I suggest that you read your motherboard manual or call up tech support if you have it. If it's DDR, it should work, but ideally both sticks of ram should be of the same size, speed and have the same timings. If those match up (ie you've got two identical sticks of ram), dual channel mode should be ale to be turned on which is a faster form of access.
My suggestion if it's really something you ant to do, buy it from best buy, compusa, fry's or some other B&M that has a good return policy and return it if it doesn't work. If it does work you can always return it too and get it cheaper online.
Although my tech support is shit and can't tell me what my timings are etc. Can I just buy standard PC3200DDR. the chips in my PC are samsung but thats all I can tell from looking at it. I gave up building my own PCs years ago, so have been left behind by the tech (which I'm perfectly happy with)
The only time size matters as far as RAM is concerned is when they're both on the same bank. If they were, you wouldn't be able to get away with having only one dimm.
I only have two slots. Therefore they are different banks?
Any real benefit going for 1GB instead of 512MB extra (1.5 Vs 1 total)? Theres a big jump in prices for 1GB sticks, but I'll do it if it'll be worth it.
No, but then I don't really use it fully. The odd game, some Video encoding (both PSP and DVD outputting from adobe premiere elements), some photo editing.
TBH the video stuff would benefit more from a separate HDD. I think I'll stick with 1GB total.
