upgrading ram question

[friesian]

I'd like to upgrade the ram on mny parent's computer for Christmas.
There are 4 bays for RAM, but they are not identical. Two currently
hold pc133 256MB sticks. I believe the other 2 bays are for ddr ram.
They have a single notch, instead of the 2.

Is this motherboard set up to use two different kinds of RAM
simultaneoutsly, or is it a choice between one or the other?

 

[Darklight]

I'd like to upgrade the ram on mny parent's computer for Christmas.
There are 4 bays for RAM, but they are not identical. Two currently
hold pc133 256MB sticks. I believe the other 2 bays are for ddr ram.
They have a single notch, instead of the 2.

Is this motherboard set up to use two different kinds of RAM
simultaneoutsly, or is it a choice between one or the other?

in my experience you can only use one kind of ram and again the older kind
of ram is more expensive than the newer kind of ram example can be found
below

http://www.maplin.co.uk/searchtemplate.asp?criteria=SDDR RAM

 

[Paul]

I'd like to upgrade the ram on mny parent's computer for Christmas.
There are 4 bays for RAM, but they are not identical. Two currently
hold pc133 256MB sticks. I believe the other 2 bays are for ddr ram.
They have a single notch, instead of the 2.

Is this motherboard set up to use two different kinds of RAM
simultaneoutsly, or is it a choice between one or the other?

When they're mixed, you use one type, or the other, but not
both at the same time. You can try looking up on crucial.com,
or preferably, download a manual for the motherboard, to
get some idea what the highest density solution is.

You might have to remove the 2x256MB and use 2x512MB to take
their place. The other two slots would remain empty.

The reason they cannot be run on the same bus, is the operating
voltage for each is different. On some of those boards, there
might even be a jumper that has to be changed, if you change
over to using the other memory type. So some research is in order.
If the RAM type isn't changed, then at least you don't have to
worry about any jumper.

Paul

 

[friesian]

When they're mixed, you use one type, or the other, but not
both at the same time. You can try looking up on crucial.com,
or preferably, download a manual for the motherboard, to
get some idea what the highest density solution is.

You might have to remove the 2x256MB and use 2x512MB to take
their place. The other two slots would remain empty.

The reason they cannot be run on the same bus, is the operating
voltage for each is different. On some of those boards, there
might even be a jumper that has to be changed, if you change
over to using the other memory type. So some research is in order.
If the RAM type isn't changed, then at least you don't have to
worry about any jumper.

Paul

Thanks. That was what I was figuring. I had never heard of 2 kinds
being done at the same time, so I was surprised to see two different
types of bays., When I ran Belarc Advisor, it just listed 4 bays and
didn't say anything about them being different.

I think I will just remove the 2 x 256MB and go for 2 x 1GB sticks.
I'm going to test if the sticks from my computer work in theirs. If
so, I will buy 3 matching sticks for mine since I have an empty bay.
And then put mine in theirs. I found a good deal on craigslist, so I
will hopefully have what I need fairly soon.

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[GT]

I think I will just remove the 2 x 256MB and go for 2 x 1GB sticks.
I'm going to test if the sticks from my computer work in theirs. If
so, I will buy 3 matching sticks for mine since I have an empty bay.
And then put mine in theirs.

Post the motherboard make and model here or check on the manufacturer's
website as a machine old enough to have PC133 and DDR RAM might not take 1GB
sticks. When you buy the new RAM, or take it from another PC, try to go for
DDR as it will also be faster.

 

[Paul]

Thanks. That was what I was figuring. I had never heard of 2 kinds
being done at the same time, so I was surprised to see two different
types of bays., When I ran Belarc Advisor, it just listed 4 bays and
didn't say anything about them being different.

I think I will just remove the 2 x 256MB and go for 2 x 1GB sticks.
I'm going to test if the sticks from my computer work in theirs. If
so, I will buy 3 matching sticks for mine since I have an empty bay.
And then put mine in theirs. I found a good deal on craigslist, so I
will hopefully have what I need fairly soon.

Thanks for the quick replies.

The only kind of RAM to watch out for, in a used RAM, is 1GB DDR
high density. There really isn't any place for this stuff, but
there is a lot of this kicking around Ebay. Some who bought it by
mistake, will try to sell it onwards.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SAMSUNG-1GB-PC-...ryZ74942QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A half-ways reputable seller, will give the "compatible with" list of
chipsets. But the thing is, this isn't really good RAM, and is nothing
but trouble. After some research, I discovered it was approved by JEDEC,
but is listed specifically in Intel datasheets as an undesired type.
(Intel does not approve of x4 width chips on unbuffered modules, and
approves x8 or x16 chips. x4 chips should really be used in registered
DIMMs.)

The best way to avoid this kind of RAM, is to buy a branded RAM.
Kingston or Crucial should not be selling that format. And while
the word "Samsung" may appear in an advert for the RAM, yes, the
chips on the DIMM may be Samsung, but the DIMM maker is a
generic contract maker. The DIMM itself is unbranded. Branded
RAM manufacturers, know they should be using 64Mx8 chips,
and not 128Mx4 for this capacity of module.

Other sizes of RAM, I'd be less concerned about. There aren't
any "tricks" for 512MB DDR, for example. There is still the
possibility of some unbranded RAM, but that is a normal risk
of doing business. I've bought two lots of cheap, unbranded
RAM from local retail computer stores, only to have it fail
about 1.5 years after purchase. The warranty was for one year,
and one of the stores went out of business before I could do
anything. That was my last "bargain". So far, all the
Crucial I bought, straight from Crucial, is still working.

Paul

 

[friesian]

The only kind of RAM to watch out for, in a used RAM, is 1GB DDR
high density. There really isn't any place for this stuff, but
there is a lot of this kicking around Ebay. Some who bought it by
mistake, will try to sell it onwards.

Thanks. I actually saw an ad for high density ram, but I wasn't sure
how to determone if I could use it, so I didn't reply to that ad. The
person did say to make sure the computer can use it. Last year, I got
cheated by a guy selling desktop ram that turned out to be server ram.
It took me 3 months to find somebody willing to trade for it.
Unfortunately, I had to trade 3 x 1GB sticks for 2x 1GB sticks and 2x
512. And I could not use the 512s together with the A Gb sticks on my
computer. So, ended up giving the 512s to my nephew and still have an
empty slot on my own computer.

The ones I found are still new in the package. And if I get 3, they
will match and should work in my computer fine. Then I can use the two
matched sticks in my parent's computer. I'll check later today to make
sure they work in their computer. They had 256, and a friend gave me a
couple 256 sticks, but I was only able to use 2 total, so their
computer is not as slow as it used to be, but not fast either.

 

[CBFalconer]

.... snip ...

Thanks. I actually saw an ad for high density ram, but I wasn't
sure how to determone if I could use it, so I didn't reply to
that ad. The person did say to make sure the computer can use it.
Last year, I got cheated by a guy selling desktop ram that turned
out to be server ram. It took me 3 months to find somebody
willing to trade for it.

No such thing. However, some servers use ECC RAM, which has an
extra bit per byte (effectively) giving 72 bits for a 64 bit word,
and error correction. The extra bits are just ignored in poorer
systems that can't detect and correct the errors. Better systems
use it properly. ECC systems are virtually immune to random
errors, such as cosmic rays.

 

[bratsos22]

Yes, is two ways in the most of mobos, because the timminfs of RAM DDR
and SD-RAM is not same...
My think is to you found large mobules of RAM...

 

[DaveW]

Only one or the other.

 

[kony]

Thanks. I actually saw an ad for high density ram, but I wasn't sure
how to determone if I could use it, so I didn't reply to that ad. The
person did say to make sure the computer can use it. Last year, I got
cheated by a guy selling desktop ram that turned out to be server ram.
It took me 3 months to find somebody willing to trade for it.
Unfortunately, I had to trade 3 x 1GB sticks for 2x 1GB sticks and 2x
512. And I could not use the 512s together with the A Gb sticks on my
computer. So, ended up giving the 512s to my nephew and still have an
empty slot on my own computer.

The ones I found are still new in the package. And if I get 3, they
will match and should work in my computer fine. Then I can use the two
matched sticks in my parent's computer. I'll check later today to make
sure they work in their computer. They had 256, and a friend gave me a
couple 256 sticks, but I was only able to use 2 total, so their
computer is not as slow as it used to be, but not fast either.

Depending on what prices you find, it could be worthwhile to
replace the motherboard and CPU out of one of these systems
and buy a DDR2 based board, processor, and memory. That way
the older slower system is replaced with something faster
and the cost is offset by the lower cost of DDR2 memory.
For example a socket AM2 board can be found for under $40
after rebate at Newegg.com, processors for it starting
around $40, and around $40 after rebates for 2GB of memory.

 

[friesian]

:

... snip ...


No such thing. However, some servers use ECC RAM, which has an
extra bit per byte (effectively) giving 72 bits for a 64 bit word,
and error correction. The extra bits are just ignored in poorer
systems that can't detect and correct the errors. Better systems
use it properly. ECC systems are virtually immune to random
errors, such as cosmic rays.

It was registered ram, and everybody here on this group told me that
that it was intended for servers, and that is why my computer would
only beep. The guy who traded for it had a server, and the memory
worked fine in it. The ram was definitely not intended for desktops as
the seller had advertised. I wish my computer would have ignored the
extra chip. Then I could have used it instead of waiting 3 months
since I coudln't sell it with a honest description of it.