About an old computer RAM upgrade

Ladies & Gentlemen:
I was wondering:
If a provide you with an Everest Report of an old computer's hardware, can you please tell me if it's possible to upgrade its RAM?
Hoping to be hearing from you soon
With my best regards

Vigaenson

CPU-Z report would be better.
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx

Thanks Computer_Commando!!
Following your advice will not be easy for me because I'm actually a real newbie and as you can see I allready have at my disposal an Everest Report.
Nevertheless, I'll try to provide you with a CPU-Z report.

Broni:
Thank you too!!
Haven't had time to see your URL but will pay a visit as soon as I've got a break.

My best regards for both of you!

Vigaenson




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Try crucial scan, first.
Your motherboard manual: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://web.tiscali.it/acorp/mobo_spec/pc-chips/m560/m560_v31.htm&ei=zG6wSpDRKIL8sgPG-8nCCw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=6&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAbility%2BMB-586TXA%2Bmanual%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG%26num%3D50%26newwindow%3D1

From your Everest report, I can see you have a very old computer.
486SLC cpu with 64MB RAM, Win98SE

That computer is 15 years old.  I wouldn't spend any money on it all.

Broni:
I took a look at

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://web.tiscali.it/acorp/mobo_spec/pc-chips/m560/m560_v31.htm&ei=zG6wSpDRKIL8sgPG-8nCCw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=6&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAbility%2BMB-586TXA%2Bmanual%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG%26num%3D50%26newwindow%3D1

and found that there are some differences  between the snapshot I can see there and my real old computer.
I will now visit

http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx

I'm aware I'm going slowly but rememeber I'm a rookie trying to learn by getting the most out of a very old computer.
Best regards

Vigaenson

Computer_Commando
Thank you for your concern.
But please remember I'm a rookie trying to learn about installing a Linux distro that is said to work very well on old computers.
I have been told that before trying to perform the install,  it is best to have the RAM memory fully upgraded.
I am communicating with you guys through another computer (a new PC with Windows XP, Internet Explorer 8 and the Live DVD of the Linux distro I want to try on the old computer)
Nevertheless I'll try to provide you (Computer_Commando)with the CPU-Z report of the old computer you asked for.
With my best regards

Vigaenson

All you really need to concern yourself with is what kind of memory and how many memory slots you have.  Best to visually inspect what is currently there, i.e., 2-32MB, or 1-64MB.  I suspect that the memory is SDRAM PC-66 or PC-100.  CPU-ID is a little better for specifically identifying this, IF the motherboard is SPD compliant.  Some older mobos won't read the data correctly.  The info you want is located on the SPD tab of CPU-ID.

Computer_Commando:

As an obsessive newbie I want to be sure I've understood you perfectly.
Can you please answer these for me?

1)Do you mean that theoretically I have at least 2 ways of solving my problem?
2)One way is by visual inspection of what is currently on the memory slots ?
3)The other way is by using a program that is called CPU-ID?
3)After running the CPU-ID on the old computer the SPD tab of that program will tell me if the motherboard is SPD compliant?
4)If it is SPD compliant, the CPU-ID program will also tell me if it possible to upgrade the RAM memory?

Hoping to be hearing from you soon
With my best regards

Vigaenson

Computer_Commando:
1)Do you mean that theoretically I have at least 2 ways of solving my problem?
2)One way is by visual inspection of what is currently on the memory slots ?
3)The other way is by using a program that is called CPU-ID?
4)After running the CPU-ID on the old computer the SPD tab of that program will tell me if the motherboard is SPD compliant?
5)If it is SPD compliant, the CPU-ID program will also tell me if it possible to upgrade the RAM memory?

1.  Yes.
2.  Yes.
3.  Yes.
4.  No.  If Mobo is SPD compliant, then tab will read properly.
5.  No.  It only tells you what is installed, not what you can upgrade.

Thank you Computer_Commando!!
If the CPU-ID only tells me what is installed, and I allready know (through Everest) I've got 64 MB (SDRAM), could you please explain the advantage of using CPU-ID?
While I wait your answer I'll carry on a visual inspection. It will take some time because the cabinet is so full of wires that it won't be possible to see well without disconnecting some of them. I'll take advantage of the inspection to make a sketch of the cabinet's contents and all its relevant connections. If I have any doubts I'll get in touch again.
Best regards

Vigaenson

Hmm, well, actually 64MB is the maximum that most 486 chipsets support...

...If the CPU-ID only tells me what is installed, and I allready know (through Everest) I've got 64 MB (SDRAM), could you please explain the advantage of using CPU-ID?
While I wait your answer I'll carry on a visual inspection....

Just download it and see for yourself.  It will tell you all kinds of things you don't know now.  It might not function at all on a 486.  If not, try it on the machine you are using to connect to the internet.  It's a very small program.

Most 486 Processors don't even support the CPUID instruction...

Computer_Commando:
Thanks for your advice. I'll keep it in mind.
BC_Programmer:
Thank you for your tips. I'll also bear them in mind but I've read that the 486 processor is considered a fourth generation processor and my Cyrix 6x86MX/MII, 225 MHz PR300 is considered a sixth generation processor.

On the other hand, I've finished the visual inspection of my motherboard and I've found I have three 186 pin DIMM memory slots and seemingly four 72 pin SIMM memory slots.

Two of the DIMM memory slots are occupied by what is sketched in the attachment.

I would like to upgrade RAM up to 128 MB not for the sake of speeding the computer but but for having enough capacity to upload from a live CD to RAM an approximately 100MB Linux distro operating system
 
With these components, do you think I can reach my goal?
 
Best wishes

Vigaenson


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...With these components, do you think I can reach my goal?...

Unfortunately, you're going where few have gone before. You will have to try adding the 1 additional 32MB or 64MB, DIMM.  Either one or may or may not work, you'll just have to try it.

It is unlikely that you will be able to even find any 72-pin SIMMS, I haven't seen any of those in a long, long time.  If I remember correctly, some of those old motherboards were able to support 2 different types of memory, but not simultaneously.

BTW, I have a very old Cyrix 486SLC-50 laptop with 16MB RAM, which is proprietary.  It dual boots Win3.1 & Win95, Win98SE was just too slow.

Computer_Commando:

Thanks for your reply.

It is unlikely that you will be able to even find any 72-pin SIMMS, I haven't seen any of those in a long, long time. 

I agree. If I remember correctly I've only seen them in pictures.

If I remember correctly, some of those old motherboards were able to support 2 different types of memory, but not simultaneously.

You're right, I also read about that.

Next Saturday I'll try adding the additional DIMMs. Just in case that doesn't t work I'm considering the possibility of  reaching my goal  (uploading the approximately 100 MB Linux distro operating system to the 1 GB Toshiba hard disk that is connected to the old  computer ) by means of a connection between my new computer and the 1GB Toshiba hard disk.

Unfortunately  I don't know if that's possible not to mention how to do it.

If you (or anyone else) have ideas on the latter, they're welcome.

Regards

Vigaenson

High Computer_Commando!!
I want to thank you again for your help and keep you updated with my problem.
I finally found  (it wasn't easy) and bought a new 128 MB memory stick.
Because slits nº 2 and nº 3 were both occupied by 32 MB sticks, I tried to fit it into slit nº 1 but something must have been wrong with that slit because it didn't retain it, neither did it retain the sticks that were in the other two slits. 
At last, I removed both 32MB sticks and occupied slit nº3 with the 128 MB stick.
They are now recognized by the Everest Report and working fine with Windows 98.
But although the old PC has more memory now, I haven't been able to install the 100 MB Linux version on the 1GB hard drive yet.  So I'll have to begin new topic/s on the appropriate forum/s if I want to reach my goals.
Is there anything I can do for you?
Hoping to be hearing from you
Best regards and Happy New Year!
Vigaenson