Increase RAM on older system

ittiandro · 26 Feb 2024

Hi

I want to increase the RAM on an older system. I am on Windows 10. Currently, I have 4 GB DDR3 RAM 2x2GB memory slots. Very slow, apps do not kick in right away.
How much RAM can I safely go up to? Can I go up to 8 GB ? Is there a limit to the DRAM frequency I can use? Currently it is 665.1 MHz.
Here are my system specs
CPU : intel Core i3 2120@3.30 GHz Sandy bridge.
Motherboard: MSI H61M-P21( MS-7680)
I am a bit confused because the specs say 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor. Is it 32 or 64? I know it makes a difference.
Bottom line, can I safely install an 8 GB memory stick on one slot and either keep the 2nd slot empty or leave the the 2 GB stick?

Thanks

Ittiandro

Samuria · 26 Feb 2024

If you have a 32 but windows you can't go above 4 gig if it's 64 your ok but if it's duel channel you need same ram in both slots

ittiandro · 26 Feb 2024

Samuria said:

If you have a 32 but windows you can't go above 4 gig if it's 64 your ok but if it's duel channel you need same ram in both slots

Thanks

Yes, my Windows 10 is 32-bits but my system specs also say say -64 based processor, hence my initial asking.

In fact the HWInfo utility says that my processor has PAE (Physical Address Extension ) capability, which, from what I understand after I posted, means that I can upgrade the RAM beyond the 4 GB limit of a 32-bits system. May be somebody can look into this and tell me if I am wrong.

Thanks

Ittiandro

Thanks

SIW2 · 26 Feb 2024

Acoording to this your mobo
Supports two unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 1066/1333/1600* DRAM, 16GB Max
Supports Dual channel mode

so having two sticks is better than one.

If you are running 32 bit your best bet is to get an ssd. Though the motherboard only has sata2 an ssd will still make a big difference.

Unfortunately ssd are expensive right now.

Those old h61 mobos are not worth much now. The p31 are twenty quid or thereabouts on the well known auction site, sometimes with ram and cpu thrown in.

Specification H61M-P21 (B3) | MSI Global - The Leading Brand in High-end Gaming & Professional Creation

3nd · 26 Feb 2024

ittiandro said:

Thanks

Yes, my Windows 10 is 32-bits but my system specs also say say -64 based processor, hence my initial asking.

In fact the HWInfo utility says that my processor has PAE (Physical Address Extension ) capability, which, from what I understand after I posted, means that I can upgrade the RAM beyond the 4 GB limit of a 32-bits system. May be somebody can look into this and tell me if I am wrong.

Thanks

Ittiandro

Thanks

install a 64bit version windows
your motherboard can take up to 16Gig RAM ,so 8Gig each slot would do yes ?

PS: when i had windows10 i had dual core with 4Gig RAM and it wasn't slow (guess depends on one's definition of slow)
also a SSD would greatly improve speed overall.(i had a SSD), you can get them cheap cheap nowadays

ittiandro · 26 Feb 2024

[QUOTE=SIW2;2611932]Acoording to this your mobo
Supports two unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 1066/1333/1600* DRAM, 16GB Max
Supports Dual channel mode

so having two sticks is better than one.

/QUOTE]

Thanks, I guess then , that based on the processor specs given in my post, ( 32-bits OS, x64 bits based processor with P.A.E., I can safely increase RAM to 8 or 16 GB , right? One 8 GB stick and one free slot would be OK with me, also because 16 GB would be more expensive.

Thanks

Ittiandro

Bree · 26 Feb 2024

ittiandro said:

.... I guess then , that based on the processor specs given in my post, ( 32-bits OS, x64 bits based processor with P.A.E., I can safely increase RAM to 8 or 16 GB , right?

A standard 32-bit Windows OS can only use 4GB of RAM. I'm not sure PAE will help for x86 Windows 10, it seems to only extend addressable RAM for Server editions. Installing 64-bit W10 would be my preferred solution. You can check the documentation for yourself here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...ndows-releases

Berton · 26 Feb 2024

Just a note, DDR3 RAM is starting to get harder to find, when I looked at Crucial last month what I wanted for a client was out of stock. I have seen motherboards that would accept more than 4GB but 32-bit Windows can't display more than about 3.5GB. As for speed, I have a Win11 Notebook with a 3200 8GB module and added a 2400 4GB I had salvaged, works as 12GB but at 2400, outside of the speed rating the modules are alike. Most things in computers run at the lowest speed of the parts.

Malneb · 27 Feb 2024

DDR3 is in surplus used markets there is plenty around.

32bit you are severely hampering this computer its meant for 64bit, the first thing you should do is put 64 bit windows on it.

Daymin · 27 Feb 2024

Get an SSD or something and go into Advance System Settings and direct it to use a drive as a pagefile you could manage or even windows manages it. That is the legal method to get more RAM out of a 4Gig limit system. Now lets say you install more RAM then you need. Like 32Gigs and your limited to 4Gigs. There are other methods but various 32-bit programs will have no idea how to use the RAM unless they are program to do so, but Windows Operating system is able to understand this fact. But could also resulting in BSOD or something even more problematic. Setting your pagefile is going to be the only option. Next would be setting that Program/app Page-file/Scratch-disk.

Yes if your machine supports a x64 operating system you might as well upgrade to whatever X64 and upgrade the RAM accordingly. Unless you have a X64 machine with a 4Gig limit..sigh. X64 processor is literally quadruple processing power and unless your working with delicate need for X32 ( i386 ) then you might as well find a way to upgrade.