I just upgraded my RAM, can I keep my old ones in?

Question

I just ordered 2 x 1GB sticks of DDR2 PC2-5300 RAM from Crucial. When I did their system scan, it said I had to install matching pairs. So when I installed the new ones, I took out 2 Kingston 512MB DDR2 PC2- 5300 sticks. I was wondering if I could run both of them and have 3GB of RAM instead of 2GB. The first time I tried my monitor looked all funny and didn't start up. But I know one of the 512MB was slightly out of place that time. So I was wondering if it would work even though it says I have to run matching pairs. Thanks

Answer 1

Yes it will work...you do have matching pairs...2 x 1GB is a matching pair and 512 x 2 is a matching pair...Put them back in correctly and you shouldn't have any problems.

Answer 2

If you have four slots you can run two matched pairs !

Answer 3

I HAVE run pairs that dont match and had decent results. Heck one of the ram sticks i used as a hot dog package opener and it still worked as long as the frequencys are the same and they are give it a try.