mixing SDRAM

[gsteve]

I have 3 computers that are underpowered. 1 has 64 meg of ram and 2 have 96meg. I want to combine the old ram in 1 machine and buy a couple of new DIMMs for the other machines. I am worried that since the 3 machines have three different manufacturers that there may be some kind of compatability problem. We are talking about 168 pin pc100 sdram. I notice some ram (not mine but for sale on line) is rated 7.5ns or 8.0ns etc. Will ram rated at different speeds work together at the lowest common speed? I would like some input on mixing SDRAM.

[Randy_tx]

Just remember......older machines (like P100-P166) probably cant take advantage of more than 64 mb RAM ANYway! If "underpowered" means not enough RAM....forget it. You cant really compensate for a slow processor with a ton of RAM....the PROCESSOR is holding you back more than RAM, unless you do CAD with these machines. Which processors do you have in each of the machines?
As far as mixing RAM goes.......it works more often than it doesn't...you might try mixing BEFORE you go out and buy new.
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Will XP save Me ?

[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 04-16-2001).]

[tjaymadison]

If they're all PC-100, the manufacturer of the RAM usually won't make any difference, unless one of the sticks is a real cheapie, with marginal components. You can install them and see what happens without hurting anything. Make sure they are all either ECC or non-ECC, and agree with the requirements of the intended system. The only warning I ever heard about is not mixing RAM sticks with gold and tinned (silver color) contacts -- supposed to cause some sort of electrolytic imbalance and corrosion. Make sure you don't "overbuy" your new RAM. Some BIOS's have a limit on the total amount of RAM they will support, and also on the amount per DIMM slot.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-16-2001).]

[gsteve]

Randy, TJay and others, thanks for your replies. These machines are Celerons or PIIs (350-500MHZ) and all are running WIN98 with internet access through the modems. Maybe I am wrong but it was my impression that if I went on line and used yahoo radio or something like that and then went into a work window like WORD, that this tied up alot of RAM. I know the radio sputters when I do this. I assumed 128 meg of RAM would be sufficient.

I know these machines are not on the cutting edge, but they are still good computers. I want to use them for a couple more years, and with RAM as cheap as it is, it seems like a good time to improve them.

[Randy_tx]

Those CPU's are fast enough IMO to take advantage of more RAM.......you will see some improvement @ 96 or 128 mb for sure....Ram is fluctuating so much lately I never know what I'm gonna pay http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif...but generally it's down (as it should be with sales down now).

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Will XP save Me ?

[hiredgoonz]

You will definitely gain a benefit by upgrading to 128 from 64 if you're running Windows 9x...

Are you sure the memory in the celeron systems is pc100? Unless you built the system yourself, it would more likely be pc66, which may or may not run at 100mhz...

If you're not sure, best bet is to stick the old stuff in the celeron(s) and the newer RAM in the P2...Best Buy has some pretty good prices this week...although www.crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com) is usually the cheapest, and it seems like good memory...have used them for several notebook and desktop systems w/no problems...

[baoluanle]

onto this subject, i also find myself in the similar situation of wanting to upgrade to more rams on the computers that we have in our computer lab at our school. we have about 8 compaq deskpro celeron's and PII's. would these take more than 256Mb of sdram133, you think? or should i stick with the sdram100, just to be on the safe side! thanks in advance for all of your inputs!!!