additional 2GB of ram purchase/installation question

[mcastleberg]

I have a noob question here guys, forgive me. I have an AsRock Dual SATA-II motherboard with 2x1GB of Micron PC2-5300 RAM. I am running 32-bit Vista and am looking to add another 2GB since it is soooo cheap right now. I found a deal for 1x2GB of PC2-6400 Buffalo Select ram for $20 plus shipping. Will this work in my system or do I need to add another 2x1GB kit?

[hafa]

The 6400 should work, but you will be limited to 5300 speeds. Keep in mind that if you're overclocking, matched sets tend to give better results.

More important than this though, is that fact that a 32-bit OS will not be able to address all 4GB; you'll likely only be able to see 2.6-3.2G in Vista32; You'll need to move up to Vista64 to use all 4GB in Windows.

[cabose1227]

Oh my god, get rid of that board now!!!!!!!!!!! It is the worst board on the market aside from a jetway. I hope you can still return it, or you will be cursed!!!!!!!!!!

[Shiggity]

The 6400 should work, but you will be limited to 5300 speeds. Keep in mind that if you're overclocking, matched sets tend to give better results.

More important than this though, is that fact that a 32-bit OS will not be able to address all 4GB; you'll likely only be able to see 2.6-3.2G in Vista32; You'll need to move up to Vista64 to use all 4GB in Windows.

+1 for very helpful information

[grumperfish]

^^
It would depend on how much onboard video memory you have on your card(s) as well. I have 4gigs in XP (32-bit) and the OS sees 3.5gigs. Eventually I plan to get a copy of 64-bit Vista though.

[crosshairs]

I have 4Gb in my XP pro machine and Windows see's 2.75..This is with an 8800GTX 768..is that normal?