# RAM Installation Question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 15, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153 "2005-02-15T04:30:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153/1 "2005-02-15T04:30:17Z")
I am looking at upgrading my computer’s RAM (currently 256MB).
A hopefully simple question; can I mix and match sizes?
IOW, can I add 512 for a total of 768, or can I only put another 256 unit in? Would it be better to take out the existing 256 and add a single 512 or even 1 GB (obviously 1 GB would be better than 768 MB, but what I mean is one module better than 2)?
My computer has an open slot and the board can handle 2048 total, so I’m OK there.
Also, why is a single 1GB module considerably more expensive than 2-512s? That leads me to believe that a single unit is better than 2, but I’l leave that to the experts (i.e. you).
Thanks for any input
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153/2 "2005-02-15T04:46:31Z")
> [@jk1245](#):
>
> I am looking at upgrading my computer’s RAM (currently 256MB).
>
> A hopefully simple question; can I mix and match sizes?
Yes, typically the manual will detail the allowable RAM moduler sizes, but combining 256/512/1 gig is generally hassle free as long as the memory is properly specd for the machine.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153/3 "2005-02-15T04:49:17Z")
You can keep the 256 and add a 512. Just make sure that the 512 matches the specification on the 256 (eg. PC2700). I don’t believe that a single 1 GB RAM module is much better than 2 512’s. I think the price descrepany is simply due to the fact that the production and demand is much higher for 512 modules bringing the price down to the sweet spot.
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### Author:  [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153/4 "2005-02-15T11:44:06Z")
I think the 1 GB ram chipsets are so much more expensive than 2 x 512mb because with them, you get an entire Gigabyte of RAM on one chipset, instead of using up two DIMM sockets.
So, if you have 4 DIMMs, you can potentially have 4 GB of RAM. If you need that much you’re probably running a business, and business-related hardware (and software for that matter) are usually far more expensive than consumer goods. I guess the theory is “if you’re making money with this computer, share a little of the weath with us (the manufacturers)”.
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### Author:  [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ram-installation-question/290153/5 "2005-02-15T17:30:12Z")
Just out of curiousity, what OS are you running? I’m sure most people are running Windows 2000 or newer, but Windows 98, 98SE, and ME only support a little over 512M.