Quick Question about RAM upgrades

[Sublime 2]

This may be a stupid question but I can't seem to figure out what's going on. Ok I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop which came w/ 256 MB ram (2 128MB sticks). I decided recently I wanted to upgrade to atleast 512 for FM06 and other stuff. My dad bought me a 256 MB stick of RAM, and according to Dell it is the correct type (200 pin SODIMM). Here's where my question comes in, is it possible to have a 256 stick and a 128 stick together? Should i just go out and buy another 256 stick to make it 512? When i had the 256 w/ the 128 my system freezes at the Dell loading screen. I think I heard that some Mother boards don't like different sticks, could that be my problem? i don't mind going out and buying another 256, but I want to make sure it's going to work. Not sure if this made much sense...but hopefully someone can understand me and help. lol

[FrogMan]

when I upgraded my RAM from 256mb last Summer, many friends from here told me to go straight to one new stick, which I did and got one 512mb. I was told that putting two different size stick together had mucho chances of not working or of causing trouble while adding a second one, if not the exact same brand, could also cause some trouble as apparently, RAM can be very finicky...

FM

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Sublime 2

This may be a stupid question but I can't seem to figure out what's going on. Ok I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop which came w/ 256 MB ram (2 128MB sticks). I decided recently I wanted to upgrade to atleast 512 for FM06 and other stuff. My dad bought me a 256 MB stick of RAM, and according to Dell it is the correct type (200 pin SODIMM). Here's where my question comes in, is it possible to have a 256 stick and a 128 stick together? Should i just go out and buy another 256 stick to make it 512? When i had the 256 w/ the 128 my system freezes at the Dell loading screen. I think I heard that some Mother boards don't like different sticks, could that be my problem? i don't mind going out and buying another 256, but I want to make sure it's going to work. Not sure if this made much sense...but hopefully someone can understand me and help. lol

have you tried just with the 256 alone? it sounds like a bad/wrong mem chip.

[stevew]

www.crucial.com Pay a bit more, but its worth it. I would just buy the 512 chip.

[flere-imsaho]

Generally speaking motherboards are very finicky about RAM sticks. Sometimes if you have virtually identical sticks in there, but they're from different manufacturers, it'll bail on you.

So, the safe thing is to buy identical sticks and do a complete swap. I'll second the recommendation of www.crucial.com.