noob computer question

[RichieRich]

I want to install some DAW software and Toneport on my home PC. I cleared out my PC of all junk programs and transferred all of my files to en external hard drive so there's almost nothing on my hard disk to slow it down.

My PC is a Dell Dimension 4600 with a 40G hard drive and 512MB of ram. How much ram do you guys recommend installing in my computer to be sufficient for home recording?

Also, I'm not sure where to install the new memory. The existing memory is installed in 2 slots in my comp with the white clips. Does the new memory go in the black clipped slots next to the existing memory or do I have to pull out the old memory and put it in those slots? I'm pretty sure Dell's require matching memory pairs.

Here's a crappy pic of my memory slots:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1392/img00157gi6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/img00157gi6.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img84/img00157gi6.jpg/1/)

[GuitslingerTim]

The amount of RAM required depends on what the DAW software requires, along with quantity and type of plugins used. Some plugins/effects are real resource hogs, guitar amp/effect simulators are some of the worse, as are lush reverb plugs. 512mb of RAM will work for basic recording.

I have a Dimension 4600 that came with two 256 mb sticks of RAM. I swapped one stick out for larger one, It looks like you may have four RAM slots, but the fuzzy picture makes it hard to tell. My slots are black.

[RichieRich]

I think I'm going to toss in (2) 1G sticks into the empty slots for a total of 2.5G ram. I'm guessing that would more than cover my needs.

[pir8matt]

The memory pairing is usually recommended for best performance, but the computer will still work with unmatched sticks. I do it all the time. 9 out of 10 times it'll be fine.

Worst case scenario the machine might not post, but you're not gonna fry the board or anything using mis-matched pairs.

[brlfq]

I want to install some DAW software and Toneport on my home PC. I cleared out my PC of all junk programs and transferred all of my files to en external hard drive so there's almost nothing on my hard disk to slow it down.

My PC is a Dell Dimension 4600 with a 40G hard drive and 512MB of ram. How much ram do you guys recommend installing in my computer to be sufficient for home recording?

Also, I'm not sure where to install the new memory. The existing memory is installed in 2 slots in my comp with the white clips. Does the new memory go in the black clipped slots next to the existing memory or do I have to pull out the old memory and put it in those slots? I'm pretty sure Dell's require matching memory pairs.


Take a look here:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Dimension%204600

That should answer your question about memory.

Your computer should be up to the task. More memory can help, but I've found that sometimes faster memory can help also. You may be better off taking the 512K you have out of the computer and just using the new 2 gigs by themselves. The Crucial scanner can take a look and let you know if you can economically buy faster memory than the type your computer came with. An XP system should be able to run fine with 2 gigs of ram. I have 2 gigs in mine and pro tools M-powered runs without a hiccup.

[RichieRich]

Take a look here:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Dimension%204600

That should answer your question about memory.

Your computer should be up to the task. More memory can help, but I've found that sometimes faster memory can help also. You may be better off taking the 512K you have out of the computer and just using the new 2 gigs by themselves. The Crucial scanner can take a look and let you know if you can economically buy faster memory than the type your computer came with. An XP system should be able to run fine with 2 gigs of ram. I have 2 gigs in mine and pro tools M-powered runs without a hiccup.

Thanks for the link! I just ordered (2) 2G upgrades (1G card x4) for a total of 4G ram. My comp should be ridiculous now.:dude