PC questions - Ram and Motherboard sockets....
Turbo Mini Forums

So then, here is a few pics of my motherboard. Firstly - I understand 256mb of Ram is not enough for DSL - I need at least double that.
So - Can i buy a 512mb and add it to the other slots and it'll work just fine? Does the PC2100 cl2.5 code on the current Ram have any meaning towards the type of ram i should get? Any idea on the maximum Ram that m otherboard will take (having seen how cheap 1GB of Ram is) etc, etc, etc...

Finally - I recognice the PCi slots that the existing dial-up modem is sat in - but what's the name of the brown slot the graphics card is sat in?

Ok, some of this is really obvious - but not to a PC illiterate monkey like myself, so no comedy please!

Dave

You are correct that the PC2100 is meaningful.
It refers to the speed that the memory operates at.
An additional 256mb of PC2100 shouldn't be too expensive.
Can't advise on the max RAM that the board will take without a part number for the board.
Socket that the Graphics card is in is AGP.
Faster throughput than the older PCI slot but slower than the new PCI-Express interface.

Cheers GTM.

I'll see what I can find on the 'board' tonight. I think i still have the booklet for it somewhere - i'll find it tonight and report back.

Do you think I'd see much more of a gain (enough to warrant the cost) if I did go to 1gb or more of Ram with the High-speed DSL?
Also - I'm assuming this is 184pin DDR? I've noticed some 200pin stuff advertised on ebay...

Edited by turbodave16v on 7th Sep, 2005.

Dave the code on the ram does indicate what type it is. The CL is the latency/timing, the pc2100 relates to its bus speed. 2100 = a ram bus speed of 266mhz.

In theory you could add any stick of ddr ram that is 266(pc2100) or faster in the other slot, however it may not work (unlikely but possible)

I recomend branded ram as it tends to be more reliable.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...oduct_uid=55907

This should be perfect and its an american website.

The brown slot is called an AGP slot, designed specifically for graphics cards.

someone beat me too it!

Do you really need a gig of ram dave??

I have a gig in this machine and even intence games dont use the benefits of it. 512 for an internet/general machine is more than enough in my opinion.

Dan

Also note that most boards prefer the biggest RAM in the primary slot(s), and smaller in the secondary slot(s). You should be able to go to your motherboard manufacturer's site and get a manual that will show you how much RAM your board will take, and what the configuration of that RAM should be.

On AGP, I actually have not had a lot of luck with that. I have an AGP slot in my computer, but my PCI graphics card actually runs better/faster than the same card in AGP format. Of course, that could be due to the motherboard itself, and not the card or the format... It's all about the architecture, man!

**************************************
1967 Cooper 's' Turbo build @ www.drjing.com

Dan - The e-buyer link is wrong?

hmmm, go to www.ebuyer.com then select the american site.

Once inside you can use the quick codes in the search box to find the items.

Kingston 512meg appropriate speed stick: 55907

Crucial 256meg appropriate speed stick: 69462

I'm 99% certain that you could stick either of these in without any problems.


They give you 3 dimms, so they have planned for quite a bit of expansion - so im sure you motherboard can take an extra stick or 2

Firstly - I understand 256mb of Ram is not enough for DSL - I need at least double that.


I got 256 on 2mb broadband......Is that why its slow

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!

I'll be getting 3mb DSL - Someone informed me that the ram will be the seriously limiting factor, especially if I'm downloading / opening one window whilst trying to open another...

i haven'yt a +
bloody clue what any one above has just said . complete dutch to me .
i thought RAM was made by Dodge.

carl

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

i thought DSL was a linux distribution.

anyways, your comp will run fine with the 256, but if you add another 256 or 512 the difference will be night and day.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

I think it's more likely you need more ram to run your operating system. With windows XP the more the merrier.

DSL - digital subscriber link. Unless you want to get really techie it's another name for broadband.

I'm with Carl on this. I cannot understand anything at all :)

dave did you get my mail?

Team Racing

Increasing the RAM (Random Access Memory) on the board will improve the speed that the machine runs at as it will be capable of completing tasks quicker and running multiple tasks simultaneously.
It's a bit like increasing boost pressure though in as much as it will only provide benefits up to a certain point.
There will be other limiting factors.
A network (or in this case a broadband link) is only as quick as its slowest section.
512mb RAM will provide improvements but don't expect too much.

Ahhh. You've got to translate all this into Cm3, boost and 1/4" times, then we'd understand.

So, Dave is swapping for a 1380 with higher boost to get the 1/4 times lower right?

PC2100 is a T35 at a guess?

So The question about

You've got it Vegard.
Although the PCs function is to get onto the Internet so that means a 3mb broadband line is like a set of Yokohamas.
Not yet got to the wrinkle walled slicks stage yet!!

Agree with the above.
Maximum memory that the board will take will improve the speed that the Operating System and Programs run at.
However, there are other factors (CPU) some beyond our control which will affect the speed of Internet Traffic (contention ratios).
It comes down to expectations.
If you are expecting Local Area Network speeds of access then you will be disappointed.
If you have used a dial up connection and move to Broadband then the difference is noticable.
If you increase the speed of Broadband (from 1mb to 2mb) then the differences are less noticable.
Increasing the RAM in Dave's PC is likely to make an improvement to general running as well as Internet Access!

Ok, from the book here is some info:

the motherboard is a GA-7DxR+/GA-7DX+ (whatever that is!)

The memory section under features summary says:
supports PC1600DDR or PC2100DDR SDRAM
Supports up to 3GB DRAM (max)
Supports only 2.5v DDR SDRAM
Supports 64bit EEC type Dram integrity mode
????????????????????????????????????????????



So, 256MB of Ram is dirt cheap. It seems the motherboard has lots of scope for upgrading at least...
512MB of Ram is still plenty cheap enough.

If i just get one 512 and bang it in the primary slot, with the 256 in the secondary, will that work just fine?

As an idea of what i'll be doing - the PC will likely be streaming to the UK radio stations whenever it is on (US radio is pants). I'll also be using XXXXX (name withheld for obvious reasons) CAD software on it (the reason it has a fancy graphics card) and/or word/excell.
And of course, the occasional surfing oft' net. So not too much use really.

Edited by turbodave16v on 8th Sep, 2005.

Now CAD is a different matter altogether.
Recently upgraded a couple of PCs at work to run Pro-E v.2.
Similar spec to your machine really.
Beefy graphics card (AGP like yours) but we increased the RAM to 1Gb.
If your board will take 3Gb then this will be more than enough for everything you want to do.
It is just a matter of how much money you wish to spend to get that extra performance.
Personally I would get 1Gb but that's easy to say because it isn't my money I'm spending.
That 1Gb could be 2 x 512mb or 1 x 1Gb chips.
You could then try the existing 256mb additional if you so desire.
The board is already running the faster of the 2 memory types that it will support so more of the same is required.
Consider that the more applications you have open at any time the less available memory you have for processing info.
e.g. Don't open 5 applications and expect a 3D model to animate easily if you only have 256mb RAM.

Hope this helps!

Dave, buy a 1GB dimm, it will be better to upgrade in the future, there only cheap these days, and I know your loaded

Team Racing

Also, not always wise to mix and match RAM from different companies- some mobo's don't like it.

Other things to bear in mind, is clear all the chaff out of the system. It's amazing how an older system can run like a rocket ship when you strip it down- kinda like lightening your mini!

Andy