Hai!!

I has a noob computer question:

So I have this old computer from 1999 (I think), and I wanted to upgrade with some RAM so that it runs a bit more smoothly. Everything else is working quite nicely on it, henceforth, for now, I just want to learn the ways of the RAM sticks! I used a free trial version of Everest Ultimate Edition in order to get most of the specs about the old computer.
Now, my questions:

• What are good RAM brands? Does the brand determine performance?
• If I have three DIMM slots, should all the sticks be the same for optimal performance? (same brand, same specs, etc)
• What does the 133 stand for in PC133? The Real and Effective Clocks of the memory are 100 MHz on the computer. Does that influence anything in whatever way?
• What exactly do the 3.0-3-3-7 @ 142 Mhz mean when talking about memory stick (128 MB PC133 SDRAM)?

That's about it for now. I might want to elaborate some of these questions later on with further information. So thank you for helping me out in advance. I'll try to find the section in this forum that covers these types of things. Maybe I'll get more answers there. XD

You need to determine the type of ram from the motherboard. The 133 = 133mhz (the speed).
Also, back then, you usually need matching ram sticks (identical). Truthfully if you found some ram to upgrade that computer it would probably cost as much as buying a new computer.

The best brands of ram I'd argue is probably Corsair, Kingston, and Crucial.
But really, just buy a whole new computer for $300-400 than trying to work with something so archaic that you likely won't find what you need.

This post was edited by przy on Jan 2 2010 01:45pm

Hmm... I admit that I have read up the same advices somewhere. But I found some cheap second hand 512 MB 168 pin SDRAM sticks online... so 300$ is quite a lot. I mean, I also want to learn about how things work on the inside, so that some day I'll be able to buy separate pieces and assemble my own computer for my personal usage. I'd prefer to play around with this old hunk of plastic and metal than to screw up the insides of a decent new computer.

I knew that the 133 meant 133 MHz, but in what? Like I mentioned, the only close by idea was the clocking of the memory (100 MHz), so doesn't that stick overshoot it? Well, the only logical guess I got is that the 133 MHz reduces its frequency to 100 MHz to comply to the whole thing.

This post was edited by Magnak on Jan 2 2010 01:51pm

Older computers are not forgiving.
These days, you do not have to match ram sticks and you don't need to do a lot of things. Back then, those older computers required certain components only and certain connections only. In all honesty, it is a fault education value because the formfactors and artitechture is far different than 11 years ago.

Hmm... I see. But still, I do not really have 300$ right now. XD And I might as well leech the most out of this old one.

Czesc Dominik!


Hej Piotrek


Hey Ryan

Cześć Justyś jak sie dzisiaj miewasz

Hej Lukasz
Na razie miewam sie swietnie, bo dalej jestem w Polsce
A jak tam u ciebie?

OOOooooooooooo witamy w ojczyźnie
A u mnie jak zawsze średnio . Jak tam, kiedy opuszczasz nasz kraj? .