memory upgrade for a PII - 233

[Wuming]

my friend has a PII - 233 with 32 mb of ram. we were thinking of buying more ram for the machine but we don't know what chipset is the motherboard. we opened up the casing and saw that it has 3 memory bays, and the 32 mb in the computer is a single piece of DIMM memory.

can we simply buy one of the 128 mb sdram which we can find rather cheaply around now and use it with my friend's computer?

 

[corkyg]

Generally speaking, if you are running Windows, the chipset associated with the P-II 233 processor can handle a total of 64 megs. Beyond that, more ram degrades the system performance because of caching limits on the part of Windows with certain chipsets.

 

[Wuming]

hmm.. what's the chipset that handles the PII - 233? this 64 mb limit does not apply to systems now right?

 

[JackMDS]

If it is P-II 233, the first slot 1 Pentium, it is probably upgardable to 128MB.

The 64MB limit was with the TX ? HX chipset the max Intel CPU for these boards was the Pentium 233MMX.

 

[Budman]

If it's a PII and not a regular pentium then YES up that ram as much as you can.

From 32 megs you will see a VERY big differance.

 

[Wuming]

hmm okie. how can we tell if the chipset is the TX-HX chipset or not? one thing for sure. the processor is a slot 1 processor.

 

[dopcombo]

woah!!!

I'm his friend with the PII 233
And all this conversation is making no sense to me. Wuming if u figure all this out, just tell me what to buy!
This computer of mine has not been upgraded in 3.5 years.....

 

[Cknyc]

If you are running a p2 233 it is most likely running on a 440FX chipset. This is a PPro chipset and Im sure it can cache more than 64 megs of ram. I would say buy 2 64's rather than one 128 since the mobo is old and to avoid compatability problems. Also you may need lower density dimms than what is currently floating around.


Be carefull P2 233's can also run off simms. My ex's compaq had 2 16 meg simms in it.

 

[mrbios]

No offence to the others, but for the most part, don't listen to them. You said that it has a DIMM in it currently. That means that it is either an Intel 440LX or a 440BX, but more than likely an LX. That means that you could potentially go up to 1 gig of RAM. To put it all into perspective, YES you can put in another 128mb chip that is so cheap nowadays.

Russell "Mr.Bios" Sampson

 

[Wuming]

<< would say buy 2 64's rather than one 128 since the mobo is old and to avoid compatability problems >>



Cknyc: the motherboard has got 3 memory slots. so i don't suppose i need to get memory modules in pairs right?



<< Also you may need lower density dimms than what is currently floating around >>



Cknyc: how do i differentiate between those with the higher density from those with the lower density?

i am quite sure the motherboard supports DIMMs since the module inside is a 32 mb DIMM.

thanks!

 

[Wuming]

<< YES you can put in another 128mb chip that is so cheap nowadays. >>



mrbios: do i have to remove the 32mb currently inside? or can i simply add another 128 mb to make it a total of 160 mb?


wow... right now i would really appreciate if someone could tell me where i can find information about all the different chipsets TX LX FX HX BX blah blah blah.....

 

[Cknyc]

Mr Bios,

The 440 FX chipset also supports dimms. If the machine was bought when the p2 233 was first introduced it is likely that he/she got an FX chipset. I mentioned simms because Wuming may be confusing the two.

Wuming,

Dimms do not need to be placed in pairs on that motherboard or on any p2/p3 motherboards that I have seen.
If the motherboard is has an FX chipset it may not support 128 meg ram modules (Not sure about that one so dont take my word). Ram density has to do with the size of the memory chips on the pcb.

 

[rubberneck]

Just in case some didn't know, the 64MB caching limitation was present on the P5 class 430VX and TX but not the HX (I think there may have been a 430FX too but I don't recall right now). The P6 class (ala, Pentium II) ran Intel 440FX, LX, BX for the most part and none of those had the 64MB caching limitation either.

The 64MB limitation we all love was due to the tag ram on the L2 cache (which was on the motherboard in P5 class systems) only being able to address 64MB's of memory...this saved cost at a time when few used that much ram. Chipsets like the 430HX had a different tag ram and could address much more which is why many Intel based servers using P5 architecture were mated to the 430HX.

 

[R2D2]

Check the MOBO for Manufacturer and Model (sometimes hard to find).

Go to the manufacturer's website and check the specs. At the same time, it'd be a good idea to update your BIOS.

I had a PII 233 on a Microstar LX MOBO with 64MB SDRAM. I added a 128MB stick of PC100 SDRAM (runs at 66MHz on that MOBO). The difference was outstanding.

 

[Wuming]

yeah its hard to find the mobo's manufacturer and model. hmm... maybe i will take a look at the boot up screen and see.

thanks guys!

how do you guys know so much about all those old mobo chipsets?

 

[JackMDS]

Wuming, I hope that you can keep cool with all of this ?conflicting info?.

But most of what mentioned is possible.

There is s shareware program called Sandra: http://www.sisoftware.demon.co.uk/san_dem/html/dload.htm

Install and run this program, there is strong possibility that under the CPU &amp; Bios Module you will find some of the answers. (Sandra is new, the Mobo is Old so it also possible that it will not recognize the code, but it is free).

 

[Wuming]

gee... thanks!

once again i hope if anyone has any websites or articles about all the motherboard chipsets please email me or post it here!

thank you guys!

 

[Wuming]

hey guys. i tried a piece of 128 mb sdram on my friend's computer and it's completely okay! his computer rocks now! haa...

thanks alot guys!