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dell 1330: do I need to fill both memory slots, or can I fill just one?

post #1 of 4
2/27/08 at 12:58am
Thread Starter 
Title says it all. Thinking of getting a memory upgrade.
currently have 2 one-gig sticks.
Can I buy a 2 gig stick, drop in for 3 gigs?
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post #2 of 4
2/27/08 at 1:43am
yeah that will work thats the way my laptop came...
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post #3 of 4
3/4/08 at 3:47am
jglass02,

As long as you have the 32 bit operating system (e.g., Vista, or XP for that matter) then 1 slot can be filled.

If you ever decide to go to a 64 bit operating system you will have to get another RAM module to fill the second slot.

I tried to install Vista Premium 64-bit on my desktop, with a single stick 256 MB RAM module and it failed to install. I ended up getting 2 GB (2 - 1 GB RAM modules) of RAM for this PC.

Paul
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post #4 of 4
3/4/08 at 9:23am
Whether Vista installs or not is not based on whether you have 1 or 2 slots filled.

The problem that Phogsten had was most likely related to the fact that he was trying to install Vista on only 256MB of RAM. That amount of RAM is anemic on Windows XP... on Vista it's even worse.

So yes, you can have mismatched memory pairs (1GB + 2GB). However, you will lose dual-channel memory mode, and a little bit of overall computer performance because of it.
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