my computer did have 1GB of RAM by way of two 512MB sticks that came with it. it has been running slow lately and after running anti-virus/adware/spyware and uninstalling most of the crap i have accumulated i decided that upgrading the memory might work best.

i searched the best buy website to make sure what i was getting was compatible, went and bought one 1GB stick, and popped it in. now my computer will start, but after opening windows it will just automatically restart and keep doing it. this happens anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes after windows starts.

when i check the memory it correctly states that i am running 1.5GB of RAM, before it crashes that is. is it ideal to raise memory in even increments- 1 gig to 2 gig? or might it be a compatibility issue that best buy isn't aware of?

thanks for any advice.

9/8/2007 6:42:29 PM

Quote :

"when i check the memory it correctly states that i am running 1.5GB of RAM, before it crashes that is. is it ideal to raise memory in even increments- 1 gig to 2 gig? or might it be a compatibility issue that best buy isn't aware of?"

two items of note:

1.) you're right, increment memory evenly (ie. 2 1gb sticks, but not a 1gb and a 512mb)
2.) related to that, i wouldn't suggest mixing ram, even if it's the same manufacturer (ie. buy them together)

if you pop out the 512mb and it still gives you trouble, try putting the old ram back in...if it restarts like that even with the new ram, you MIGHT be having issues with either bad ram slots and (or as a result of) a bad power supply

[Edited on September 8, 2007 at 7:10 PM. Reason : .]

9/8/2007 7:09:54 PM

^thanks. i actually replaced one of 512 sticks with a 1 gig. but either way i'll buy another 1 gig stick and make things square and see if that works.

btw, it seemed to work just fine with just the one new stick of 1 gig. i read something about faster memory "tripping" over slower memory, so that might be it.

[Edited on September 8, 2007 at 7:30 PM. Reason : trip]

9/8/2007 7:28:08 PM

well you prolly got pny , kbyte, or kingston....


sometimes memory isn't liked by the mobo with factory stuff...

What kind of ram?
I would use crucial.com to tell me what I have, and what you can hold. Crucial.com has sweet deals sometimes.

9/11/2007 8:53:26 AM