How much RAM does my PC have??? Help again...

[Prevost]

I just opened my PC and replaced the CD-ROM drive with a DVD-R/RW/CD-RW unit (BenQ) and feel now a sudden urge of upgrading my memory...

I guess the two long plastic modules I saw are the two SIMM modules. My System query says I have "127.0 MB RAM" so I suppose those are 128 MB. Now, my problems are:

Can I replace RAM by myself too?
How do I find how much RAM my PC supports?

For I wouldn't buy 512MB if I'm to lose them.

For additional info, my PC is a Celeron 700 MHz manufactured in 2001.

[ziggurat29]

You can replace them with ease. Generally there is a plastic lever at each end which, when pushing down will cause them to pop out.

As for what to get, you'll have to check what the max for your machine is. Should be listed in the paperwork for your machine, if you have it, or just use google. Google on the machine name like 'etower 500ix2 spec memory max' or whatever. Most of the memory houses have a 'configurator' (what a word) that you might can use as well. I'm going to guess that you can take PCI133 with a max of maybe 512 MB but please don't take my word for it. Try and research it..

[tanalasta]

This would depend how many memory slots you have left. Cheaper computers unfortunately only come with two.

So you have a choice of buying 1x512Mb RAM or 2x256Mb.

Unfortunately, the 128Mb you have in your computer would then go to waste. To be honest, 128Mb RAM is sufficient on an antiquated Celeron such as yours provided you're running Windows98 and not XP.

Given You're looking to setting youself back several hundred dollars, why not consider a complete system upgrade? If you salvage your current machine for parts (HDD, CD-drive etc...) and find a reliable and trustworthy person to build it for you without ripping you off - you'll end up with a much better system.

[Prevost]

I have been thinking of buying a new PC seriously. But since I had only a CD-ROM drive, I thought I needed a new unit in order to Backup or Copy in CDs my hard drive data for the new computer. And afterwards the idea of "improving" a bit my actual computer came to life, since it is working fine and satisfies my needs. :oops: Also, its microtower footprint is good for me.

But, no doubt, I want a 512Mb RAM P4 with ATI digital-output-enabled graphics and a nice Sony xbrite display...well, at least now I can backup :roll: !!!

[Darius Wey]

Can I replace RAM by myself too?
How do I find how much RAM my PC supports?

For I wouldn't buy 512MB if I'm to lose them.

For additional info, my PC is a Celeron 700 MHz manufactured in 2001.

This all depends on your motherboard: what the maximum amount of RAM is recognised in each module; what the maximum amount of RAM is that is compatible with the entire motherboard configuration; what type of SD RAM you will require, etc.

Bear in mind that SD RAM is definitely more expensive than your typical DDR RAM memory modules now. I agree that you may as well go for a new system if it's within your budget. Personally, I like to avoid those "system packages" and build my computer outright. That way, I know what parts I'm using, etc.

[Prevost]

Darius, actually I know that some people (many?) in PPCT like to build their PCs on their own, but also I see that those some people have serious computers knowledge or are even professionals on them.

Because of that, I don't feel able of doing so.

Also, in Panama it is not easy to buy top computer parts...in that case probably I'd need to bring them from the USA. To put this in other words, here in Panama there is a company that "builds" computers. But, how good components are they using when they sell a system with monitor for about 1/4 of the price of an "equivalent" Dell WITHOUT monitor???

Apart of that, since my computer, with its humble specs, has given me fine quality service for three years, why would that not happen with a good brand modern unit?

I've been looking for my PC papers but it looks they are lost. I'll try to find info in the net.

Can anyone of you describe memory modules' shape? For I have seen two white long plastic pieces about 4 inches long portruding from the motherboard and I'm taking those for RAM... but in fact I'm not sure if they are.

[Prevost]

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=4000787&cat=MBB

This is my computer's motherboard. Can any of you let me know where there are the RAM modules and which type they must be?

It is stated that it has two DIMM sockets for up to 512Mb.

[Darius Wey]

Darius, actually I know that some people (many?) in PPCT like to build their PCs on their own, but also I see that those some people have serious computers knowledge or are even professionals on them.

Because of that, I don't feel able of doing so.

It may seem quite complicated at first, but if you have a keen interest in it, it's actually quite easy to pick up.

Also, in Panama it is not easy to buy top computer parts...in that case probably I'd need to bring them from the USA.

Yeah - that always makes things tough, unfortunately. :cry:

[maximus]

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=4000787&cat=MBB

This is my computer's motherboard. Can any of you let me know where there are the RAM modules and which type they must be?

It is stated that it has two DIMM sockets for up to 512Mb.

http://www.compgeeks.com/images/150x150/mbb-4000787-box.gif

RAM modules are the two black vertical stripes on the left of your processor. Purchase your RAM at a vendor with good return policy :)

Strangely, I cant find your motherboard on MSI's motherboard website :

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_list.php?kind=1&CHIP=17&NAME=Archives

The closest configuration to yours (Intel 810E chipset) is :

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=117

Which means, it support 512MB SDRAM with 128 bit only.

[Prevost]

Thank you Maximus!

In fact, it is an MSI motherboard. I found the info I was looking for at Gateway's Support Site using my purchase invoice I found here...and I also found at Gateway's some BIOS updates I didn't knew existed. Anyway I didn't downloaded them, for my research on my system has taken me to the (logic) conclusion that apart from RAM, there is almost nothing I can upgrade on it nowadays.

At Gateway's site I found the motherboard's physical description.

It has been very interesting to learn some about what is inside a PC, and curiously, now I don't see them as something as misterious as I thought it was. I even feel it is not too difficult to build one by myself...although I'm still affraid there must be a piece I'll need in order to make it work that still I don't know even exist... :oops: :mrgreen:

Also, I'm now aware of how important is having some knowledge of what motherboard is within that system so handsome we see at the retailer. Probably now I have better knowledge than some salespeople...

[Prevost]

Actually, it looks like I could add...
- 256MB of memory ($80 - Crucial Memory)
- An ATI Radeon 7500 video card ($80)
- Then I could go for a Sony xBrite 17" flat panel (about $550 at my door)
- Perhaps a Maxtor hard drive 40GB ($70) although I don't feel urge for this...
- And then I could upgrade to XP Home for about $100

Plus the $100 I already put in in form of a BenQ DVD RW... it's up to be $980
With only the memory and the card (I have a 17" CRT), just $160

A new system with better specs and a Pentium 4 would be about $1200 at my home door without monitor (that would be those $550 too for $1750)

Not exactly an easy decision...

[Darius Wey]

Are these US$ you're talking about or your local currency?

[Prevost]

Surprise!!!

US dollar is legal currency in Panama :mrgreen: so it's the same thing.
Do you see this expensive?

[maximus]

How about this complete system for $778:

Goto www.dell.com, my account,
Email : [email protected]
Password : qwerty10928109

You'll get a nice pentium 4 2.8ghz machine.
Add a decent AGP video card (radeon 9600 XT, geforce FX5700 ultra) to that machine, and you are good to go.

[Prevost]

Not bad unit, let me check some other options on it I'll probably need...oh well let me check prices for those video cards too.

Also let me check how much for similar specs in a micro tower footprint...guess I got a thing for microtowers.

Thanks for the link!

[Darius Wey]

Surprise!!!

US dollar is legal currency in Panama :mrgreen: so it's the same thing.
Do you see this expensive?

Yeah - all the parts are a lot more expensive than what we are selling it for, but perhaps it's a little pricier in Panama.

Here, 1GB is approximately A$1, so I could effectively get the HDD for A$40 which translates to about US$30. At US$80, I could probably get a stick of 512MB DDR SDRAM (maybe a stick and a half :P), and the graphics card at US$80, I could definitely get something on the low end of the Radeon 9xxx range or the GeForce FX5200, instead of the 7500.

[maximus]

Not bad unit, let me check some other options on it I'll probably need...oh well let me check prices for those video cards too.


Here here.

Radeon 9600 :
http://www.shopzilla.com/7S--Graphics_Cards__30_140_-_att259818--50001533-2484397__cat_id--405__keyword--radeon%209600__rf--tom029

Nvidia FX5700 :
http://www.shopzilla.com/7S--Graphics_Cards__100_160_-_att259818--038551011-301586690__cat_id--405__keyword--fx%205700__search_box--1

My suggestion is to get the Radeon 9600 Pro or FX5700 (regular version, non-ultra) which are usually around $120-130 ...

[Prevost]

Yeah - all the parts are a lot more expensive than what we are selling it for, but perhaps it's a little pricier in Panama.

Here, 1GB is approximately A$1, so I could effectively get the HDD for A$40 which translates to about US$30. At US$80, I could probably get a stick of 512MB DDR SDRAM (maybe a stick and a half :P), and the graphics card at US$80, I could definitely get something on the low end of the Radeon 9xxx range or the GeForce FX5200, instead of the 7500.Or probably, Darius, it's because I have to buy for kind of legacy products since my computer is obviously outdated. For example, I should buy a hard drive with ultra ATA66 interface and those are hard findings nowadays. So much for the memory modules so far. The prices I'm showing are offers by web vendors at the USA, not in Panama. The cost of getting them into my country is not too high (about 5% + 5% of taxes)

Now a question for you and Maximus: is there any problem with expansion cards AND microtowers? For my brief research, it seems to me that not all the cards would fit into a case that in the best is 4 inches (10 cms) wide MINUS socket height at the slots. If so, that could drive me away for better from microtowers no matter how much I like them.

[Darius Wey]

Or probably, Darius, it's because I have to buy for kind of legacy products since my computer is obviously outdated. For example, I should buy a hard drive with ultra ATA66 interface and those are hard findings nowadays. So much for the memory modules so far. The prices I'm showing are offers by web vendors at the USA, not in Panama. The cost of getting them into my country is not too high (about 5% + 5% of taxes)

:bangin: - Ah, of course. I forgot that your computer is a little old. Let me just warm my brain up in the microwave. :microwave:

[Darius Wey]

Now a question for you and Maximus: is there any problem with expansion cards AND microtowers? For my brief research, it seems to me that not all the cards would fit into a case that in the best is 4 inches (10 cms) wide MINUS socket height at the slots. If so, that could drive me away for better from microtowers no matter how much I like them.

Generally - I'd steer clear of them unless you want ultimate portability. I like to have the option of "expanding" my peripherals if I want to. You'll probably find the standard cases to be cheaper too.

[Prevost]

Well, not so much cheaper, at least not for Gateway, Dell, or Alienware...

Still, I kept doing my homework and found that these cases need half height and low profile cards equipped with short mounting brackets. Not so easy to find, but I found a couple based on nVidia MX440 and GeForce FX5200. I guess 64MB and 128MB is not bad at all.

Sadly, the short mounting bracket makes impossible to have two video connectors and obviously the one that is left apart is the DVI.

The Dell's Dimension 4700C is less than 4 inches wide, yet can be equipped with a Radeon X300 with DVI port, but I guess this is a very special card for this case model.

Anyway, I continue researching...

[maximus]

Generally - I'd steer clear of them unless you want ultimate portability. I like to have the option of "expanding" my peripherals if I want to. You'll probably find the standard cases to be cheaper too.

Kindly be reminded also that minitower usually only have one 5" and one 3" bay. Which means that there will be no space for secondary harddrives. MiniATX motherboards usually only have 2 slots of RAM, which is a very bad idea in the longer term, especially if you plan to use pentium 4 with 800mhz FSBs.

[Prevost]

Thanks again for the advise. Although I couldn't agree or disagree on them right now, your tips are helpful hints of what to look for in a new unit.

For the moment, I ordered a 256MB module and an nVidia GeForce FX5200 with 128MB RAM. At least this card will be good for my next computer as long as it includes a PCI slot...so probably the time for it to be outphased is well ahead. However, I guess a desire to experiment is the principal need behind this purchase.

Let's check for what performance difference this additions can make.

[Darius Wey]

Kindly be reminded also that minitower usually only have one 5" and one 3" bay. Which means that there will be no space for secondary harddrives. MiniATX motherboards usually only have 2 slots of RAM, which is a very bad idea in the longer term, especially if you plan to use pentium 4 with 800mhz FSBs.

Definitely. I neglected to talk about minitowers in my previous post, but I generally steer clear of those too. At the bare minimum, opt for miditowers - they serve the purpose. Also bear in mind that you should be out hunting for a PSU that can house and power all your peripherals. Obviously, for an old computer, this isn't too much of a worry, but keep it mind if you ever plan a major upgrade. Of course, the PSU is interchangeable as well.

[Prevost]

Excuse me...

What does PSU mean??? ( :oops: )

BTW, and concerning the number of DIMM slots, the Gateway microtowers house only two...to allow upgrading into 4GB of RAM, leading to the inconveniences Maximus pointed to.

In the other hand, Alienware's Bot houses 4 slots for RAM for up to 1GB. It is interesting that in the system's inside view, it can be seen several ASUS badged chips; probably this means ASUS makes that mobo.

Anyway, the need for special half height expansion cards are probably the biggest concern I'll see in microtowers.

[Darius Wey]

Excuse me...

What does PSU mean??? ( :oops: )

Sorry - it's an abbreviation for "power supply unit". Computer manufacturers will often rate their cases in terms of power (e.g. 300W or 400W, etc.). The more you have on hand, the more options you have for expanding because ultimately, each bit of hardware needs some form of juice to work. ;)

BTW, and concerning the number of DIMM slots, the Gateway microtowers house only two...to allow upgrading into 4GB of RAM, leading to the inconveniences Maximus pointed to.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Gateway, so I'd steer clear of them for now.

In the other hand, Alienware's Bot houses 4 slots for RAM for up to 1GB. It is interesting that in the system's inside view, it can be seen several ASUS badged chips; probably this means ASUS makes that mobo.

Most likely.

Anyway, the need for special half height expansion cards are probably the biggest concern I'll see in microtowers.

Exactly. Not only does this add to price, but you're limited in your options, which is why you might want to avoid them altogether.