About an old computer RAM upgrade

[Vigaenson]

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

[Computer_Commando]

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

[Broni]

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

[Vigaenson]

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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[Broni]

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

[Computer_Commando]

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.

[Vigaenson]

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

[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

[Computer_Commando]

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.

[Vigaenson]

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]

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.

[Vigaenson]

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

[BC_Programmer]

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

[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....

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.

[BC_Programmer]

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