Mod Questions

[NickyLee]

Hello everyone, and good evening, I am new to ComputerForums, but I am a member of many forums as I like to share my knowledge. A little about me, I am prior United States Navy, I was an Operations Specialists dealing in Navigation and Ships Weapons Systems. I got out and earned an Associates degree in Electrical Engineering, I am a little more than fluent in computers, and building them, taking them apart...(I am really good at that part.) Lol. Anyway, now I am a full time musician who has idols is many different genres.
The real reason I am here right now is this...
I have a Sony VAIO PCV-RS430G running Windows 7 32bit, 2GB PC3200 DDR NON ECC RAM, 2 CD/DVD-RW Drives, 2 120GB Internal HD's, and my question involves RAM...
What are the chances of my computer being able to run and use more RAM than Crucial or the manual says it can...I just want any number more than 2GB, I would ultimately like 4GB seeing as that is the most the 32 bit can use...I ask this because most of the recording programs I use require a minimum of 2GB, I don't want the minimum. Any and all help is welcome, and I can't really afford a high-end computer at the moment so please don't suggest that. Lol.

 

[setishock]

That's a pretty old machine. It uses DDR2 ram in 512K modules max. The limitation may be in the bios memory matrix. That puts a cap on how much of what kind of ram can be used in each slot and how the memory is laid out. It's an old school pain the gazootenblatz.

 

[NickyLee]

So putting two 1GB sticks in place of some of the 512 won't work?

 

[SethWilliams]

Probably not. If your manual says 2 GB is the max, that's a pretty good indication that it won't handle more RAM.

 

[setishock]

Again that's an old box. 10 years old or better. CNET did a review of it on Nov. 6, 2003. It doesn't use DDR2 or 3 ram. It uses just plain old ram. That places some limitations on how much ram it can handle. Sorry but if you want to upgrade getting a kit off of Newegg would be a good place to start.

 

[NickyLee]

Hmmm...This is all strange to me, I keep reading several cases where the Intel Pentium 4 Chipset can handle 4GB, and the Windows 7 32bit can handle and recognize the most of 4GB...I've read several situations that I have found on "tomshardware.com"
My Intel 865PERL (with P4 3.0) supports 4G RAM.

AFAIK most P4 chipsets support up to 4GB RAM.

All of the signs I am seeing are pointing towards yes...but you guys have me awfully scared...

 

[OhSnapWord]

...What are the chances of my computer being able to run and use more RAM than Crucial or the manual says it can...

Absolutely none.

Well maybe if you upgrade the BIOS, but that's a big maybe.

...I can't really afford a high-end computer at the moment so please don't suggest that. Lol.

Considering you're using a computer that in all likelihood was built when the World Trade Center was still standing, you can definitely get a nice upgrade without spending a ton of cash. You can build a capable desktop for less than $400.

 

[NickyLee]

Okay, well after doing more research than I thought I ever would...this is what I have gathered.
My Chipset can handle 4GB RAM
My Motherboard can handle 4GB RAM
My OS can handle 4GB RAM
and I have 4 RAM slots...

After piecing all of the info together...the signs point to yes that I can handle 4GB RAM.
Would you all agree?

 

[ssc456]

Okay, well after doing more research than I thought I ever would...this is what I have gathered.
My Chipset can handle 4GB RAM
My Motherboard can handle 4GB RAM
My OS can handle 4GB RAM
and I have 4 RAM slots...

After piecing all of the info together...the signs point to yes that I can handle 4GB RAM.
Would you all agree?

No lol
The over view here seems to be no it won't.

Do you have documentation stating that your chipset and MOBO can handle 4GB?

 

[NickyLee]

Physical (in hand) documentation, no. I have online verification, from ASUStek, who makes the moboard, says it can handle it, I have online verification from Intel that the Pentium 4 can handle it, I have online verification that the Windows 7 32 bit can handle it...what more could I need?