Okay, its been awhile, but I've finally got my first new RAM chipset on order, should be here in a day or two. If I get one working (total of 512) then I'll go back and get two more, I think. Now, the question comes to installation. Is this just plug and play (i.e. open the tower and shove it in) or is there some more elegant process that's needed?

"Shove" is such a, erm, unpleasant concept when it comes to installing components but, yes. Essentially, you "insert" the RAM.

There is some variation in how the slots are setup to receive and lock in the ram but some watchwords are:

* Make sure you are properly grounded BEFORE you touch the RAM (touch the metal case of the PC or the chassis first to discharge any static electricity you may be carrying.
* Make sure the PC is de-energized - i.e., unplugged.
* Make sure you are grounded and discharged of static before you pick up the ram and touch the PC.
* Make sure that the ram is properly aligned to be inserted. Check the notches running long the insterting edge and match them up to the bars in the slot.
* Do not "force" fit the ram. Don't torque, twist, rock or apply "english" to get the thing to fit.
* Make sure they are snicked in with firm but gentle force, don't punch, jam or hammer it in place.
* You'll know that you've done a good job when the locking pieces snap into place. usually clipi-like at one or both ends of the slot.

Enjoy.

Yes, I suppose 'Shove' was a bit over the top, but I didn't want to go for 'inject'. I would have done this today, but UPS is being delinquent, and I likely won't get a chance to install this for several days, but I'm quite excited because running the Battlefield 1942 complete collection on 256mb is painful.

Tawakalnistan Export Industries have much RAM of many varieties available for sale at low low prices! Ask one of my many satisfied TLR customers! You know it makes sense....

must... resist... illegitmate... advertising...
The RAM always looks cheaper at the other store. That's why I have the internet to undercut your nationally subsidized software monopoly!

how many DIMM slots have you got spare? the Mullah of Munificence just happens to have a mixt bagful of 128mb and 256mb/266mhz and 333mhz lying around, I'm selling it bit by bit on eBuy but I dare say I can spare you a bit, your shocking lack of RAM is distressing me!

I appreciate the offer Taw, I've got two more open slots, but they're only for 133 mhz. My first stick arrived on Friday and I'll be installing that in a few minutes. If all goes well I'll seek some parental subsidies to get up to 1024 MB and hopefully that'll help out.

http://www.memtest86.com

A handy memory tester.

Correction, I only have one slot remaining. Can I get one more 256 mb chip (total of 768)? Or must I double to 512?

Depends on your motherboard. Consult your manual for more details. Some very old motherboards insisted on matched SDRAM sticks for some reason I can't remember now, but no modern motherboard has that issue, and even the ones that take DDR are, IIRC, a bit more flexible about their requirements for matched modules.

Well I'm running an ASUS P4B... I guess I'll take a look in the book again and forward this issue to Taw.

I only have 512MB of RAM myself (Kingston KVR333). Why? Because I had to get rid of the other DIMM a year ago because it was dodgy. 512MB or less is a real bottleneck these days. *Walks off grumbling about Samsung chips being used on generic PCBs*

I think the ASUS P4B only has 3 memory slots? And, obviously, matched sticks are not required.

If memory serves correctly, I don't think you can use DDR SDRAM on the P4B (i845 chipset), just up to PC133 SDRAM. So you should be able to get a bargain price for the older PC133 SDRAM. I would buy the most RAM volume affordable to you.

Correct, Indy, three slots only. I guess I should order a third 256mb stick, and if it doesn't work, return it. Even with the extra power my games are still quite sluggish.