Can I add more RAM to my modern computer?

[6885P5H]

Hello. I'd like to add RAM to my computer but unfortunately it won't take more than 4GB. In the 80's there were expansion cards that added memory to your computer, beyond what the main board could take. Do modern equivalents exist?

 

[Robbbert]

Haven't seen any modern equivalents, and even if they existed they might not fit in.

If your machine is 32-bit then don't bother with extra ram - they can't use it.

The only other choice is if you can find ram sticks that each hold more memory than your current ones.

 

[GiGaBiTe]

We can't give you an answer to your question unless you tell us the make/model of your computer, or in the case of a custom built machine, the motherboard model.

If your machine is 32-bit then don't bother with extra ram - they can't use it.

32 bit machines with PAE/PSE extensions (basically any x86 CPU since the Pentium) can address up to 64 GB of RAM with the limitation that any single process can only address linear 4 GB segments.

Microsoft only licensed 32 bit consumer versions of Windows to a maximum of 4 GB, but there are workarounds for this. Server versions of 32 bit Windows have varying memory limits up to 64 GB.

32 bit PAE Linux kernels can address up to 64 GB with no limitations other than the 4 GB per process.

 

[Robbbert]

That's good to know - I'd only ever used consumer-grade windows.

But the OP needs to supply much more info - we are left to guess.

 

[krebizfan]

The downside of PAE server editions is that many video card drivers don't work with PAE limiting the utility.

The alternate approach was RAM disk cards. Point the virtual memory at the dedicated RAM disk and get about 90% of the benefits of more motherboard RAM. Some of these cards even had battery backup.

It is likely to be a lot cheaper buying a new motherboard, CPU and memory than the 8GB of decade old RAM that the OP seems to desire.

 

[g4ugm]

PAE doesn't really buy you much unless you are running multiple programs or you have PAE aware software. Some versions of Exchange and SQL server were, if I remember properly PAE aware. Even the /3GB switch can lead to performance reductions because it reduces the space available for OS table. Some info here:-

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...witch-and-appropriate-uses-of-these-switches/