256 + 1 GB ram ok?

Hi,
My Inspiron 6000 came with 256+256 MB ram. I checked to find that they are both ddr2-4200 533 MHz RAM.

So i i replace one of them with 1 GB DDR2-4200 533 MHz RAM, with eh size differences hamper the performance?

I ask becuase at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/en/sm/upgrades.htm#wp999869, the site says that "To get maximum performance\dual-channel memory bandwidth capability, both memory module connectors must contain memory modules and the modules must be of the same size and configuration."

 

right; so u have; 256MB ram that is running at 533mhz and a 1bg ram @ 533 also. dual channel basically means; if you have 2 of the same DDR2 RAM module, the bandwith can doubled to 533(x2)=1066Mhz. the difference is very noticeable actually, especially if you're working with big files.

to get trouble free operation; the memmory must be exactly the same.

 

me is 256mb 533mhz + 1gb 667mhz --> work as 1.25gb at 533mhz. confirm ok! work like charm on vista.

 

thats not how it works, you go from a 64bit memory path in single channel to a 128 bit path with dual channel, and real world performance gains arent that noticable, current intel chipsets based on the 945 allow you to use mismatched pairs in dual channel, I dont know what the 6000 uses, but my guess would be its based on the 915, in real world applications, your MUCH better off with one 1 gig stick of ram than two 256 sticks in dual channel, I would buy 1 one gig stick now, then pop another one in when you can afford to do so, buying two 512 sticks wouldnt really be worth it, unless your positive you never want to go with more than 1 gig on this machine

 

that works on newer machines, the original poster has an older laptop

 

Hi IceMan thanks for your inputs, but what exactly do you mean by "old" laptop? How did you make that out?

 

Older laptop, the 6000 was the precursor to the e1505 correct? new chipset, new features etc, dual core cpus, faster bus speeds, the ability to run mismatched memory in dual channel, computer tech gets outdated in months, no offense, but the 6000 is old compared to whats out there currently, it doesnt make it a bad sysytem, its just no longer current, Catennacio posted that he/she could run mismatched pairs with no problems, and I'm assuming that they are running on a machine based off of the 945 chipset,wich is the current chipset,and has that ability I'm pretty certain your running an older chipset, I would guess the 915, I really dont feel like looking it up right now

 

ok thanks for the pointer! I bought my laptop in last December.. i didn't realise its so old already My 3-4 years old nforce2 based AMD motherboard already had this dual channel feature, which I guess my "old" 6000 does not

So , in short what WILL happen when I put a 1 GB 533 RAM + 256 MB 533 ram? i mean apart from it not boosting MHz to 1066 Mhz... will it work at regular speed atleast?

 

it might not even post, and if it does, you should expect random crashes, the 6000 does support dual channel memory, but you have to have matching sticks, IE 1 gig +256= bad news, 256+256, 512+512, 1gig +1gig , dual channel is not a feature that you just turn off and on, if both dimm slots are filled, dual channel is active, on your chipset you need both sticks to be the same density and speed


dual channel does not give you 1066 speed, the above poster is misinformed, basically 2 filled slots in single channel gives you one bank of memory that the cpu can use, its two sticks but the cpu sees it as 1 big unit, dual channel gives you two banks, meaning the cpu can address the two at the same time, each bank is 64 bits wide, so single channel gives you 64 bit memory access, and dual channel nets you 128, as I said before your best bet right now would be to ditch your 2x256, and buy one 1gig stick, dual channel is nice, but its not that big a deal in real world application, 1gig of ram over 512 meg, will give you a big performance jump, and the option to add another gig down the road

 

he has 2 533mhz so no pb with dual channel issue, at least it wont crash. to have dual channel its recommended to have 2 identical sticks..

 

on current systems it is recomended though not a necessity , on slightly older and back it is a requirement, bottom line the original poster should not mix and match different ram sizes on his computer, it will cause stability issues if it even fully boots at all, his options for one gig or lager are 2x512, 1x1gig, 2x1gig, I personally recomend the 1x1gig as it leaves an open upgrade path to 2x1gig in dual channel later on, or cut to the chase with 2x1 gig now, 2x512 wouldnt be much cheaper, and he would need to ditch both the 512 sticks if he wanted to go with 2 gig in the future