how do i work out what ram i need to buy?

[AW]

okay, i want to add ram to my computer. but, i don't know what type i need to buy.
how do i work this out?

[Rat]

You can go to www.Crucial.com (http://www.Crucial.com) and use their tool (in fact it's the only way to get a price from them) You just put in the info they ask for and it will tell you what RAM your system uses.

Rat...

[Roy]

Tell us more about your machine. Do you know it's brand? If it's a "clone" do you know what motherboard it uses?

When it first starts up, there likely is a black screen with some white type. Press pause and note all the numbers and other designations. Maybe we can figure it out from there.

[AW]

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ecs/ecs/p5tx-bpro/p5tx-bpro.htm

that's the motherboard

the only useful looking info at startup was this:
EDO DRAM at Row(s): NONE
SDRAM at Row(s): 1 3

[Rat]

K, it looks like you got two DIMMS in now using all the available slots. My suggestion is to get either a 128 MB Dimm or a 64 MB DIMM (which ever you can afford and pull out one of the Ram modules you cirrently have in there now and put the new RAM in it's place. You can get a 128 stick for about $70 shipped right now.

Rat...

[AW]

so, it has to be a 168pin DIMM, or a 72pin SIMM

something like this:
PQI 64Mb SDRAM 8ns PC100 168p
168 pin DIMM
?

btw, what's the PC100 mean?

[AW]

i've found another price, and it's alot cheaper, but it says:

64MB PC133 SDRAM 168pin (HY/MT)

so, what's the (hy/mt) for, and does it matter that this one is pc133?

[Rat]

You have 168 pin DIMM's in now. Also, DIMM's are far cheaper than SIMM's. SIMM's are old style RAM. Now, the PC100 and PC133 describe how fast the RAM can run. The system you have now likely runs on a 66mghz bus, this means that you can use a DIMM that runs at 66+ mghz. A PC133 can run at 133mghz with no problems (You don't need this speed for your CURRENT computer, but it will be good in a newer system should you get one). Basically speaking, PC133 is backwards compatible to your system as is the PC100 (100mghz). Either one will work in your system, personally at this point, I'd get tye PC133 for in case you get a newer system.

The HY/MT, I know nothing about....sorry.

Rat....

[AW]

thanks http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[AW]

WAIT! one more thing. so, i can get two 128mb dimms and replace my two old 16mb dimms. this will take it to the maximum amount of ram that the mother board will take, but all the simms will be empty. does this matter?
and, can i just add one 128mb dimm at a time?

[phecky]

Yes, no and yes. Either use paired simms or one or two dimms but not both at the same time.

[Rat]

You can add one DIMM at a time; you can pull one 16 and leave the other in and add the 128 to give you 144 until you buy the other 128 DIMM. SIMM sometimes have to be installed in pairs, since you will not be using SIMMS (you can't use SIMMs and DIIMs together), you need not worry of this fact. And yes, your system will be maxed with 256MB of RAM.

Rat...

[AW]

ahhhhhhhh, that helps. thanks again