Can any of you clever people please advise me on this one? I run Win98SE at
266Mhz on P2 with board MS-6118 but only boards MS-6117 & MS-6119 are listed for
some unknown reason on Dabs.com memory selector and other selectors. There is a vast range of
memory available so I have to get it spot on for it to work in my machine.
I got this printout from running aida32ee_375 system properties tool:
Memory Properties
Bus Type SDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 66Mhz
Effective Clock 66Mhz
Bandwidth 532MB/s

This information is from the motherboard manual:
Main Memory
Supports 6 memory banks using three 168-pin unbuffered DIMM.
Supports a maximun memory size of 768MB for EDO and 384MB for SDRAM.
Supports ECC (Error Check Correct) and EC (Multiple bit Error Correction)
function.
Supports 3.3V Extended Data Output (EDO) and SDRAM DIMM.

Memory Bank Configuration
The mainboard supports a maximum of 768MB of memory for EDO and 384MB for
SDRAM.
It provides three 168-pin unbuffered DIMMs sockets.
It supports 8MB to 256MB DIMM memory module.
The memory module can either be SDRAM or EDO (Extended Data Output) mode
DRAM.

Obviously I am looking for the cheapest option so could could anyone please
offer advice as to EXACTLY what memory I need to upgrade or recommend an
internet shop that has the exact specification of memory I need.
Many Thanks
Totally Baffled from Leeds UK
:( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Sorry should have said 128MB memory installed and I want to upgrade to 256MB.
Totally Baffled from Leeds (UK):( :( :( :( :(

Ok I think that the MS-6118 motherboard has been discontinued I have found a mention of it on the manufacturers website but they are not selling that board. You should get the Belarc Advisor from Crucial technology, this will tell you exactly what you are using. Posts the full results here and we should be able to find you the RAM you need.

Click here for the Belarc Advisor Download (http://www.belarc.com/Programs/Crucial/uk/advisor.exe)

Hi andy,

I really think you will be fine buying any pc66 or pc100 sdram of good quality. Get a 128MB stick of pc66 or pc100 sdram from your favorite dealer and I think you'll be all set.

HERE (http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/manual/mnu/spt_mnu_detail.php?UID=308) is a link to the manual for your motherboard. Check it out. It should have all the info you need.

:)

I agree with Steve . The only worry would be if your present memory is ECC or not. Mixing ECC with non-ECC memory could result in parity errors. Have you pulled your stick of memory and checked the label or sticker on it? Specifically if it says ECC, non-ECC or non-parity.

Thanks everyone for your prompt replies.
Steve - I have the manuals for the motherboard that's where I got the information in my original post should there be more?
Malcore - The unit is in between two heavy cabinets in a tight space but I will pull it out tomorrow and check the memory.
I'll now run the Belarc link and repost the information it comes up with.
Thanks again
Andy

This is the info from Belarc - any help?
Thanks
Andy

Operating System System Model
Windows 98 SE (build 4.10.2222) No details available
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
266 megahertz Intel Pentium II
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Micro-Star Inc. MS-6118
Bus Clock: 66 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends, Inc. 0627 07/15/95
Drives Memory Modules c,d - Buy More
6.47 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
3.20 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-408B [CD-ROM drive]
SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-152L
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")

FUJITSU MPC3064AT [Hard drive] (6.49 GB) -- drive 0 128 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot '0' is Empty
Slot '1' is Empty
Slot '2' has 128 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 6.47 GB 3.20 GB free

Belarc doesn't give much more information on hardware than aida does.

If you go here (http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php) and download CPU Z (very small) we may be able to find out if your memory is ECC or not. Run it and check the memory tab. There is a section called ECC diagnostic.

Your board has the Intel 440LX chipset (one of the first chipsets to use SDRAM) and can only use EDO or PC66 SDRAM or 2-clock PC100 SDRAM. It can't use 4-clock PC100 (most PC100 is 4-clock) or any PC133 (all PC133 is 4-clock). Here is Crucial's explanation of SDRAM stepping:

Description:

What is 2-clock SDRAM? Should I use it in my system?

Solution:

2-clock SDRAM was the first generation of SDRAM that used 2 CK, or Clock lines, to synchronize the memory chips with the motherboard. Systems that require 2-clock SDRAM won't accept 4- clock SDRAM and vice versa.

Description:

How do I tell the difference between 2-clock and 4-clock SDRAM?


Solution:

Physically looking at a memory module, there really is not a distinguishing mark to determine if the module is 2-clock SDRAM or 4-clock SDRAM. The only way to distinguish the two parts is through the part number markings or data sheets supplied by the manufacturer.

In the memory selector choose the MS-6117 it has the same chipset and should have the same memory specs.

If you install 4-clock SDRAM you will only see half the capacity of the DIMM

With great respect to rond36 this has confused me even more but I am sure he is correct.
Malcore downloaded and run CPU-Z - ECC diagnostic not shown under memory - only thing showing is GENERAL SIZE 128MB and MODULES INFORMATION DIMM #0 SDRAM PC125 - 128MB with a load of other boxes greyed out (ECC diagnostic not one of them).
Any good?
Andy

That's good info from rond .

Basically, you're best to buy some PC66 SDRAM. I still feel to be safe, you need to look at the label on your present stick of RAM to determine if it is ECC or not. When you check the label post back with what you find.

Edit- from your CPUZ readout, you have some old RAM that is registering as PC125. When you pull your stick and look at the numbers on each chip, the last number will probably be an 8. So, right now I figure you don't have PC66 installed, but an older variant of PC100/125.

What does this mean? If you go to this page (http://www.orderingmemory.com/dabs/index.asp?model=MS-6117&x=17&y=9) , the first two memory sticks will be good for you. But again, you must determine if you need ECC or non-parity.;)

Malcore and others.
I have removed the memory chip and there is no reference to ECC on it.
This is what was on it:
Side One.
White sticker with LCSL 059486 printed on it (and 128 written in ballpoint).
On the chip itself 94V-O E-O 98 16 (in different places)
Side Two.
On the chip itself GS16728 CH)
Written on the chips was LGS GM72V66841CT10K 9813 Korea
There is also more info from CPU-Z:

CPU-Z version 1.19a
Memory Modules Serial Presence Detect (SPD)

Module #0
Memory type SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000)
Size 128MBytes
Max bandwidth PC125 (125MHz)
Part number
Max frequency @CAS#1.0 500MHz
Max frequency @CAS#2.0 100MHz
Max frequency @CAS#3.0 125MHz
Any help?
Andrew Wilson

Further to my last post I have gone into setup and the following information has shown up.
Cache Bus ECC (this is disabled in my system)
DRAM Integrity Mode (set at Non-ECC with options of EC only and ECC).
I have never changed these settings from purchase.
Does this help?
Andy

OK, your RAM chips were manufactured by Goldstar (LGS=Lucky GoldStar).

Also the RAM you have now is PC 66, indicated by by the CT10K at the end of this number:GM72V66841CT10K. 10 means 10ns which indicates PC66.

Obviously by your BIOS settings you are running in non-ECC mode. So, get some of the non-parity PC66 ram from the page I linked above.;)

Thanks a million Malcore and others for your valuable contributions and information. As a non-techie I never thought something as simple as adding more memory could be so technical and complicated. I will buy the add-on RAM tonight.
Thanks again.
Andrew Wilson

Actually buying RAM can be fairly straightforward, but older boards are trickier than newer ones these days. That said, it is getting trickier again because there are several different types available, but at least a few companies are labeling them better....