First off with the addition of some new programs and such I wanted to update the speed and abilities of my computer. So I went and searched ebay for some new RAM. Currently the computer has 2 512MB cards of RAM for a total of 1GB (1024MB). The computer is a Dell Dimension 3000 3.0Ghz PC3200 w/400mhz bus (I think) that uses DDR memory.

Well I get the RAM today in the mail and it install it. Well I get it installed.
First off the the computer made some beeping noises and would not load up.
So I take out the new memory stick and replace the 1 512 stick I pulled..
Voila back to normal with the old memory installed.

At this point I start to send an email to the company that sold me the ram off of Ebay and have a brain fart....
I take the computer cover off again and remove both 512MB sticks and just install the single 1GB stick I just received and voila the computer works like normal.

As a side note before the dilemma I already ordered another single 1GB stick to match this one.

Will mismatched RAM (512 and a 1024) not play together?

When installing RAM is there anything I need to input into the computer to let it know? or does it automatically recognize memory changes?

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

IT automatically reconizes...most of the time. One thing you need to be careful is ram is extremly sensitive to static. Make sure you always have one hand on the case when touching the ram. Second, why do you need more than a gig o ram? 1gb should be more than enough for most people...but then again i dont know so....How many slots are avaliable on the board? If you are going to mis match there may be a certain way to do it. ie which spot you put which ram. Sometimes it can slow your system down.

 

2 slots available on the board.
I tried moving the new ram to each different slot with a stick of the old 512 still in there and it still wouldnt work.
Like I said I have pulled both of the 512's out and put in the new 1GB stick and it works fine that way. I am waiting on the other 1GB stick to get here and hopefully they both work together since they are supposed to be the same brand and size.

 

IT will most likely work as long as the the board does not have a max memory size of less than 2gb.

 

Its supposed to be a 2GB max on the mobo.

 

Some mobo's have a "chip density limit" on the memory. Some computers like Mac's cant use any sticks that are more than 8x32. Most large mem sticks today are 16x32.
Oh yeah... put the larger stick in the first slot then the 512 in the second slot. Sometimes the mobo will not read a larger stick in the second slot.

Also a note on the bus speed, it may be 800mhz. Go to dells site and look up the specs on your system. Then you will know exactally what will work.

 

In the last couple of years Intel based Northbridges can support at least 2GB of memory.
What I think the problem is the memory speed. The new 1GB maybe of a different speed (frequency) than the 512 and they may not play well together. I don't know if Dell enables memory frequency downshifting in the BIOS.

MikeyB

 

id bet your buss speed on the old and new chip is differant, owners man should yell you what speed you need.

 

Thanks for all the help guys! Loch, I was kind of thinking the same thing.
The old memory is over 2 years old and the new one is new...