UKC

Needing a bit more RAM than I have for some PS processes. PC is 6-7 years old, motherboard is an ASUS P5N-MX, 4 Gig in 2x2GB DDR2 sticks with no expansion slots. Question is (hoping it's not a silly one) - could I replace the 2GB sticks with 4GB ones? Would they physically fit? Not fry anything?

In reply to streapadair:

Asus' website suggests that the maximum amount of RAM that motherboard can use is 4GB.

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5NMX/

In reply to streapadair:

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5NMX/

Says 'Supports DDR2 800 up to 4GB Memory'

Which would indicate that the answer is probably no, you can't upgrade it to 2 x 4GB cards.

You could always have a check on http://www.kingston.com/en/memory/desktop-notebook to see what's offered. It's usually a pretty good guide to the max you can put in a machine.

In reply to streapadair:

Thanks, guys. Looks like a new desktop may be in the offing. Pity, the current machine is in good shape in all other respects.

In reply to streapadair:

If everything else is good you could probably just find new MB and processor of the same form factor and save buying all the extra stuff.

In reply to gethin_allen:

Thanks, yes, I'd wondered if the mb was replaceable. Think it has to be beyond my limited competence, but there's a decent repair shop in Dundee, I'll ask them.

In reply to streapadair:

Most of it just plugs together and auto detects, it's really simple.

In reply to gethin_allen:

Ah, simple for you, but there's a huge gulf before you get down to my level. The relevant article on PCWorld.com (Upgrade Your Motherboard the Easy Way) runs to 3 pages and scares me.

In reply to streapadair:

If you upgrade the mobo you'll have to upgrade the processor as well (and you'll have to make sure the cpu you buy fits the mobo you buy!). Probably quicker to just buy a new machine if you're not going to build it yourself, though really anyone can with any of the hundreds of walk through vids on youtube.

Would suggest if you do get a new machine you get it custom made from a small store, it'll work out cheaper than buying a branded machine.