Ethernet .VS. USB and RAM question...

[Guest]

#1 - I just recently got an Ethernet card from a friend. My broadband/DSL
modem has dual connect, and up till now I have been using the USB connection.
What are the advantages to using Ethernet over USB, is it faster? More Stable?

#2 - How can I find out what the max RAM my computer can handle is? So far I
have 512mb installed, and my friend gave me a 128mb stick, and I want to use
it. Is there any way of finding out? Or is the input of RAM endless?

Thanks for all your help

 

[Galen]

In Chris <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

#1 - I just recently got an Ethernet card from a friend. My
broadband/DSL modem has dual connect, and up till now I have been
using the USB connection. What are the advantages to using Ethernet
over USB, is it faster? More Stable?

#2 - How can I find out what the max RAM my computer can handle is?
So far I have 512mb installed, and my friend gave me a 128mb stick,
and I want to use it. Is there any way of finding out? Or is the
input of RAM endless?

Thanks for all your help

1) Faster and LESS likely to cause odd problems.
2) 4 GB or the max of the board. Probably anywhere from 1 to 2 GB with most
reasonably modern end-user boards. The big question is will the 128 MB stick
even fit your PC? Is it the right speed? Again, check the board's
documentation for the correct answer to question #2.

Galen

 

[Steve N.]

#1 - I just recently got an Ethernet card from a friend. My broadband/DSL
modem has dual connect, and up till now I have been using the USB connection.
What are the advantages to using Ethernet over USB, is it faster? More Stable?

Like Galen said, faster, more stable, plus you don't have to waste a USB
port that can be used for a lot of things. Ethernet does just ethernet
and is perfectly suited to it.

#2 - How can I find out what the max RAM my computer can handle is? So far I
have 512mb installed, and my friend gave me a 128mb stick, and I want to use
it. Is there any way of finding out? Or is the input of RAM endless?

What Galen said again, but adding 128MB of RAM on top of 512MB isn't
going to make much of a noticable difference in most cases anyway.

Thanks for all your help

Your welcome.

Steve

 

[Shaun]

Your DSL is slower then USB or Ethernet, which are about the same speed, but
Ethernet is less flakey.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

#1 - I just recently got an Ethernet card from a friend. My broadband/DSL
modem has dual connect, and up till now I have been using the USB connection.
What are the advantages to using Ethernet over USB, is it faster? More Stable?

If the USB connection is working well, there's probably no reason to
change to Ethernet.

If the USB connection has stability problems, change.

You shouldn't notice any difference in speed. Both USB and Ethernet
connections are faster than the fastest DSL service.

#2 - How can I find out what the max RAM my computer can handle is? So far I
have 512mb installed, and my friend gave me a 128mb stick, and I want to use
it. Is there any way of finding out? Or is the input of RAM endless?

If your computer is from a major manufacturer, go to www.crucial.com
and find your model in the Memory Advisor.

Thanks for all your help

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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