RAM TROUBLE!!!!!!

[mostly486]

I recently bought a 64MB RAM modual(16x32)for my P120 computer and the BIOS reads at as 8000K or sometimes only 7808K!Can you help me?Also,it wont go into Win98 or sometimes just frezzes at the BIOS.

[hd581]

What kind of mobo is it?
I've seen systems behave that way when they can't take PC100 RAM.

[mostly486]

I dont know what mobo means,but its not pc100 RAM,its 72 pin SIMM RAM.

[wtp]

did u try putting ur old RAM back on?? and what kind was your older one? more info please http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

wtp http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[mostly486]

Yes i did,and it worked.The old kind was four 4MB RAM moduals(sad,i know).

[wtp]

ok, first of all, are u combining the two RAMs? and what kind of RAM does your mobo support, some motherboards i know only uses DIMM, and some uses SIMM, some EDO.

[mostly486]

I only have 72 pin SIMM,nothing like 30 pin+72 pin simm.for some reason it had two normal moduals and two EDO.

[jadison]

mobo = motherboard

Are u running Win98 1st or 2nd edition, You might have bad RAM, also check to make sure everything is inserted correctly, and the new RAM chips aren't damaged in any way

Give as much more info. as possible

-jd-

[Target]

Hope you don't take offense to this....but in your post you said you purchased a 64mb RAM modual.... I take that to mean that you bought a single stick. 72pin SIMM RAM in pentium systems needs to be installed in pairs. If you only have the one, that will go a long way in explaining your issues.

[LJE2]

Target is absolutly correct, on a Pentium motherboard that uses 72 pin simms, they must be installed in pairs (except in some proprietary systems such as some Packard Bells ect.) When Intel upgraded to the Pentium from the 486 they created a 64 bit Memory Bus, a 72 pin simm module is only 32 bits, therefore they must be installed in pairs, except in some rare instances (such a Packard Bell, and a few others), that had proprietary motherboards that used a special bus that took 32 bits of data from the simm and then waited for the next clock cycle to get 32 more bits of data from the simm and then sent this information down the 64 bit Memory bus. I was kinda slow, but it was cheaper, that was Packard Bell's way.

Many Pentium motherboards only allowed single, sided simms, in certain slots, or double sided simms in certain slots, there was also a limitation as far as size of the module im Megabytes that could be put in certain slots.

There were also size limitations as far as total amount of RAM you could put it certain motherboards. Most p120 systems came with 8 M of RAM, 16 at best. 32M was a lot of RAM back then 64M was only for the rich. I had a brand new P133, it came with 16M of RAM, I bought 16M more, it cost me $400.

My point to all of this (after all my rambling) is the only way to find out what RAM is compatable with your system is to check the motherboard, or system manual.

[Win_98]

Simm are much slower then Dimm
you are comparing 60 nanosec to 8 nanosec
that is why the reading for simm was
9-4-4-4 6-3-3-3 vs
dimm 7-1-1-1 6-1-1-1
READ/WRITE timing
dimm are also much cheaper then simm
forget these ancient memory component
trade in get DIMM
oh yea one more thing
dimm are easier to install
without losing your finger nail.

sound like he has spend a fortune on those simm or just pulling our leg

[LJE2]

That was on sale at Computer City (used to be owned by Tandy, bought out by CompUSA). 4M 72 pin simms normally sold for around $150 in 1995, they were on Sale for $119, with a $20 rebate, what a bargin!

Most likely that Pentium motherboard only has 72 pin slots, no Dimm slots.

[This message has been edited by LJE2 (edited 05-19-2000).]

[Target]

LJE2....I wasn't aware of the Packard Bell (and other proprietary systemS) work around to the 2 simm deal with Pentium systems. Good info to have, thanks!

[LJE2]

mostly486
Check your manual first, to see if you can put 32M simms in the slots before you buy. If you don't have a manual find out what brand of motherboard (or computer model if you can't find that) you have, someone on this BBS should be able to find a manual, better to check before you spend anymore money.

[mostly486]

oh great!So I guess I'll be looking for two 32MB SIMMS then.(The[brand new]64MB modual only cost me $54.Buying stuff on the internet is the way to go)

[Win_98]

it look like you have to buy another 64meg module
72pin work in pair
30pin work in single, pair, quad
may as well upgrade your computer to 550mhz
k6-2 and get 500 time the performance
yes that 500
your P120 is
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K6-550
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