Hopefully a simple question about RAM

bugs · 01-11-2007, 10:11 PM

1st post alert...

I've read the sticky post about RAM and also browsed the first few pages of threads in this section but could not find the answer to my questions.

I have a rather old PC housing an Asus A7A266 motherboard with 2 x 256mb of memory. The processor is an AMD Athlon 1.4mhz.

Question 1
Is there any value in upgrading the memory from the current 512mb to 1gb (2 x 512mb)?

Question 2
The user guide states, under Main Memory...
"Maximum 2GB Support
3 SDR DIMM Sockets (max 3GB)
2 DDR DIMM Sockets (max 2GB)
PC2100 / PC1600 DDR and PC133 SDR memory support

Am I to understand that DDR is better than SDR and that I PC2100 is better than PC1600? That being the case I have to find 2 x 512MB PC2100 DDR memory?

Question 3
Forgotten what I was going to ask...

Just came back to me... My wife's PC has an "Advance 10F" motherboard and 1mhz processor. The guide says it it has 3 x 168-pin 3.3V 100/133MHz DIMM sockets and supports PC100/PC133 SDRAM and VCM(VC133)SDRAM. Supports STR(Suspend to RAM. The largest total memory is up to 1.5GB.
Doesn't sound as though I'd be able to put the memory from my PC in to hers?

Thanks in advance for your help.

**The_Other_One** · 01-11-2007, 10:21 PM

Yay, I loved those processors. Though, it's 1.4GHz

Anyway, I'm sure you'd notice some improvment if you upgraded to 1GB. You could definetly disable the swap file(uses a portion of your hard drive as RAM) which should really speed things up for you. Not always recomended by some people, but I do it

When I had an Athlon 1.4GHz, I ran 512MB PC133 RAM and it was pretty fair. If you want the best performace, you do want PC2100. You should also be able to go to PC2700 or PC3200(any DDR speed) They are suppose to be backwards compatable, but with an older motherboard, you don't always know how compatable it'll be.

bugs · 01-11-2007, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the swift reply. I went in search of the swap file that you make reference to. Whilst digging around I found a setting under Memory Usage that said "By Default the computer is set to use the greater share of memory to run your programs." followed by two radio buttons, offering to "Adjust for best performance of Programs (first radio button) or System Cache (second radio button)."

It was set to "System Cache" (before I changed it to Programs), but I am left wondering about this setting and how best to set it?

Thanks again.

01-11-2007, 10:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
bugs New Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10	Hopefully a simple question about RAM 1st post alert... I've read the sticky post about RAM and also browsed the first few pages of threads in this section but could not find the answer to my questions. I have a rather old PC housing an Asus A7A266 motherboard with 2 x 256mb of memory. The processor is an AMD Athlon 1.4mhz. Question 1 Is there any value in upgrading the memory from the current 512mb to 1gb (2 x 512mb)? Question 2 The user guide states, under Main Memory... "Maximum 2GB Support 3 SDR DIMM Sockets (max 3GB) 2 DDR DIMM Sockets (max 2GB) PC2100 / PC1600 DDR and PC133 SDR memory support Am I to understand that DDR is better than SDR and that I PC2100 is better than PC1600? That being the case I have to find 2 x 512MB PC2100 DDR memory? Question 3 Forgotten what I was going to ask... Just came back to me... My wife's PC has an "Advance 10F" motherboard and 1mhz processor. The guide says it it has 3 x 168-pin 3.3V 100/133MHz DIMM sockets and supports PC100/PC133 SDRAM and VCM(VC133)SDRAM. Supports STR(Suspend to RAM. The largest total memory is up to 1.5GB. Doesn't sound as though I'd be able to put the memory from my PC in to hers? Thanks in advance for your help. Last edited by bugs; 01-11-2007 at 10:18 PM.

01-11-2007, 10:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,307	Yay, I loved those processors. Though, it's 1.4GHz Anyway, I'm sure you'd notice some improvment if you upgraded to 1GB. You could definetly disable the swap file(uses a portion of your hard drive as RAM) which should really speed things up for you. Not always recomended by some people, but I do it When I had an Athlon 1.4GHz, I ran 512MB PC133 RAM and it was pretty fair. If you want the best performace, you do want PC2100. You should also be able to go to PC2700 or PC3200(any DDR speed) They are suppose to be backwards compatable, but with an older motherboard, you don't always know how compatable it'll be. __________________ Urban De-Development * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2048M RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT * C2D T5250 \| 2048M RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100 * G4 1.33GHz \| 512M RAM \| 40G HD \| Radeon 9200

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01-11-2007, 10:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
bugs New Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks for the swift reply. I went in search of the swap file that you make reference to. Whilst digging around I found a setting under Memory Usage that said "By Default the computer is set to use the greater share of memory to run your programs." followed by two radio buttons, offering to "Adjust for best performance of Programs (first radio button) or System Cache (second radio button)." It was set to "System Cache" (before I changed it to Programs), but I am left wondering about this setting and how best to set it? Thanks again.