Need advice on upgrade

C

cpunewb

Geek Trainee
Hi my first time here on these forums and I need help. I'm a semi amateur on computers but I have built computers before. 2 years ago I purchased parts to build my computer and now I want to upgrade my memory but I'm stuck on which memories are compatible with my motherboard. Here is my PC spec.

CPU-AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor Model ADA5600CZBOX -

VGA-EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Motherboard-GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

Ram-CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model

OS-Windows XP Home Edition

For some reason I think i brought the wrong ram but it still works on my computer. I want to upgrade to 8gb of ram or 4gb of ram, can the motherboard handle that and if it can, can anyone link me to some memory i can buy to upgrade to? Every bit of help is appreciated thanks for taking time out to read my post.:chk:
 
cpunewb said:
Hi my first time here on these forums and I need help. I'm a semi amateur on computers but I have built computers before. 2 years ago I purchased parts to build my computer and now I want to upgrade my memory but I'm stuck on which memories are compatible with my motherboard. Here is my PC spec.

CPU-AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor Model ADA5600CZBOX -

VGA-EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Motherboard-GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

Ram-CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model

OS-Windows XP Home Edition

For some reason I think i brought the wrong ram but it still works on my computer. I want to upgrade to 8gb of ram or 4gb of ram, can the motherboard handle that and if it can, can anyone link me to some memory i can buy to upgrade to? Every bit of help is appreciated thanks for taking time out to read my post.:chk:
Click to expand...

Hello and welcome to HWF

I have been looking at your mobo and i have found that there are two versions rev 1.0 and rev 2.0 so which one have you got anyways i don't think there is a big difference.

This is what your motherboard supports:

Supported RAM Speed
PC2-3200
PC2-4300
PC2-5300
PC2-6400

Supported RAM Technology
DDR2 SDRAM

So you have the correct memory installed at the moment.

If you want to upgrade to 8GB of memory lol then you have to either get XP 64bit (which is rubbish) or Vista 64bit then you can stick in 8gb of memory without any problems. Let me make this very clear more then 4GB of memory will not work on normal XP 32bit or Vista 32bit you have to get 64 bit versions ok.

If your going to stick with XP then get 4GB of memory but you will not use the full potential.

Here is a link i have found but i suggest you shop around to find the best deal:

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

This is GIGABYTE official page about your mobo check it out: GA-M57SLI-S4
 
lol you are the best pimp thanks alot for your advice really appreciate it. I'm gonna check out the link and keep you updated. :D
 
checked it out and I'm gonna buy those rams but I guess I have to take out the rams I already have or do I leave them in? forgive me if that sounds stupid :(
 
nevermind I reread what you wrote and I'm gonna just put the old ones in storage. :P
Oh btw if I do want to upgrade my OS you think windows vista ultimate is better or 64bit?
 
you will end up having 6gb of memory which means your XP 32bit will not boot i think so i suggest you take it out untill you get Vista 64bit. or just stick with 4gb and that will be fine
 
cpunewb said:
nevermind I reread what you wrote and I'm gonna just put the old ones in storage. :P
Oh btw if I do want to upgrade my OS you think windows vista ultimate is better or 64bit?
Click to expand...

All of the Vista packages have 32bit version 0r 64bit versions.

what 32bit means that you can only use up to 4GB of memory MAX no more.

64bit version allows you to go to something like 32GB memory (something crazy like that)

As for Ultimate well i think it's a waste of money it only has a few extra features from Vista Home Premium so i suggest you get Home premium lol but up to you but make sure its 64bit version , it will say
 
Pimp said:
All of the Vista packages have 32bit version 0r 64bit versions.

what 32bit means that you can only use up to 4GB of memory MAX no more.

64bit version allows you to go to something like 32GB memory (something crazy like that)

As for Ultimate well i think it's a waste of money it only has a few extra features from Vista Home Premium so i suggest you get Home premium lol but up to you but make sure its 64bit version , it will say
Click to expand...

Ah okay thanks again for all your advice and help Pimp. Gonna start my purchases now, if I run into anymore questions your the Pimp to ask lol
 
cpunewb said:
Ah okay thanks again for all your advice and help Pimp. Gonna start my purchases now, if I run into anymore questions your the Pimp to ask lol
Click to expand...

lol yeah if im the pimp what does that make you then

my ;)
 
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