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General discussion

Memory modules - any order?

Aug 13, 2004 9:53PM PDT

Have two strips of 128. If I buy a third of 256 do I have to arrange them so the biggest is in the first slot?

Discussion is locked

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 13, 2004 9:56PM PDT

This is determined by the machine in question. Most machines don't have such a requirement.

Bob

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 13, 2004 10:01PM PDT

BTW, this is a newly installed MB by PC Chips with an AMD K7 processor. RAM is DDR333 PC2700 if that means anything. Old WinME still in place.

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 14, 2004 4:44AM PDT

If it was me I would browse through the mobo manual and see if there was a ref to such an issue.

If not, I would install the new stick in the next available slot and test.

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 14, 2004 5:37AM PDT

It's a "good rule of thumb" to place largest ram first, but that's not absolute. Alot depends on the ram mapping as the mtrbd. maker usually provides in how ram can be installed. Check the manual, usually this is provided at thier support website for that model mtrbd. or actual manual or on driver/info CD provided.

good luck -----Willy Happy

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 19, 2004 8:32PM PDT

I don't know for shure, but you can bet that first the 256Mb than the other 2.

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Re: Memory modules - any order? LATENCY, SPEED, COMMON SENSE
Aug 19, 2004 11:36PM PDT

IT WILL RUN IN ANY ORDER, HOWEVER, ARE THEY ALL SAME MANUFACTURE & QUALITY? LOWER LATENCY MAY BE BEST FIRST. MB SIZE ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT AS EACH MEMORY ROW IS ACCESSED INDIVIDUALLY. IF IT SEEMS TO RUN WORSE, TRY JUST 256 MB STICK ALONE, TRY VARIOUS COMBOS. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE PRECEPTIABLE EFFECT. HECK CALL MAIN & MEM MANUFACTURERS IF YOU WANT MORE OPINIONS. WHY NOT MOST EXPENSIVE FIRST? WEAR LATEX GLOVES WHEN HANDLING MEMORY, -=NEVER=- TOUCH STICK WITH BARE FINGERS OR IT WILL RESONATE POORLY DUE TO SKIN OILS/CONTANIMENTS.SIGNED:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 20, 2004 2:42AM PDT

When I first start in computers, in '83, I was always told that you put the fastest memory first (this is just a carryover from earlier times when you bought memory in nanosecond speeds - 100, 90, 80, etc. nanoseconds).

Next I was always taught that you should put the largest stick first, etc. Reasoning being that what you're doing might require over 250mb and if you put 2 128s first then the "overflow" carries over to the 2nd stick, instead of just the 256 if it was put in the 1st slot. Pretty simple explanation, of a complexe issue, but it'll get the job done.

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Aug 20, 2004 3:43PM PDT

Should not make any difference. Ensure that the computer is reading the memory. During boot up you should see, at the top of your screen, the memory being tested or at least displayed as total memory.
You can also check total memory installed after boot through System Properties.

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Oct 8, 2004 11:58AM PDT

Just make sure that all sticks are DDR333 PC2700, or that the faster stick is backwards compatible. FSB is a issue here. And it's a rule of thumb to install the larger stick in slot-1.

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Re: Memory modules - any order?
Oct 18, 2004 10:55AM PDT

Unless specified by the motherboard manufacturer, Install chips from the smallest size to the largest size. Picture it this way, would you rathaer place a waterhose with a 2" output into another hose with a 1" output or the other way around? If the larger module is installed first and then you have to begin using the smaller ones then the larger one has to unload its supply into smaller "waterhoses" It's best to do it the other way.