is a home-built w/a 478-pin P4 (2.4Ghz) mated to an IWILL P4R533-N motherboard. Right now I have all four memory slots filled, each containing (1) Samsung 128MB PC1066 DRDRAM, totalling 512MB's. What I want to do is double its system memory to 1024MB's. Before I can do this I have a few questions. 1. The specs on my motherboard says it supports PC800 and PC1066 DRDRAM. What is the difference between 800 and 1066 and what should I be putting in my memory slots? 2. Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the P4 require mirrored memory? Meaning a pair of 256MB sticks, for example, must be used. Does this mean that I have to fill all four slots with 256MB sticks or can I fill two slots with 256MB and the other two with two existing 128MB sticks (totalling 768MB). Also, what if I chose to buy (2) 512MB sticks instead, leaving the other two slots open for a future upgrade of up to 2Gb if I so desire? I really appreciate any help and/or advice. If you need more information from me please let me know. |
First thing you need to know is how much memory your motherboard will support. Once you know that, I would suggest filling it to capacity. No such thing as too much memory. I've not heard of any mirrored memory thing but that doesn't mean it isn't true. That may be something specific to your motherboard. As far as which to use, bigger numbers are better. 
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Okay so there is some truth to the mirrored memory thing. Wasn't aware of that. Thanks for building on what I said
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Bingo. As stated here:
Or Crucial. |
From the Rambus website, Google is your friend. Rambus Memory FAQ
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Don’t upgrade that system DO NOT DO IT. I have been there RDRAM is so expensive and with little real benefit it ain’t worth doing. It will cost you $300-350 to upgrade that system to 1GB. You can get a new 478 motherboard and 1 GB PC 3200 a LOT cheaper than upgrading the RDRAM. 1GB dual channel PC3200 runs less than $150. A new good 478 motherboard will run you $100. Do the math. |
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Seriously if you do the 1 GB RDRAM upgrade now at $300-350+ and the later and another 1GB at $300-350+ you are talking $600-700+ for just a memory upgrades on a 2 year old motherboard. That is eough to buil a new computer. Right now you can buy a new 478 motherboard and the 2GB ram upgrade for $400. And on the new motherboard you can get Serial ATA, USB 2.0, Firewire, RAID if you want and a motherboard you can upgrade to future processors. With the old motherboard you are pouring money down a dead end black hole. I know I dealt with the same issue a couple of months ago the dollars to upgrade the old machine made the choice for me. So I bought a new Athlon64 processor, new motherboard, and 1GB ram for about what it would have cost me to upgrade my RDRAM machine to 1 GB. |
Crucial doesn’t sell it because it is proprietary and they don’t want to pay Rambus’ exorbanite licensing fees. |