Best type of memory?

[Captain_Collins]

Hi John,


Thank you for the explanation. I will see if I can go about getting Windows XP, but I think it will be virtually impossible to pick it up over here. We'll see what I can do.

You'd recommend 4 gigs total for XP right?

:wave:

Gisa ^^

Look for OEM versions of XP, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is the computer builders version of software. The software is exactly the same as the retail version, it just comes in a teeny box with a 10-page instruction manual and is much cheaper than the retail version.

 

[mikemike]

windows works by using your hard drive as an extension of the physical RAM in your machine. xp will run on 512 but will spend a lot of time grinding in the drive to reference itself and the app when an app runs. 2 gigs is minimum and i use 3 gigs and find that the extra third gig speeds things up. DDR2 is way cheap, now, and someone mentioned Newegg, which is the best because the reader's comments talk about how the product worked or didn't work in their machine. the crucial memory advisor is fine, but some comments on the newegg indicated that not all crucial memory is equal in robustness.

right now the coolest way is to get a soon to be discontinued X45 motherboard and an old-school dual or quad core for not so much money anymore. i just got an Asus P5-Q pro board to upgrade my P5AD board, still using my P4 intel 3.4 CPU, running at 3.7. and, with its hyperthreading and all, it's a pretty good machine... running some heavy routes at double the frame-rate of the older motherboard.

i use G-Skill ram, by the way.

mike

 

[johnwhelan]

Look for OEM versions of XP, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is the computer builders version of software. The software is exactly the same as the retail version, it just comes in a teeny box with a 10-page instruction manual and is much cheaper than the retail version.

OEM Windows is licensed for one machine only. Retail can be transferred to another machine if you buy a replacement.

Cheerio John

 

[mikemike]

OEM, which i'm using... they're pretty easy about my registration, and i'm always adding a new drive or new something or another and having to re-register. they just ask if you have 'recently added...' or something like that, and they don't need anything more than my 'yes' to proceed.

its seems like they're be a lot of XP discs on ebay or whatever, now that Vista is available ( not that i'd use it yet ), and i wonder if maybe that's not a cheap place to get a legal copy?

 

[Captain_Collins]

OEM, which i'm using... they're pretty easy about my registration, and i'm always adding a new drive or new something or another and having to re-register. they just ask if you have 'recently added...' or something like that, and they don't need anything more than my 'yes' to proceed.

its seems like they're be a lot of XP discs on ebay or whatever, now that Vista is available ( not that i'd use it yet ), and i wonder if maybe that's not a cheap place to get a legal copy?

The phone system in the UK has allowed me to re-register my copy of XP many times as I have upgraded my computer over the years. It just asks me where I bought it and how many computers I have it on. I only have it on one, almost the same one I had it on originally, so all is well.

According to Microsoft's licence, it is illegal to resell XP OEM once you have opened the seals on the box. If you have opened the seals, then XP HAS to be installed on a working computer (subject to a minimum components list), and you have to provide end-user support for XP. So if you find XP OEM on ebay that has been opened, it is illegal.

 

[SuperFudd]

Do NOT use high density RAM.

 

[mikemike]

oops, now i see this on my OEM XP. i bought components and ( the big computer store ) let me buy XP to go with it, so my XP isn't proprietary hardware specific to my machine, but i see that the intention is there in the way they word it. i'm also noticing that i paid 189.00 for this XP and i wonder if i had thought i was saving a lot of money by going OEM? i don't remember. lot of money to pay for being a Microsoft Beta Tester, grade 2.1

The phone system in the UK has allowed me to re-register my copy of XP many times as I have upgraded my computer over the years. It just asks me where I bought it and how many computers I have it on. I only have it on one, almost the same one I had it on originally, so all is well.

According to Microsoft's licence, it is illegal to resell XP OEM once you have opened the seals on the box. If you have opened the seals, then XP HAS to be installed on a working computer (subject to a minimum components list), and you have to provide end-user support for XP. So if you find XP OEM on ebay that has been opened, it is illegal.

 

[gisa]

Hmm, this OEM stuff sounds tricky.

Again, thank you all for the input. I'm still debating getting XP (a buddy back home might be able to send it to me). If not, I think I'll just endure with what I have for the next few years and then go with windows 7.0 or whatever the next vista thingy is.

I can't complain about win2K and I respect that developers and manufacturers need new software and hardware to push things to the limits, but the OS I am running is solid and it's rather sad that one is forced to keep along by excluding older OS'. That being said, I suppose the improvements in 09 could only come with new drivers, new code and new hardware.

I'll most likely end up getting 2 more gigs of ram (maybe a kit of 2 1-gig non EC RAM). I'm interested to see how it would affect performance on everything.

:wave:

Gisa ^^

 

[mikemike]

XP has all the modern drivers. when i run Win2k i have to run it in VGA mode and things are kind of slow. if you can get an easy come copy of XP, i think you'd find the differences and like them.

Hmm, this OEM stuff sounds tricky.

Again, thank you all for the input. I'm still debating getting XP (a buddy back home might be able to send it to me). If not, I think I'll just endure with what I have for the next few years and then go with windows 7.0 or whatever the next vista thingy is.

I can't complain about win2K and I respect that developers and manufacturers need new software and hardware to push things to the limits, but the OS I am running is solid and it's rather sad that one is forced to keep along by excluding older OS'. That being said, I suppose the improvements in 09 could only come with new drivers, new code and new hardware.

I'll most likely end up getting 2 more gigs of ram (maybe a kit of 2 1-gig non EC RAM). I'm interested to see how it would affect performance on everything.

:wave:

Gisa ^^

 

[johnwhelan]

Hmm, this OEM stuff sounds tricky.

Again, thank you all for the input. I'm still debating getting XP (a buddy back home might be able to send it to me). If not, I think I'll just endure with what I have for the next few years and then go with windows 7.0 or whatever the next vista thingy is.

I can't complain about win2K and I respect that developers and manufacturers need new software and hardware to push things to the limits, but the OS I am running is solid and it's rather sad that one is forced to keep along by excluding older OS'. That being said, I suppose the improvements in 09 could only come with new drivers, new code and new hardware.

I'll most likely end up getting 2 more gigs of ram (maybe a kit of 2 1-gig non EC RAM). I'm interested to see how it would affect performance on everything.

:wave:

Gisa ^^

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16837116194

XP upgrade is still being sold check locally. It's cheaper than vista retail, if you buy Vista you can downgrade it.

Cheerio John

 

[gisa]

Hi Again John,


Thanks for the link. Upon closer inspection though, someone said this would not upgrade win2k. I am still waiting for my friend to get in touch with me but I think that regardless of what I do about my O.S., I'll get another 2 gigs for sure.

:wave:

Gisa ^^

 

[builder300544]

Hi,

Originally posted by Gisa
I found out two important pieces of information. I know I have 4 open slots in total (using two now - in the 1st and 3rd position [does it matter which positions so long as they are in pairs? - i.e. 1st and 4th or 2nd and third...?]):

I apologise if this has been answered and I can,t quite see it.

The reason I ask is that after reading this thread I used the Crucial scan on my computer which came up with

Maximum Ram possible 4GB
Your computer is already fitted with the maximum ram?
Modules detected nil?

The system information shows as having 3Gb Ram

The motherboard has four slots

Slot 1 1Gb stick
Slot 2 512mb stick
Slot 3 1 Gb stick
Slot 4 512 mb stick

The two 1Gb sticks are identical, as are the two 512MB sticks.

Is my Ram memory installed correctly?

Regards,
John

 

[gisa]

Hi guys,


Well I ordered some memory (2 gigs of 184 pin DIMM DDR PC3200 RAM for about $ 80). I had some problems getting the computer to recognize it (that or it was installed incorrectly) but 30 minutes later and countless reboots and BIOS tweaks (and restores haha) I got it to work.

I DID notice an improvement in windows overall, especially in intensive programs (they close and open quicker). I'm not sure if I can see a major improvement in trainz but it does not stutter as much, that much I can say. Trainz also loads a bit faster and the railyard is a bit faster. It was worth it in the end.

:wave:

Gisa ^^