RAM Confusion

[xElyriax]

Ok, I got myself a little confused and just need a couple of simple answers.
My sister has a PII with PC100 SD. My father wants to upgrade her from 2 64mb sticks to two 128mb sticks.
In the computer right now is SIMM, but we are tossing those when we get the new RAM. Can I put DIMM in the computer, or do I need to stick with SIMM.
Also what the heck is ECC and Non-ECC???

Thanks guys,
Elyria

 

[rwnancar]

Does not matter with a machine this old and slow. Windows 95, 98, or 3.1 will not run any faster with 256 meg instead of 128 meg.
ECC ram has error correcting and correction circuitry built in and is normally used for servers.
A better bet would to find a 233 Petium chip, if it would work for this motherboard. It would only cost a few bucks.

 

[xElyriax]

My apologies, I didn't give enough info - it's a PII 348mgz running Win XP.

 

[garebo]

Well, i would disagree with rwancar.
The difference in ram would have made that system faster and i have seen it make the difference between a program or game not running on that pc to adding the ram and now the program or game does install and run.
Plus, ram increases, within reason, almost always make a pc faster.
You dont even want to get ECC ram for a standard pc motherboard.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

On the other hand, a cpu ugrade can help too!


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[xElyriax]

Thanks for the help about the ECC Garebo, but do you know if I can put DIMM in a system that is using SIMM now? The whole thing is really confusing!!!

-Elyria

 

[rwnancar]

depends on the motherboard. Some can take both, some can only take only one kind. we meed more info. If this is a brand name machine, you can look up the type you need on line at one of the resellers or manufactures sites.

 

[cdogg]

It seems that you are confusing the meaning of SIMM and DIMM. The term DIMM doesn't mean "chips on both sides".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIMM

SIMMs were used back before the Pentium I era. As soon as Pentium I's were mainstream, just about all memory found on new PC's were DIMM's.

Therefore on a PII, you should be fine using DIMM's.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[xElyriax]

Thank you CDogg! I am just not *really* learning about computers and I asked my buddy the difference between SImm and Dimm, he told me it was about where the chips are. Seems I shouldn't ask him computer questions while he's half asleep.

-Elyria

 

[cdogg]

Yeah, and to be more specific, it's about the "contacts" on the sticks of RAM. SIMMs only have them on one side. DIMMs have them on both sides.

There are many DIMMs out there that only have "chips" on one side. I still have quite a few PC100 SDRAM sticks laying around that are that way, but since they have copper-plated contacts on both sides, they are considered DIMMs.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884