256MB of memory on Win98SE?

[merrimackjay]

Hello,

I have an ancient K6-II 450Mhz machine. It came with a 128MB stick of memory. A few years back I got a 128MB stick of memory free when I bough a hard drive at staples. I stuck it in my machine and the other day I was thinking that I'm not sure if I ever noticed a difference. I have 2 questions:

1. I think I heard once that Win98SE can only use 128megs of memory, and ignores anything after that. Is that true?

2. If thats not true, and Win98SE can utilize more than 128megs of memory, do I have to modify the registry or do anything special to get it to work properly?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

-Jay

 

[AndyHui]

1. Not true.

2. Please read the AnandTech FAQ: What is the maximum amount of RAM for Windows?

 

[Alex]

512mb is the max for 98/ME (and it can be tweaked afaik) if you cant be bothered to read the long faq.
so you're good with 256 and no need to tweak anything.

 

[merrimackjay]

Sweet, thanks a lot guys!

-J

 

[AndyHui]

That is a long FAQ?

 

[McMadman]

98 isn't all that efficent with its memory usage, although using physical memory will still be faster than using a swap file. It will work fine with up to 512mb without issues, my setup will only properly work with either 790 or 800mb out of a gig.

edit: Of course it will also depend what your board will support, I believe the majority of the SS7 boards maxed out at either 384mb or 768mb.

 

[merrimackjay]

Cool, so.... if I have 256megs of ram, how big should my swap file be?

-Jay

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
That is a long FAQ?

Thats kinda what I said.

 

[Matt84]

Win98 will run fine with up 2 512MB buy default. I've used a simple edit of my system.ini and now it runs sweet with 1GB.

BTW - I need 1GB ram under XP for editing large video files so no need 4 anyone 2 question why i have 1GB under 98 even though 98 won't use it all effectively

 

[Alex]

Originally posted by: SpeedKing
Win98 will run fine with up 2 512MB buy default. I've used a simple edit of my system.ini and now it runs sweet with 1GB.

BTW - I need 1GB ram under XP for editing large video files so no need 4 anyone 2 question why i have 1GB under 98 even though 98 won't use it all effectively

read the FAQ

98 isnt smart with handling over 512mb but im pretty sure theres something you can do to overcome this.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: franguinho
read the FAQ

98 isnt smart with handling over 512mb but im pretty sure theres something you can do to overcome this.

But by the time you overcome those limitations in Windows 98, you'll run into other limitations (such as security and stability) that will screw up any attempts you might make to run the kind of high-end professional software that requires that kind of RAM.

 

[EvCloud]

hey i have a similar problem wit my pc.

heres the problem :
i have a pc running winXP pro, running 2 256 ddr rams,
recently i add another 512 ddr rams. but no matter how i try, the winXP could only detect
512 rams inside the CPU.
wat should i do ??

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: EvCloud
hey i have a similar problem wit my pc.

heres the problem :
i have a pc running winXP pro, running 2 256 ddr rams,
recently i add another 512 ddr rams. but no matter how i try, the winXP could only detect
512 rams inside the CPU.
wat should i do ??

Does the BIOS report 1024MB of RAM on the POST screen when you first boot the computer? If not, then your RAM is either not inserted properly, or defective. I'd guess the former.

 

[EvCloud]

Does the BIOS report 1024MB of RAM on the POST screen when you first boot the computer? If not, then your RAM is either not inserted properly, or defective. I'd guess the former.[/quote]



The BIOS and POST only report 512mb of RAM. also i have check that the slots are porperly inserted,
none seems to be the problem. then the ram i also check 4 defective by placing 1 512 RAM and later change back to the 2 256 RAM. both works fines. emmm... is there any other possiblilty.

Additional information : P4 1.8ghz, gigabyte titian... got 3 RAM slot all 3 are in use.

Thanks in Advanced!