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"I hate computers - Help"

So I get up early for once on holidays to do history essay and geography

But wait my RAM has arrived in the post, I'll do that.

Disconnect computer, take cover off, touch radiator etc

AH there the RAM slot... about 5000 wires are in the way and is behind a metal bit which cut my hands to bit. 2 of the wires were disconnected for some reason.

So I manage to fit the RAM chip thing, put computer back together put on power.

Then it says memory error... and start-up screen is fuzzy. it's not fuzzy now but still only says 64MB

So what's up?

eh eh?

Whoever said it was easy try my computer

And don't suggest take it to SR because I live in Scotland

SHEEPY wrote:
> There are 2 slots
>
> One wasn't working for some reason
>
> My brother has emachine or something
>
> 633Mhz
>
> Would that errr work, not going to try though

Judging by the 633MHz clock speed, it sounds like the FSB would be 66MHz, which of course, will not work. Although, having a CPU clocked at this speed, and only running a 66MHz FSB would be odd.

What make/model of CPU is it. Once we know this, we could say for sure.

Dave RJR wrote:
> Did u say it only had just one RAM slot? If thats the case, you have
> an "old" machine since newer computers have more slots than
> that. With the old tech, you may also be limited to how much actual
> Ram the machine can "see". ie, today you can get 128 and
> 256Mb on a single card. But if you have a machine from the mid-late
> 90's it will probably only be able to use a maximum of say 128Mb (even
> if you could force a 256Mb card into the slot) - so don't get to
> adventures and install things like Windows XP! Not only has
> motherboard and Ram speeds changed in recent years, there have also
> been some types of Ram which have a different pin config. The kind of
> pc you have needs ram cards of 16Mb, 32Mb, or poss 64Mb. The 128Mb
> option is an outside chance. You will have to be very clear indeed (i
> know from bitter experience) on the speed, age, and number of ram
> slots your pc has when adding anything to it.


The guy is running a 433Mhz, 66Mhz FSB Celeron for peats sake!

Not cutting edge by any means, but hardly a 386 is it?

I guess you are referring to the old SIMM RAM that original Pentiums used. Well a Celeron can handle DIMM RAM no problem, he just bought RAM that was clocked to fast for his CPU – easily done if you are new to the inside of a PC.

Also, as far as I am aware, it’s the operating system that limits the about of Ram the Computer can ‘see’. Win95 could only address like 256MB of RAM, or something around that

There are 2 slots

One wasn't working for some reason

My brother has emachine or something

633Mhz

Would that errr work, not going to try though

Did u say it only had just one RAM slot? If thats the case, you have an "old" machine since newer computers have more slots than that. With the old tech, you may also be limited to how much actual Ram the machine can "see". ie, today you can get 128 and 256Mb on a single card. But if you have a machine from the mid-late 90's it will probably only be able to use a maximum of say 128Mb (even if you could force a 256Mb card into the slot) - so don't get to adventures and install things like Windows XP! Not only has motherboard and Ram speeds changed in recent years, there have also been some types of Ram which have a different pin config. The kind of pc you have needs ram cards of 16Mb, 32Mb, or poss 64Mb. The 128Mb option is an outside chance. You will have to be very clear indeed (i know from bitter experience) on the speed, age, and number of ram slots your pc has when adding anything to it.

Thanks anyway

I'm so useless me :)

SHEEPY wrote:
> I'm not jealous
>
> :P
>
> I wonder if it will work on my brothers computer
>
> How do I find out about the Pc100 thing?
>
> His is newer

The MHz clock speed of the CPU can usaully be used to determine the speed of the FSB and therefore what RAM the machine can take. Generally speaking, if the CPU MHz speed is a round number, like 450, 500 etc, then the FSB will be 100Mhz as it has to be a whole number in order of the equation with the clock multiplier to work - which it has to as it's a simple math sum.

DIMM - 128 MB RAM, 168 PIN, PC 100 MHz, SYNCHRONOUS. This DIMM is widely compatible. Please consult your motherboard manual before ordering. RAM can be fitted for you in any Special Reserve Shop. 100% backwards compatible with PC66.


Hmm, well this statement is right and wrong. Yes, PC66 RAM and PC100 RAM will work together, PROVIDING your CPU has the correct front side bus speed and your mobo will take it. Although if you have a CPU with a 100Mhz front side bus speed, the Mobo HAS TO COMPATIBLE or the two would not work together.

For example, if you had a 450MHz PII, the FSB (front side bus) would be 100MHz, so with this CPU (and compatible mobo) you could run PC66 or PC100. And you CAN combine the two types of RAM. Thus giving you a kind of backward compatibility.

You could have a 64MB DIMM of PC66 and a 64MB DIMM of PC100 installed in the same machine, however the PC100 DIMM would be forced to run at the slower speed, in this case 66MHz. You see, while they will WORK together, the computer cannot opertate 2 different RAM clock frequencies at the same time, so it has to go with the lowest common denominator, which is 66MHz.

In SR's defence i think the key line in that description is....

"Please consult your motherboard manual before ordering."

although i personally think they should also say to check what FSB your CPU has also.

Look at the RAM chip in the CPU and look in the system profile and settings within Windows. That'll show ya.

§n][pe® wrote:
> ur one of those... ppl on pc forums :p

Yes Sniper....

*looks around and asks 'whatthehell?!'*

I'm not jealous

:P

I wonder if it will work on my brothers computer

How do I find out about the Pc100 thing?

His is newer