Adding RAM question (Dimension 2350)

Hi. I'm new to this. I have a Dimension 2350 with a Hard Drive that is
about 25 percent free. It's running slow. It has 256 MB of RAM and one
empty slot. Can I add 512 megs of RAM in the empty slot? In other
words, can I have 256 megs in one slot and 512 megs in the other or do
both of them have to have the same RAM? Thanks.

If it's Dual Channel DDR SDRAM they have to be installed in pairs of the
same size. If you have one chip of 256MB, you have two choices purchase 1-3
more of the same size or repalce the 256MB with something bigger.

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...cs.htm#1107033

THat was easy.

I believe the machine can accept up to 1GB of RAM in each slot.
"aylok2007" <kolya1955@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:2cea61a4-aa93-490a-901f-0fd5d47a2855@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi. I'm new to this. I have a Dimension 2350 with a Hard Drive that is
> about 25 percent free. It's running slow. It has 256 MB of RAM and one
> empty slot. Can I add 512 megs of RAM in the empty slot? In other
> words, can I have 256 megs in one slot and 512 megs in the other or do
> both of them have to have the same RAM? Thanks.

"K2NNJ" <k2nnj@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:4784fb69$0$9116$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> If it's Dual Channel DDR SDRAM they have to be installed in pairs of the
> same size. If you have one chip of 256MB, you have two choices purchase
> 1-3 more of the same size or repalce the 256MB with something bigger.
>
> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...cs.htm#1107033
>
> THat was easy.
>

<snip>


That shouldn't be a dual channel machine, but he should be able to add a
512mb of RAM w/no problem.

S.Lewis wrote:
> "K2NNJ" <k2nnj@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:4784fb69$0$9116$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>> If it's Dual Channel DDR SDRAM they have to be installed in pairs of the
>> same size. If you have one chip of 256MB, you have two choices purchase
>> 1-3 more of the same size or repalce the 256MB with something bigger.
>>
>> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...cs.htm#1107033
>>
>> THat was easy.
>>
>
> <snip>
>
>
> That shouldn't be a dual channel machine, but he should be able to add a
> 512mb of RAM w/no problem.

Right. Not dual channel. The 2350 is DDR and the maximum memory for each
slot is 512MB. The 2400 has a 1GB max for each slot. A 512MB module at
Crucial.com is $35... Dean

No problem doing what you want to do.

Dell's web site says:
"Maximum memory 1 GB
Memory type PC2100 (266-MHz) DDR SDRAM non-ECC"

You can also use the faster PC2700 memory, but it will not make your computer
run faster than with the PC2100. This just gives you another option when
shopping... Ben Myers

On Wed, 9 Jan 2008 13:10:29 -0800 (PST), aylok2007 <kolya1955@gmail.com> wrote:

>Hi. I'm new to this. I have a Dimension 2350 with a Hard Drive that is
>about 25 percent free. It's running slow. It has 256 MB of RAM and one
>empty slot. Can I add 512 megs of RAM in the empty slot? In other
>words, can I have 256 megs in one slot and 512 megs in the other or do
>both of them have to have the same RAM? Thanks.

I have a 2350 and did exactly that. It came with 256 and I later added 512.
But put the 512 in the slot where the 256 is now, slot zero. Then put the
256er next, in slot one.



"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:54oao3pea3djbhmk5gqvipne2o6r4gpc3e@4ax.com...
> No problem doing what you want to do.
>
> Dell's web site says:
> "Maximum memory 1 GB
> Memory type PC2100 (266-MHz) DDR SDRAM non-ECC"
>
> You can also use the faster PC2700 memory, but it will not make your
> computer
> run faster than with the PC2100. This just gives you another option when
> shopping... Ben Myers
>
> On Wed, 9 Jan 2008 13:10:29 -0800 (PST), aylok2007 <kolya1955@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi. I'm new to this. I have a Dimension 2350 with a Hard Drive that is
>>about 25 percent free. It's running slow. It has 256 MB of RAM and one
>>empty slot. Can I add 512 megs of RAM in the empty slot? In other
>>words, can I have 256 megs in one slot and 512 megs in the other or do
>>both of them have to have the same RAM? Thanks.

Thank you for the helpful replies!

On Jan 9, 8:06 pm, "Me" <M...@Me.com> wrote:
> I have a 2350 and did exactly that. It came with 256 and I later added 512.
> But put the 512 in the slot where the 256 is now, slot zero. Then put the
> 256er next, in slot one.
>
> "Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_...@charter.net> wrote in message
>
> news:54oao3pea3djbhmk5gqvipne2o6r4gpc3e@4ax.com...
>
> > No problem doing what you want to do.
>
> > Dell's web site says:
> > "Maximum memory 1 GB
> > Memory type PC2100 (266-MHz) DDR SDRAM non-ECC"
>
> > You can also use the faster PC2700 memory, but it will not make your
> > computer
> > run faster than with the PC2100. This just gives you another option when
> > shopping... Ben Myers
>
> > On Wed, 9 Jan 2008 13:10:29 -0800 (PST), aylok2007 <kolya1...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> >>Hi. I'm new to this. I have a Dimension 2350 with a Hard Drive that is
> >>about 25 percent free. It's running slow. It has 256 MB of RAM and one
> >>empty slot. Can I add 512 megs of RAM in the empty slot? In other
> >>words, can I have 256 megs in one slot and 512 megs in the other or do
> >>both of them have to have the same RAM? Thanks.

Probably.

Note that IF your computer supports dual channel memory (I'm not sure
that it does), you will get a performance boost from populating the two
sockets with two ARCHITECTURALLY IDENTICAL memory modules (there is more
to this than size, and while the modules don't have to be absolutely
identical, as a practical matter the easiest way to do this is to buy
two identical modules at the same time from the same source).

However, regardless of whether you support dual channel memory or not
(and even if you do, note that with only one module, you are not
currently running in dual channel mode), MOST (not absolutely all)
computers will take a pair of mis-matched modules (of different sizes,
as long as they are the same type of memory), although it's not
necessarily the best way to install memory.


aylok2007 wrote:
> Hi. I'm new to this. I have a Dimension 2350 with a Hard Drive that is
> about 25 percent free. It's running slow. It has 256 MB of RAM and one
> empty slot. Can I add 512 megs of RAM in the empty slot? In other
> words, can I have 256 megs in one slot and 512 megs in the other or do
> both of them have to have the same RAM? Thanks.

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:47921b77$0$11020$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Probably.
>
> Note that IF your computer supports dual channel memory (I'm not sure that
> it does),

<snip>


It doesn't.

On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:22:32 -0600, "S.Lewis"
<Gossamer@interesting.com> wrote:

>
>"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:47921b77$0$11020$4c368faf@roadrunner.com.. .
>> Probably.
>>
>> Note that IF your computer supports dual channel memory (I'm not sure that
>> it does),
>
><snip>
>
>
>It doesn't.
>


Agreed according to crucial.com. In the OP case, I agree with him
and suggest to go with the added 512meg ram for the most bang for the
buck. Dual channel isn't all that great as I read it adds about 4%
to the speed (where applicable) and that is hardly noticeable to the
eye. From my experience, it takes at least 10% or better before my
eyes can see any difference.