Memory Question
in [Windows 98]
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From: Daave on 11 Dec 2006 23:08 My PC is 5� years old. It's a barebones model with an EliteGroup P6SET-ML motherboard with onboard audio and video and 32 KB primary memory cache and 128 KB secondary memory cache. The CPU/SDRAM bus frequency is 66/66 MHz. It has a 500 MHz PPGA (socket 370) Celeron processor. So by today's standards, not exactly a workhorse! Still I like it enough, and although I plan on purchasing a new rig fairly soon, I'd like to keep this one. There are three memory slots, one currently occupied by a 128 MB stick of SDRAM. I'd like to add more RAM. I will either add one or two more sticks of 128 MB RAM. I priced it out and found a decent deal for $19 per stick. So... On this (admittedly limited) system running Windows 98 SE, should I stop at 256 MB RAM or would 384 MB make an even more noticeable difference? -- Dave
From: "MEB" meb@not on 11 Dec 2006 23:47 PER Manual http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downloads/ProductsDetail_Download.aspx?DetailID=100&DetailName=Manual&DetailDesc=P6SET-ML(V1.4)&MenuID=0&LanID=9: The board has three DIMM slots for the installation of 168-pin, 3.3V standard or registered SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory modules. The system supports memory that has built- in error correction (EC), error correction code (ECC), or has no error correction. .... You can install one, two or three modules. Each memory module can hold a maximum capacity of 256 MB of standard SDRAM chips so maximum memory capacity is 768 MB. .... Install the Memory Modules For this mainboard, you must use 168-pin 3.3V non-buffered Dual In-line Memory Modules (DIMMs). The memory chips must be standard or registered SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory). .... SETUP SDRAM CAS Latency Default: 3T SDRAM WR Retire Rate Default: X-1-1-1 These two items set the timing and wait states for SDRAM memory. We recommend that you leave these items at the default value. --- END So the potential issues lay with the present memory and its compatibility with the new chip(s). Timing and speed are crucial with the newer memory modules you will be purchasing. Make sure the modules are compatible as well. Check the BIOS for present timings, ECC support, etc. also check the present module "chip" configuration. Check the memory sticker / labeling of the present module on the Internet for cross compatibility with the intended purchase. After installation, re-start to Safe mode first for a reset of the system and Registry for the extra memory. If any problems noted, check back here. -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com/ BLOG http://peoplescounsel.spaces.live.com/ Public Notice or the "real world" "Most people, sometime in their lives, stumble across truth. Most jump up, brush themselves off, and hurry on about their business as if nothing had happen." Winston Churchill Or to put it another way: Morpheus can offer you the two pills; but only you can choose whether you take the red pill or the blue one. _______________ "Daave" <dcwashNOSPAM(a)myrealboxXYZ.invalid> wrote in message news:DOmdnbLm9oFWt-PYnZ2dnUVZ_u2mnZ2d(a)cavtel.net... | My PC is 5� years old. It's a barebones model with an EliteGroup | P6SET-ML motherboard with onboard audio and video and 32 KB primary | memory cache and 128 KB secondary memory cache. The CPU/SDRAM bus | frequency is 66/66 MHz. It has a 500 MHz PPGA (socket 370) Celeron | processor. | | So by today's standards, not exactly a workhorse! Still I like it | enough, and although I plan on purchasing a new rig fairly soon, I'd | like to keep this one. | | There are three memory slots, one currently occupied by a 128 MB stick | of SDRAM. | | I'd like to add more RAM. I will either add one or two more sticks of | 128 MB RAM. I priced it out and found a decent deal for $19 per stick. | | So... | | On this (admittedly limited) system running Windows 98 SE, should I stop | at 256 MB RAM or would 384 MB make an even more noticeable difference? | | -- | Dave | |
From: Daave on 12 Dec 2006 00:14 MEB wrote: > PER > Manual > http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downloads/ProductsDetail_Download.aspx?DetailID=100&DetailName=Manual&DetailDesc=P6SET-ML(V1.4)&MenuID=0&LanID=9: Wow. That was thorough. And fast! Actually, I have the manual and understand everything in your post. I'm aware that my system is capable of a total of 768 MB RAM. I guess I'm curious as how much memory is used by other users of 98 SE. For some reason, I was thinking that 256 MB was a decent amount. I was even thinking of going as high as 384. Hell, I'll go whole hog and go for the max of 768; it's just that I don't want to get to the point of overkill--I ain't running XP! So... how much RAM do others use? Also... Perhaps I should also upgrade the processor to a Pentium III? Thoughts? TIA. -- Dave
From: thanatoid on 12 Dec 2006 00:36 "Daave" <dcwashNOSPAM(a)myrealboxXYZ.invalid> wrote in news:usK8pwaHHHA.1008(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl: <SNIP> > I guess I'm curious as how much memory is used by other > users of 98 SE. For some reason, I was thinking that 256 MB > was a decent amount. I was even thinking of going as high > as 384. Hell, I'll go whole hog and go for the max of 768; > it's just that I don't want to get to the point of > overkill--I ain't running XP! > > So... how much RAM do others use? > > Also... > > Perhaps I should also upgrade the processor to a Pentium > III? Thoughts? I thought 256MB RAM was the maximum Win98SE could use, but it has been pointed out to me that is a myth. Since 256 is what I happen to have and my machine works fine, I see no point in getting more. Memory being as cheap as you say, I'm sure moving to a total of 512 would not hurt, but 768 would be pointless IMO. AFA upgrading processors, from my (limited) personal experience, a system works best as originally configured. Changing something as crucial as the processor or BIOS can cause more problems than anything else. IOW, (especially) if you'll be getting another system in the foreseeable future, I wouldn't bother. I am doing this on a 9 year old 166MMX with 64 MB of RAM, BTW. -- Violent disagreements and the usual abuse expected and welcomed.
From: Gary S. Terhune on 12 Dec 2006 04:04
It depends on what you're doing with the machine. If you ever deal with large images, or editing images of any size, or video or sound editing/playback, then the more RAM you have, the better. The standard way to judge whether you need more RAM is to use System Monitor's "Swap file in use" monitoring. System Monitor is a System Tool and usually needs to be installed via Add/Remove Programs => Windows Components tab. If "swap file in use" consistently or even just often measures more than 10 - 20 MB, then you could make good use of more RAM. Make sure to give your system a good workout while monitoring, leaving stuff open while you try other things, playiing a video or listening to quality music while scrolling through a folder full of images, or editing images with something like IrfanView, creating an album of photos, etc. Still, at $19 a pop, I'd go ahead and fill that baby up. Note that Win98 can make decent use of RAM totalling up to 1 GB. That's the max. However, some tweaks are required for using more than 512 MB. At or under 512 MB, the only limiting factor is the hardware, and don't trust the hardware's specs to match reality. Just becasue it *says* it can handle 768 MB doesn't make it so. -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://grystmill.org/articles/cleanboot.htm http://grystmill.org/articles/security.htm Daave wrote: > My PC is 5� years old. It's a barebones model with an EliteGroup > P6SET-ML motherboard with onboard audio and video and 32 KB primary > memory cache and 128 KB secondary memory cache. The CPU/SDRAM bus > frequency is 66/66 MHz. It has a 500 MHz PPGA (socket 370) Celeron > processor. > > So by today's standards, not exactly a workhorse! Still I like it > enough, and although I plan on purchasing a new rig fairly soon, I'd > like to keep this one. > > There are three memory slots, one currently occupied by a 128 MB stick > of SDRAM. > > I'd like to add more RAM. I will either add one or two more sticks of > 128 MB RAM. I priced it out and found a decent deal for $19 per stick. > > So... > > On this (admittedly limited) system running Windows 98 SE, should I > stop at 256 MB RAM or would 384 MB make an even more noticeable > difference? |