ram upgrade from 16 to 128 for 486DXII old system

[mehta]

Hello,

I have received rams from ebay auctions. I tried installing in my pc but they donot seem to work for me. Monitor shows blank screen and if I am not wrong I hear continuous mild beep. I could be wrong about beep as might not know right word for that sound.

When I install my 4x4 ram it boots up fine.

could you guys guide as to what needs to be done.

If it helps my pc is bought from ebay just as rams.

Item #428105681 for pc
Item #470843525 ram 64
Item #467612678 ram 64

[griffinspc]

Without knowing your PC or the RAM it's hard to work this but here's the most common problems. 1st your computer may have a different bus speed than the RAM you got from e-bay. If the machines old (in computer years) and the RAM is new it may be incompatible in which case it will never work. 2nd the RAM almost always must be installed with equal sizes, 2 8's or 2 16's or 2 32's. You get the idea. This is true in almost every case and you must start with slot "0" or "1" depending on the machine. Some older machines will allow 1 bank of SDRAM in slot "0" and DRAM in slots 1,2,3 and 4.

As you can see it varies by machine. If this doesn't trigger a repair thought for you write back with the specs of your machine and the RAM you bought. It will make it much easier to diagnose.

------------------
"Finest KInd"

[mehta]

Hello,

I am out till thanksgivings so shall not be able to lookup my computer to provide any details for ram chip, motherboard etc. here are urls of auctions. From what I know is pc is from proxima computers and came with 16MB ram to me. It starts fine. It says on some label on cabinet that its pc66. one computer store guy told me that I need pc66 72pin ram and I bought rams below but donot know if they are pc66 or what.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=467612678
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=470843525
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=428105681

[Paleo Pete]

The RAM posted in both ads is 72 pin SIMM EDO. The specs on the computer in the ad says 288MHz. Also says it has 32MB RAM, not 16...Are we dealing with two computers? The topic says 486DX2...

It might be the wrong type RAM, you'll have to look up documentation on the computer to be sure, but it might take Fast Page Mode RAM instead of EDO. Or could be a Parity/Non Parity problem.

If you also have a RAM chip already in the machine that's longer than the 72 pin you bought on the auction, that's 168 pin DIMM or SDRAM, they don't mix...

You need some documentation on the computer, specifically the motherboard, to tell you what RAM it supports. Get it to boot, with old memory, and write down the BIOS ID String. THat's the long number in the lower left corner during memory count. The [Pause] key will hold it so you can write it down. Go to Trish's Escape From Hardware Hell (http://www.hardwarehell.com) and look in the Motherboard/BIOS section, Wim's BIOS has links to identify motherboads and maybe get manuals. Look up the memory supported, and go from there.

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[griffinspc]

A big ditto to Pete's post. Auction sites are OK for real experienced pc users but I always caution my relatives who always seem to think that a $20.00 savings is worth it until it isn't compatible. Then of course I'm supposed to be able to fix it.

This isn't a lecture mehta, really, but a warning for those out there that may read this thread. If you don't know exactly what you have don't assume what you buy will work. Are you listening sister-in-law???? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
"Finest KInd"

[mehta]

Hello,

I was not able to get to site to get motherboard details from hardwarehell. I shall try that later. But if its helpful here is bios id string:
40-0101-004682-00111111-111192-AMIS82-H

Thank you.

[Reid]

If it is a 486 motherboard, then to add to what Griffinspc said, it may have two banks of four SIMMs, and you need four identical SIMMs in one or both banks. I have had two 486 boards, and the maximum memory combination they could support was 32M. In 1993 memory was up to $46 a meg, so not too many people filled them up.

From a practical aspect, if you have an OS and/or programs that need that much memory, a 486 would likely be too slow to tolerate.



------------------
rdrummond@thesimpsons.com

[Paleo Pete]

Just looked up the BIOS ID string you posted, it doesn't show up on the list at Wim's BIOS AMI Identification page (http://www.ping.be/bios/index.html?http://www.ping.be/bios/numbersami.shtml)

If you're positive this is the correct number, I'm stumped...can't find a manual that I know of.

I think it's most likely incompatible memory, the system can't read double sided memory, or it's the wrong density. If you can boot the machine with the original memory installed, then it refuses to boot with the new, that's about all it can be.

------------------
Soon as I come up with all the answers...they change the questions!!

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[mehta]

Hello,

Thanks everyone for replying and those still following refer above replies on web page for bios id string.

On checking up again, bios id string in lower left corner is correct as provided earlier(40 0101 004682 00111111-111192 AMIS82-H). Also let me provide another piece of info. In upper left corner not in first line but a few lines down there is bios release as:
Bios Release 82063093.

On motherboard its printed along one of its edge as:
Series 82 REV-B (C) 1993 American Megatrends. Just above C and 1993 is printed ECO81193.

Also there is a chip (I guess BIOS) with sticker on it as:
American Megatrends
super voyager VLBII (copyritht symbol) 1993
AMIBIOS BS682070693BCIS 3298.


Motherboard has 4 slots for simms which currently hold working 4MB x 4 simms rams.

ebay rams that I bought as 32x2 from two different vendors so in all 128MB are viz:
pair 1 (32x2) -
both have a white sticker with info as:
8MX32FPM60 808914
(bar code here)
warranty void if Removed
40/98 9774 01164

chip info:
9832 S USA
MT 4C4M4E8
DJ -6


pair 2 (32x2)-
chip info:
TI -60
TMS417409ADJ
VE 79A4HF P


Motherboard 4Mx4 working chip info:
NEC SINGAPORE
424400-70
9251VEC04

[Reid]

Go to this link and scroll down to Series 82 Super Voyager VLBII for a zipped manual (937k) and BIOS: http://www.genitech.com.au/LIBRARY/TechSupport/ALLAMI.HTM

The manual is in WordPerfect 5.1 format; Word97 was able to convert it. They also have a WordPerfect Viewer for download.

It says it supports a maximum of 64M using 4MB x 36, fast page mode, 70 ns.




------------------
rdrummond@thesimpsons.com

[mehta]

Hello,

I am now tring to do bios upgrade. If you shall follow this thread: http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000335.html

you shall get all details of my system.

I donot know if my bios is pnp or not. please tell me. If not then can I upgrade it to pnp?

Please cc reply to: imiten@yahoo.com