Trying to install more RAM and failing, help

[skandelouslala]

You guys are usually smarter about this stuff than most forums I know of so let's try this here first

We have a Dell Dimension 4600 & my husband bought PC3200 1G memory deal (sorry I don't know crap about this stuff)  We previously had 512mb.  Well he tried installing it but once he gets it in and starts up the computer and looks in the control panel it still shows that we have just 512mb installed. 

So what are we doing wrong?  Let me know if you need more info.

[lemonfresh]

The Dell Dimension XPS 600 uses PC2-4200 memory and has 2 banks of 2 sockets each. 4 memory sockets total . I'm assuming you have an XPS, Google didn't pop up anything other than. Most computers prefer to have 2 sockets filled at a time with like RAM modules. That means, 2 512mb modules or, 2 1gb modules; one for each slot.

[skandelouslala]

Opps I meant Dell Dimension 4600 will edit above.

[skandelouslala]

Okay so do we need 2 things of 1G or does it need to be 2 things PC3200... b/c we're stupid lol and the owner's manual is confusing us

This is what it says:

The recommended memory configurations are:
• Install a pair of matched memory modules in connectors DIMM1 and DIMM2.
or
• Install a pair of matched memory modules in connectors DIMM1 and DIMM2 and
another matched pair in connectors DIMM3 and DIMM4.
• Do not install ECC memory modules.
• If you install mixed pairs PC2700 (DDR 333-MHz) and PC3200 (DDR 400-MHz)
memory, the modules function at the slowest speed installed.


And then this

DDR memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size. This means that
if you purchased your computer with 128 MB of memory installed and you want to add
another 128 MB of memory, you should install it in the appropriate connector. If the DDR
memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate,
but with a slight reduction in performance.



So I'm taking it that means we need to go buy another gig to match the one we bought?  Or does the matching refer to needing 3200?

[Skadi]

It would indicate that. Try and get the exact same stuff.

On the upside, you'll have 2 gig   

[lemonfresh]

As Skadi indicated. It means that if you want 1gb total, you should install two 512mb sticks. If you want 2gb, install two 1gb sticks.

[skandelouslala]

Okay, makes sense.  Aggh more money to spend, we just need a new comp!

[Hegelian]

As Skadi indicated. It means that if you want 1gb total, you should install two 512mb sticks. If you want 2gb, install two 1gb sticks.

In addition, if the RAM already in the machine is PC2700, your new RAM should also be PC2700.

If your new module is a 1GB module, just use that one in slot 1 and leave the other one out. If that works properly, try adding the old module in slot 2. Personally, I have never had any problem mixing RAM sizes, and I've been doing this since 1991.

Note that in your computer, RAM slot 1 and RAM slot 2 are not adjacent. The slots are paired as 1 & 3 and 2 & 4. If you have only two modules, they go in slots 1 and 2.

The module connector strip is keyed, so it fits only one way. Make sure not to try to force it in backward. The module is fully seated when the retaining clips snap into position. On some motherboards, this requires more force than might seem safe.

Make sure you didn't accidentally buy an ECC module.

The free utility CPU-Z is useful for identifying the components in your PC, including motherboard, CPU, and RAM.

[skandelouslala]

We actually got it to work w/o having to buy another gig.  We mixed them and discovered my hubby wasn't installing it right the first time, it wasn't clicking right or something.  He got it installed and it was showing we had 1.5 gig of ram and then I tested it up by booting up TS2 of course.  Wow, tis like having new computer.