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upgrade my ram

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by MitchellCooley, 2007/02/26.

  1. 2007/02/26
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have a used Intel 400Mhz system with 128MB Ram (two sticks of 64MB PC100 memory). Can I buy a stick of 128MB PC100 memory and put it in the open slot without too much trouble?
     
    MitchellCooley,
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  2. 2007/02/26
    keithsince59

    keithsince59 Inactive

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    i to had 3 slots with a 128 in the first slot. windows xp need at least 256. my friend gave me 2 56k sdram cards which i placed in the 2 empty slots with no bother to give me 256. try going up to 512.
     
    keithsince59,
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  4. 2007/02/26
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    It depends on the motherboard how much total RAM can be installed plus in what slots.

    Go to http://www.crucial.com/ and click the Scan My System button.
     
    Whiskeyman,
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  5. 2007/02/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It should not be a problem, but to be sure log onto www.Crucial.com and work through their memory selector for your computer/motherboard. That way you will be sure of getting totally compatible memory and guidance on how much RAM your board can take and in what configuration.
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2007/02/26
    DEL_110915

    DEL_110915 Inactive

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    You should check with your manufacturer how much RAM you're motherboard can take.
    Just to mention: It's better to have RAM which is all the same, so e.g. 2 blocks of identical RAM. That will work best and deliver the best performance.
     
    DEL_110915,
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  7. 2007/02/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I doubt your board is capable of running dual channel RAM so IMHO it really doesn't matter what sizes you put in as long as they are compatible with the board.
     
    PeteC,
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  8. 2007/02/26
    DEL_110915

    DEL_110915 Inactive

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    Well actually it does, especially when one block is faster than the other. The faster One 'pushes forward' with capacity and then leaves the slower one behind. Eventually the system could crash. I'm telling it because I had it once: I had 3 differens blocks of RAM, different speed and capacity. When I bought 2 of the same and installed them I still have no problems with it. And it has been 4 years ago when I changed the RAM.
     
    DEL_110915,
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  9. 2007/02/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You are quite correct re. RAM speed - I was taking up the point that on an old board with no dual RAM capability the actual sizes matter little, provided that the sum does not exceed the total capacity of the board. Having said that a friend has a system which in theory is limited to 750 MB, but he is running 1 Gb with no problems - and it is all recognised :)
     
    PeteC,
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  10. 2007/02/26
    DEL_110915

    DEL_110915 Inactive

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    yup, you already mentioned the dual-channel. There size does mather :D

    that example you gave is cool :cool:
     
    DEL_110915,
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  11. 2007/02/26
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank ya'll very much. Went to Crucial.com and it said my system can handle up to 512MB RAM. It couldn't find some information about my system (Mthbrd mfgr, video card, etc). Have already had it apart and there are no manufacturer markings on the motherboard. It has onboard video w/8MB Ram, onboard sound I could never get to work (bought a sound card). Guess I'll have to take it apart again and write down the info on the RAM and be sure I get same speed.

    The tools and information we have today are amazing. Back when I was working on systems and installing networks in the AF (many years ago) the highest end system I had to deal with as a 486DX33, 3B2, or PDP1100. All my diag work was hit and miss.

    Thank GOD for the BBS and folks like you.

    Mitch
     
    MitchellCooley,
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  12. 2007/02/26
    mflynn

    mflynn Inactive

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    mflynn,
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  13. 2007/02/27
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Maybe some info on ID'ing the motherboard.

    If you can see any Intel labelled chips on the mobo, it will be an Intel chipset motherboard, whether it is an Intel made motherboard or an OEM "manufactured" motherboard is another question. If it is Intel, you should be able to identify the chipset/motherboard at the Intel website...the method is to look at the second screen at startup, at the bottom is the identification code, you can find what that code means (identify your chipset) at the Intel website. If it happens to be an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), they just refer you to the manufacturer (Hewlett Packard, IBM, Gateway, etc).

    Looking at the make and model of the largest microchip on the motherboard should give you a good start to identifying the mobo and finding the relevant drivers you need to make it work correctly.

    You might need to thank yourself after identifying the motherboard, finding the relevant drivers and getting the correct ones installed. Actually, you are lucky you are not working on a 486, it is quite a lot easier nowadays (or themdays for a 400Mhz :)) ...but you need to do the "leg work ", that is, use the internet to ID the motherboard and find the relevant drivers.

    For a start, find out what chipset you have. Everest (or maybe Sandra) in my signature might help. If you do not have the "basic" chipset drivers installed though, they may not be able to "see" other hardware running off the motherboard correctly (running the chipset correctly by installing the correct drivers willl allow all the "other" hardware to be identified by Windows or diagnostic software).

    Matt
     
    Last edited: 2007/02/27
    mattman,
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  14. 2007/03/01
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Matt,

    Downloaded Everest. Found the info for my motherboard, chipset, etc. It is an Amptron PII-3726 (M)T
    Motherboard ID 61-1013-001437-00101111-071595-ALi1621$M726MRTV1.2_RELEASE 10/13/1999 S

    Used the link to the manufacturer to look for driver. Downloading now. Should I update my American Megatrends BIOS Driver as well?

    Thanks (Everest is too cool)

    Mitch
     
    MitchellCooley,
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  15. 2007/03/01
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That depends on what is updated - take a look at these first and see if they are relevant to the computer in question. If so go ahead - with caution :)
     
    PeteC,
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  16. 2007/03/02
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    The only thing the integrated driver software told me I needed was the AGP to PCI controller (and I really don't know what that will do for me). I understand if the system is having no real problems there is no need to upgrade the BIOS. Am I correct?

    :confused:
     
    MitchellCooley,
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  17. 2007/03/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Basically that's the best course of action - if you have an AGP video card as opposed to PCI you might see some change, but if all is well on the video front pass on it.

    As I posted, BIOS upgrades are not entirely foolproof and the safest route is to pass on them unless they add a beneficial facility or update/upgrade.
     
    PeteC,
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  18. 2007/03/04
    Dytrog

    Dytrog Inactive

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    I thought if ram didn't match it ran at the lower speed of the 2. but the new ram can't exceed the existing :confused: and don't use cheap ~
     
    Last edited: 2007/03/04
    Dytrog,
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  19. 2007/03/04
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    No need to mess with it if things are going good. I stay with what I have for now.

    Thanks for the advice

    Mitch
     
    MitchellCooley,
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  20. 2007/03/06
    MitchellCooley Lifetime Subscription

    MitchellCooley Inactive Thread Starter

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    Shopping for RAM

    Thanks for all the advice folks. I am out shopping at Used Computer stores for some RAM. No since in letting usuable RAM go to waste.

    Mitch
     
    MitchellCooley,
    #19

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