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| Thread ID: 30502 | 2003-02-21 06:53:00 | Memory upgrade question ... when is 256Mb only 128Mb?? | Rod J (451) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 122911 | 2003-02-21 06:53:00 | Hi all, I've just completed a memory upgrade for a friend's PC (Celeron 600, was 64Mb ram, 10Gb hard drive, almost 3 year's old). The lady bought a 256Mb DIMM from a reputable computer store. The sticker on the ram said it was 256Mb ram. I installed it in slot 1 first with the original 64Mb in socket 0 (hoping we might have 320Mb total) but it only recognised 64Mb. So I took out the 64Mb and put the 256Mb in socket 0. But, hello(?) it only comes up with 128Mb in the BIOS and WinME. So I phone the shop to find out what's the story. Well, the person told me that because the computer is a few years old it can't recognise the full 256Mb because the newer ram chips are "denser", but it will work fine as 128Mb. I could order older ram (more suitable for this PC) but it would take a while to arrive and cost a bit more. Well, I've been around computers for a while now but this answer puzzled me. It sounds plausible or am I being misled? |
Rod J (451) | ||
| 122912 | 2003-02-21 06:58:00 | you would have to look up the info for the motherboard to be sure but i thinks you are getting taken for a ride. | robsonde (120) | ||
| 122913 | 2003-02-21 09:09:00 | I think it has something to do with being 8 or 16 chip, whatever you bought you may need the other. I had the same thing happen to me on my older system with ME, but I think it depends on the age of the motherboard, just take it back and exchange it for the other. Some one else should be able to elaborate on this. | Danger (287) | ||
| 122914 | 2003-02-21 09:29:00 | I think its a case of "single bank" and "double bank" slots on the motherboard. Tweak'e would be the expert | godfather (25) | ||
| 122915 | 2003-02-21 09:53:00 | Rod J It is most likely that the RAM stick you have is having 'chips' on both sides. I understand that older systems may not support RAM sticks with chips on both sides and it recognises only one side, i.e. 128 MB. Cheers |
bk T (215) | ||
| 122916 | 2003-02-21 09:59:00 | I know this isnt what your looking for but, don't bother having 320mb of ram, use only 256 max in WinME. The way it is designed, more than 256mb Ram actually slows the OS down. Crazy I know, but 256 is optimal. Just for the record, Win98's optimal amount is 128mb. |
joefish (3209) | ||
| 122917 | 2003-02-21 10:08:00 | dunno about expert. roughly put, each ram slot has 2 banks. motherboards usually have a limit on how much ram they will reconise on each bank. also some like faster or bigger ram stick in the first/last slot so often it pays to swap the ram about a bit. i understand that it possible to use registered ram to get around the size limits ?:| can anyone confirm or deny ? the other thing is useing no-name ram. i personaly can't vouch for this but from read i understand ram sticks have a "chip" that has the specs of the ram in it. the motherboard can read it and set the ram timings. however if it dosn't have this info (cheapo ram) the mobo has to guess what speed to run it. obviously you can have problems if you mix and match cheapo ram. |
tweak'e (174) | ||
| 122918 | 2003-02-21 10:11:00 | I know this isnt what your looking for but, don't bother having 320mb of ram, use only 256 max in WinME. The way it is designed, more than 256mb Ram actually slows the OS down. Crazy I know, but 256 is optimal. Just for the record, Win98's optimal amount is 128mb. Love to hear that expanded,I mwan what is optimum for XP? |
Thomas (1820) | ||
| 122919 | 2003-02-21 10:14:00 | > I know this isnt what your looking for but, don't > bother having 320mb of ram, use only 256 max in > WinME. The way it is designed, more than 256mb Ram > actually slows the OS down. Crazy I know, but 256 is > optimal. > > Just for the record, Win98's optimal amount is 128mb. bollocks!! thats an old wifes tale. you don't run into problems untill you get over 512. 2gig is possible but if you need 2 gig of ram you proberly wouldn't be useing win9x/me anyway. as far as optimall goes it all comes down to speed per $$$$$. it used to be 196 meg but the price has dropped in half since then. the 2 pc's i have here run win98se one with 256meg and the other 512meg. |
tweak'e (174) | ||
| 122920 | 2003-02-21 10:21:00 | Question is,is there a noticeable difference between the two ramages? Sorry to introduce technical terms. |
Thomas (1820) | ||
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