What is RAM, type, etc.



01/23/99 at 08:24:59 PST

I'm going to buy some memory and I have a few questions I hope somebody out there will answer. 1. Do all of the slots have to be used or can I only use one or two? 2. What is better and why? EDO or SDRAM. 3. What does 8ns mean? Is a higher number or a lower number more desirable? Thank you

jsox (8) on 01/23/99 at 09:34:51 PST

I think the answers are: 1. depends on the MB. some old ones only allow one set for slots at a time to be used. but mot allow only some of a given set to be used. 2. SDRAM, I think its faster. check if your MB can use it first. 3. 8ns = 8 nanosecond cycle time. lower the better but only as long as your computer can use the speed. buying better than will be used is waste of $.

ford$wrench (25) on 01/23/99 at 10:39:56 PST

The type and arrangement of memory modules is dependent on the motherboard specifications, CPU type and compatibility. I t would be an enormous undertaking to fully describe all types and applications, but in general if you use EDO in simms modules, you have to use in pairs, Sdram is used in any arrangement, but must be supported with DIMM modules on the mother board. 8ns is 8 nano seconds and usually refers to access speed, but be extremely cautious with false claims of fast speed memory, especially here on the auction, There is no such thing as 6ns memory and 10 ns is most common. If you need more information try www.memman.com for a thorough explanation of the types and uses of all memory.

01/23/99 at 12:03:33 PST

I need some help from the knowledgeable people again. Can someone tell me what the difference is between EDO and Fast Page Memory? I've had these two memory in my son's computer and they have been working fine. I bought both of them in the past from a reputable computer store as EDO memory. I upgraded his computer with sdram and sold the two old simms on eBay. The person who bought them say they do not work in his computer. He said they will both work one at a time but they will not work in his computer at the same time. He said one must be fast page and not EDO. Could someone give me advice on this matter. Thanks,

rmorrison (21) on 01/23/99 at 12:12:05 PST

Shortstuff --I'm not the expert in this area, but I'm here now. I put in a different motherboard in my computer and put in four 8Meg simms. The computer would say that I had only 8 Megs no matter how I put them in. I know that the motherboard was functional as My son had just removed it from his for upgrade, and the simm worked while he had it. I then went back to my old motherboard and put in the 4 simms for 32 Megs. The difference was that he had had a Pentium 90 while I had a Pentium 100. Explain that one! Apparently motherboards and processors are real touchy sometimes.

Check out info on memory at www.kingston.com

What is fast page for anyway? Would both fast page and EDO work in my computer together?

rmorrison (21) on 01/23/99 at 12:32:51 PST

--I know that fast page mode is older and slower than EDO and that EDO has to be installed in pairs. Why don't you go to Kingston (http://www.kingston.com/) and look at their "Ultimate memory guide" on the right side and down the page a bit. They should be the experts.

ford$wrench (25) on 01/23/99 at 12:40:15 PST

As rmorrison pointed out, if the mother board only supports 16meg or 8 meg or whatever the spec, you can install 128 megs and it will NOT recognize but the maximum. The motherboard specs will also limit the amount of memory per slot and will only recognize properly configured memory modules for that board.

Why wouldn't the memory that had been working in the motherboard with my son's p-90 work when I installed my P-100? Same memory!

ford$wrench (25) on 01/23/99 at 12:50:42 PST

I assume the motherboards maximum memory specifications were different, the processors not having a bearing on it. If you have a motherboard with 4 simms slots and supports only 4, 8meg chips and the other board is a later board that accepts 4, 16meg chips the difference is clear. If the BIOS can be changed (flashed) to accept the upgrade it may be possible to make that change.

ford$wrench (25) on 01/23/99 at 12:56:10 PST

I think a link for memory would help greatly, as I know I have fielded numerous questions on that topic. I also recommend www.memman.com and www.mushkin.com, as they all have great FAQ sections.

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