Question regarding memory upgrade

[RISman]

I have an old FIC PA2006 AT Motherboard with 32MB of EDO RAM (2 16MB SIMMS), I would like to upgrade to 128MB PC100 Kingston Value Ram (1) DIMM. The problem is when I uninstall the 32MB, and install the new 128MB DIMM the BIOS still reports 32MB. Does it matter if the DIMM is PC100? I cleared the BIOS and the same result. Any thoughts?

 

[Kanly]

You can't use DIMMs in SIMM slots.

Your motherboard doesn't support DIMMs.

You need a new motherboard.

 

[Workin']

I'm not sure about the specifics of that particular mobo, but all of the boards I have worked with that have both SIMM and DIMM slots have a jumper or jumpers that need to be set to choose whether you are using the 5-volt SIMM slots or the 3.3-volt DIMM slots. You can't use both at the same time, unforunately.

If that isn't the problem, and maybe even if that was the problem, you might want to make sure you have the lates BIOS version for that board.

Whether the RAM is PC100 or not makes no difference.

 

[Workin']

OK, I did a little checking for you.....

DukeLeto is WRONG. Your mobo is a seemingly odd bird. You CAN use SIMMS and DIMMS at the same time with this board (never seen that before!), but it looks like the largest DIMM supported is 64MB, that's why your 128MB DIMM is not recognized.

Here's a link to a site to download the manual for your PA2006 if you don't already have it. Look at the section about possible RAM configurations to see what you need.

FIC PA2006 Manual

 

[Kanly]

Workin,

apparently in my case, ignorance isn't bliss.

Guess next time I'll RTFM.

P.S. Like the bold letters.

 

[BigDog2k]

also, you have to be careful with older boards cause they only like 2 clock Dimms(old stuff)verses the 4 Clock Dimms (new stuff) I had a couple on pentium 200 that would only show 16 mb per stick when I dropped in 32, 64, and 128 mb sticks (pc133) You might have to do some searching or bring it to a place that will try a bunch of different brands until it works

 

[RISman]

Thanks for your thoughts, I grabbed the Manual and am going to try adding two 64MB DIMMS tonight. I still wonder about the speed factor though...I should just go with PC133 if I am going to buy anything!

Thanks for your help and I'll let you know what happens!

Who has a good return policy in case none of this works?

I am headed to Office Max tonight to pickup that $30 Epson 860...Maybe I'll grab the RAM there.

 

[Workin']

I would just get PC100 RAM - 64MB DIMMS are too small if you upgrade to a board that supports 133 FSB and only has 2 or 3 DIMM sockets, you'll want more RAM than 128 MB in that case.

I was going to buy some RAM at Office Max on several occasions but they never seem to have any in stock.......

 

[RISman]

Well, thanks for everyone's help on this RAM mystery. I ended up buying 2 64MB DIMMS and 2 32MB DIMMS. The 32's worked, the 64's, and the 128 I tried in the beginning all failed. All memory was PC100. And yes, both the SIMMS and the DIMMS work great together. Doesn't look like FIC had any BIOS updates that would have fixed the problem either. Anyway, thanks for your input!