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THE
Pc MEMORY PAGE!
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The
Pc Memory Page:
By Raymond Garcia
WebtechGeek.com
How much
Ram can you install? It's the Motherboard, not Windows,
that you should check for a limit on RAM. Even so, most
motherboards allow for about seven times the amount that
anyone would need for normal computer usage. The average
user needs 128MB, multimedia and heavy game user need
about 256 to 512MB. Of course, you can install all the
memory you can afford. It's your money.
Adding memory. There's never been
a better time to do it: RAM prices are amazingly low as
"$25 for 128MB at press time and dropping" and
new applications and operating systems continue to demand
more and more of it. For Microsoft Windows XP about, 128MB
is recommended. Add a few concurrently running applications,
and it no longer seems ridiculous to equip your PC with
256MB or 512MB.
Virtual memory lets your OS make
additional system memory out of vacant hard drive space.
This lets your system run multiple programs. If Windows
could run only one program with the physical memory available,
you would have to constantly close programs to open up
new ones. Virtual memory can also drastically reduce your
system's speed. If your system relies too much on virtual
memory, the operating system's performance will drop.
You need the right balance between RAM and
virtual memory. You can have too much memory. Pentium
boards based on Intel's 430xx design cannot cache more
than 64MB. Any accessed memory more than 64MB is non-cachable,
and performance will drop. How much it drops depends on
the speed and quality of the memory. Of course, having
a lot of RAM doesn't hurt if you have a newer chipset
that can cache all available RAM. Virtual Memory is an
integral part of Windows' operation. If your accessible
RAM can handle all the programs you're using, your system
will indeed rely less on virtual memory, so performance
will improve because your system won't access the hard
drive as often.
But this does not mean you should pack
your machine with RAM and turn off virtual memory. Virtual
memory is an integral part of Windows' operation. Even
though you might use it less, Windows still needs it to
some extent. You'll reach a point where it's no longer
cost-effective to add RAM. Tests have shown that as RAM
size goes up, its benefits decrease. Between 64MB and
128MB is about all the RAM that can make a difference
in Windows 95 and 98. The only real benefit from having
more than 128MB of RAM is in graphics processing or high-end
multimedia production.
Problems with physical memory going
to zero. Background applications monitor just about everything
imaginable in your computer. From system temperatures
to storage availability to virus detection, these programs
can do it all. But, for every great function they do perform,
there are drawback. As you discovered, RAM can suffer
to the point of your PC going brain dead. If this happens,
you have a few choices available to free your RAM. The
first choice you have is to turn off the memory-resident
programs or, Everything but the antivirus detector ( which
you may not even need). All of these features rely heavily
on RAM and tend to overburden the system by not flushing
RAM when you open and close programs. Use scan disk once
a week, and defrag.
You should monitor how many icons appear
in the system tray. This can be found in the bottom right
corner. The more icons you have there, equals less memory
available at any given time. Simply right-click on those
icons to turn off the ones you don't need. Don't delete
these files, you're just need to disabling them to free
up available memory. You might not need to keep the antivirus
software running in the background all the time. Remember,
don't open attachments and you'll greatly reduce your
chances of catching a virus. If you don't notice any problems
with available memory while running antivirus software,
then continue using your antivirus program.
Most Recent PCs use Dual Inline Memory
Modules to hold RAM. The most common are PC-100 (100-MHz)
and PC-133 (133-MHz) SDRAM DIMMs. The newer systems based
on high-speed AMD processors use PC2100 DDR (double data
rate) SDRAM, which runs at 266 MHz. Some Intel-based PCs
instead use more expensive Rambus modules (called RIMMs),
available in speeds up to 800 MHz.
Older PC's - If your PC is five years old, it's
probably designed for 66-MHz SDRAM, but you should still
be able to use 100-MHz or 133-MHz SDRAM modules (read
your PC manual). Although they won't work at full speed,
they remain the best value. Some older computers use Single
Inline Memory Modules for RAM. Installing SIMMs - SIMMs
pivot into their slots and must be installed in pairs.
Specifications - DIMM:
A dual inline memory module (DIMM) consists of a number
of memory components (usually black) that are attached
to a printed circuit board (usually green). The gold or
tin pins on the bottom of the DIMM provide a connection
between the module and a socket on a larger printed circuit
board. The pins on the front and back of a DIMM are not
connected, providing two lines of communication paths
between the module and the system.
168-pin DIMMs are commonly found in Pentium and Athlon
systems. Each 168-pin DIMM provides a 64-bit data path,
so they are installed singly in 64-bit systems. 168-pin
DIMMs are available in FPM, EDO, 66MHz SDRAM, PC100 SDRAM,
and PC133 SDRAM. When upgrading, be sure to match the
memory technology that is already in your system. (Information
on which memory technology is used by your system is included
in the Memory Selector.)
The number of black components on a 168-pin DIMM may
vary, but they always have 84 pins on the front and 84
pins on the back for a total of 168. 168-pin DIMMs are
approximately 5.375" long and 1.375" high, though
the heights may vary. They have two small notches within
the row of pins along the bottom of the module.
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