Do I need a pair to upgrade?

[skul]

Hi,

I am thinking of upgrading memory in my Dell Dimension 4600, 3Ghz, 800FSB. I currently have 2 slots filled with 256MB sticks. My question is: can I install a single 1G stick (say, VS1GB400C3) and leave the last slot empty or I need to install only a pair into both remaining slots (say, VS1GBKIT400C3)?

Thanks a lot in advance.

[Yellowbeard]

I would suggest that you use the Corsair Memory Configurator to be sure.

 

http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/configurator_search.html

 

Also, you will need completely remove the OEM Dell memory. It is not recommended to mix memory types/brands.

 

Mike.

[skul]

Thanks for your help!

[RJLeong65]

What Wired said.

 

Also, it is not recommended to use only three sticks of memory (leaving just one slot empty) on a dual-channel motherboard with four DIMM slots. Your system will likely not even POST at all -- and even if it does run, the memory controller will default to single-channel (instead of dual-channel) mode, your memory speed will drop to DDR333 instead of DDR400, and your system may suffer more frequent memory errors and program crashes.

[skul]

Thanks a lot for the detailed answer! So I will go with two sticks of 512 then. Do you think VS1GBKIT400C3 will do the job? Will it work OK with my original 2x256 Dell sticks? The system info on the DELL site has this to say about my memory: DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 400M, 32x64, 8K, 184. Does it mean I have a DDR400?

Thanks

[Wired]

Yes, they're 400 Mhz, HOWEVER... VS memory isn't recommended to be mixed with Dell memory. Follow the compatiblity site, it'll recommend some that are, System Select memory.