Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Chipsets & Bios > Does upgrading memory, mean I have to update BIOS on my 8300

Does upgrading memory, mean I have to update BIOS on my 8300

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Chipsets & Bios - Does upgrading memory, mean I have to update BIOS on my 8300

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nongyrlgeek   07-30-2009 at 07:52:10 PM

Hi, I plan on adding 2x1GB of memory to my already 512 MB, and want to know will it be necessary to change to BIOS? If so, how do I do that or where may I find the information to upgrade the BIOS once I've installed the memory? Also, how do I tell if my system is a 32 bit vs. 64 bit. I have never changed a thing since we bought the system except reformat it. I would love to hear you input. Thanks

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fpsdominator   07-30-2009 at 07:59:32 PM
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Well you shouldnt have to update the bios just for RAM.
But id update it anyway, But i cant help you with updating the bios becuase you didnt give any info on your system.
And 32bit only limts you to about 3.5GB so your fine there.
I would also put the 2x1 sticks in and leave the stick of 512 out.

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nongyrlgeek   07-30-2009 at 08:13:46 PM
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System information would be helpful, I have a Dell Dimension 8300, everything is original and I already have 2x256MB, that I wanted to leave in and just add another 2GB and be done with it. Will that be a problem? Also, I'm not sure I understand what ID Update means. Could you explain further? Thx.


Message edited by nongyrlgeek on 07-30-2009 at 09:01:53 PM
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fpsdominator   07-31-2009 at 05:28:52 AM
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Well what i meant is:
you are not required to update the bios just for RAM "most of the time" :lol:
but you should update it anyways :D

Here is the link for the bios download...
http://support.dell.com/support/do [...] eid=113031

If you need any help installing it, id be glad to help

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masterjaw   07-31-2009 at 05:44:30 AM
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ID update. hehe.. :D

If you got 4 slots for ram then there wouldn't be a problem with that. Anyway, it won't pass 3.5gb so its fine with your 32 bit os. Just make sure that you put the dimms to the appropriate slots for dual channeling.

No need to update bios. But if there is one, please do so. :)


Message edited by masterjaw on 07-31-2009 at 05:45:58 AM
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jitpublisher   07-31-2009 at 03:56:31 PM
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My god I cannot believe the bad advice here.

You don't have to update your BIOS to add memory, as everyone has said, but....

unless you are having a specific problem, and a new BIOS update has been written to specifically fix the problem you are having....LEAVE YOUR BIOS ALONE.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is the golden rule of BIOS updating.

I don't know over the years how many threads have been posted where people have killed their motherboards trying to update their BIOS. Many, many, many of them. And no telling how many people otherwise have done it as well. It is probably one of the biggest single causes of motherboards being returned as dead.

Thats right, if you don't do it correctly, you will have a dead motherboard. Period.
The only way to fix it is a new motherboard, or have the motherboard manufacturer send you a new BIOS chip, if your old chip is removable.
Your BIOS does not contain any programs, drivers, or anything else that affects your systems performance. Your BIOS simply configures, or allows you to configure, everything that you have. A BIOS update is usually to allow for some hardware configuration that was released after your board was made, like a new type or family of processor that fit's on your board.

Memory is not one of the things that normally require BIOS updating.


Message edited by jitpublisher on 07-31-2009 at 03:57:28 PM
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