Adding memory to an older machine

I have an older computer - Gateway GP6-300, with a Pentium II running at 300 mHz, and 64 MB of RAM. I'd like to add more memory to it. I've found 128 MB memory DIMMs for under $30, but I needed to know whether they were PC100 or PC133. When I contacted Gateway, they said that this machine cannot use either of those - it takes only "4-clock SDRAM ", and they can sell me 128 MB for $75! But several of the online vendors of PC100/PC133 modules claim that these are "100% compatible ". (And nobody seems to be selling 4-clock memory at a discount... or at all.) What's the story here, anyway?

Thanks...

 

I've never had a problem ordering what the memory configurator on outpost.com pulls up. For you, it recommends a 128MB PC100 DIMM, for $38. Maybe what Gateway is saying is that the 2 types of memory are not compatible with each other?

 

The Gateway rep said that my computer "wouldn't see" PC100 memory - she didn't seem to be talking about mixing the two types. This is a pretty old machine, purchased over four years ago, and one of the last that shipped with Windows 95 installed. (My son bought his computer a few months later, and his was one of the first shipped with Windows 98.) Anyway, the information from Gateway left me confused. That's what I'm trying to get straightened out here: CAN I use PC100 memory, despite what the Gateway tech said, or do I have to buy the older, harder-to-find, more expensive 4-clock memory?

 

acelightening

You might take a look here at what Crucial Configurator has to say bout your Gateway.

 

I have at least one older Gateway mboard that has PC100 Ram in it. It's a Pentium II 300 as well. The FSB for the 300 was 66Mhz which is probably the speed of RAM that gateway is trying to sell you. The memory modules that are on the Mboard are CAS 2 100 Mhz and it's worked without fail for the last couple of years.

My understanding with SDRAM has been that you can usually make it run slower but don't count on pushing it faster. I've got several systems with 100 or 133 MHz CAS 2 RAM in it simply becuase I wasn't willing to pay the money that the OEM wanted for their specific RAM.

I've only had problems with one and that was attributed to a bad moduel as a replacemnet module worked fine.

I did tech support for an OEM once. It was an outsourch tech support provider - two weeks of training and you're on the phones let loose on the trusting consumers who call you. Now, there are a lot of very intelligent people who do technical support for PC makers, but don't always assume that the person you're talking to is one of them.

Most of the major retail SDRAM that you see now (PNY, Kingston, etc) state that their modules will work on slower boards. PNYs 133 modules state they'll work on 100 and 66 MHz boards as well. I've never had any problems with them.

As long as it's a known-brand of memory and not a shady retailler I'd think I'd try the 3rd party $30 RAM you mentioned.

Gary

 

bobmc32, that's a very useful site - I might even wind up buying my memory from them. Thanks!

iceolated, the Gateway rep wasn't trying to sell me a whole new computer - just their brand of 4-clock memory, at three times the price of PC100 memory. If a cheap, commonly available module will work, I'll definitely use it! Thanks to you also!

 

acelightning - I've never shopped around cause I've been pleased with the product and the service of several "buys" from Crucial. 2nd day air free is good 'specially if order early in the week. All IMHO. The site is good and easy to use, too. Good luck to you.

 

I've gone ahead and ordered a standard 128 MB memory module - it should be here by the end of the week. Since I just installed a second hard drive on this old machine (20 GB, in addition to the original 8 GB drive), with more memory, I'll be able to upgrade the O/S from WIn95 to something a little better supported... maybe Windows 2000 Professional, since there's a legitimate copy of it just lying around here, unused. (Long story.)
Anyway, thanks, everyone, for your help!

 

GTW Mem

Everyone was on the right track.

Crucial is the retail outlet for Micron memory - Which is what was shipped in your system OEM from GTW.

Older PC100 and some top name brand mem has the codes in the SPD EEprom to allow the mother board to recognize the mem and set the required timings. - This is like a kickdown - allowing some faster mem to run 'underclocked' for compatability.

The key is in that eeprom (Serial Presence Detect) - if the code reported to the MBD is not one it understands then your system may not POST (Power On Self Test).

PC100 was just a Buzz word Until Intel published the standards required for the 440BX chipset which would support a 100MHZ FSB. A large portion of memory sold in the early days was not true PC100.

The (OutSourced) GTW tech was currect in saying you need 4clk CAS2 mem, and what you get from Micron/Crucial should work perfectly.

If you need more specific info email me with that systems S/N and I can give you exact specs and P/N's

But just for Giggles, I'd say you have a 4000286 MBD, a STB Velocity 128 4Mb AGP card, and a TelePath X2 56K modem with system cd v2.8