Help for upgrade please...

[Blaze]

Hi there,

I've got two PC's which are in need of an upgrade. Both need more Ram and one needs a new GraCa as well. (Graphics Card)
Both boards can take up to 2 Gb Ram and that's exactly what I would like to do, since at the moment they have only 512 MB each which is getting annoying when I want to play something a bit more demanding...
The problem I have is that in the old times it was easy as Pie to upgrade than now, because I get a bit puzzled every time I try to figure out what I can \"stick\" in or what could work without needing a new PC afterwards. :shock: Same goes for the GraCa's.

Anyway, the other problem is that if I would upgrade I am even more helpless, because the board manuals both state that I would have to set the clock speed down to - say 133 MHz or the BIOS won't boot, if both Ram modules are not compartible. :roll:
So I really would appreciate any help on that matter and on finding a nice GraCa too.

Right, here are the spec's for both sys.

1. (that only needs the Ram)

Board: K8M800-M2
AMD 2800+ 1.6 GHz
512 MB DDR SDRAM
WIN XP PRO/SP2
GForce 6200 (256 mb)

2. (needs 2 GB Ram and the GraCa)

Board: K8M8MS
AMD 3300+ 2GHz
512 mb DDR SDRAM
WIN XP PRO/SP2
ATI Radeon 9250 (256 mb)

Questions are: Should I buy 2x1 Gig Ram or better 2 Gig, and what would be a good? (Brand) Then, do I have to change anything in the BIOS or just add it? Any idea what Graca would fit in my sys that lasts for the next year or two and is not that expensive?
(By the way, please don't mention any GForce cards as this sys seems to hate them. I had the one from the other PC in it - very bad idea... :evil: )

Thanks for your time and help.

Sarah

[Lynx]

Hi sarah, as for ram, i dont think you will need anything more than 1GB in my opinion. As for the Graphics, only getting 1gb ram and getting two X1950 agps would make them much better, but then again they could be considered overkill on those cpus.

As for ram, usually any ddr1 ram inserted will run at the timings/speed the bios dictates, and will go the speed of the slowest stick, but if you add in stuff, any will do as it will clock down if i remember correctly.

[bouncyb]

firstly ddr1 doesnt come in 2gb modules im afraid so you would be limited to 2x1gb, secondly your very right most memory will clock down to the slowest module inserted. Be very careful if your using a board that only supports pc2100 as they dont always work with faster memory modules.

[Sl4x0r]

[quote:8d44b96d21=\"bouncyb\"]firstly ddr1 doesnt come in 2gb modules[/quote:8d44b96d21]

Yes it does - it's just not very cheap which stops it being mass market.

[bouncyb]

now i didnt know that. thanks for the info sl4x0r.

[Sl4x0r]

[quote:77a20273da=\"bouncyb\"]now i didnt know that. thanks for the info sl4x0r.[/quote:77a20273da]

Hey - it's my pleasure.

[Blaze]

Thanks for all your help. I was a little bit shocked to see how fast and friendly people reply in this forum. :D
So after reading all your post on this threat, I would like to point a few things out.

@ Lynx: The idea of getting 2 Gig Ram by inserting two Graca's and a 1 Gig module sounds a bit funny because I don't really see a point by doing this. :shock: Not only would I have to buy the two cards and the Ram but also a new power supply. And once I am doing this - I might as well go to Alienware and buy a brand new PC. NO - Joke. :lol: ...I still think about it though. By the way, you can never have enough Ram..., only the board puts a stop to it.
Anyway, I had a look at the card you were suggesting and it's nice but I think that I'll encounter some probs with it because I've got some much other equipment on that PC that I fear the power supply will go on strike. Any other suggestion?

@ bouncyb: I think Aria sells 2 Gb modules for DDR SDRAM. Also my board supports DDR200, 266, 333 and 400. Well, that's what the manual says. What puzzles me a bit is the fact that the manufacturer tested the board with DDR533 and 667. :shock: ...Somehow I can't figure out how they did it because it's DDR2.
Any idea how they managed to do it?
Apart for that, I don't have a problem using 2x1 Gb Ram; I just saw a few 2 Gb ones and thought - well, why not buying that instead. :wink:

Nice weekend to all. 8)