Help with upgrading my computer.

[el_omega]

Hi, members of Zeropaid.
It is time for me to move up.
I want to go from a 40gb hard drive to a 120gb
Question is Should I just add this new h/d? or Should I get rid of the old one and just install this 120gb new one?
My motherboard specs are:

Motherboard Properties Motherboard ID 03/14/2002-SiS646-P4S533 Motherboard Name Asus P4S533 Front Side Bus Properties Bus Type Intel NetBurst Bus Width 64-bit Real Clock 101 MHz (QDR) Effective Clock 403 MHz Bandwidth 3224 MB/s Chipset Bus Properties Bus Type SiS MuTIOL Bus Width 16-bit Motherboard Physical Info CPU Sockets/Slots 1 Expansion Slots 6 PCI, 1 AGP RAM Slots 3 DIMM Integrated Devices Audio Form Factor ATX Motherboard Size 220 mm x 300 mm Motherboard Chipset SiS645DX Extra Features Q-Fan, JumperFree, Stepless Freq Selection Motherboard Manufacturer Company Name ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Product Information /http://www.asus.com.tw/mb/mbindex.htm BIOS Download /http://download.asus.com.tw/mb_alllist.asp

I also have a problem with my memory upgrade:

I want to go from 256mb ram to 512mb.

Can I only add another 256 or Do I have to just install one of 512mb.

I know I cannot mix two diffrerent manufacturers together.

Any advise?

Thanks for all help provided, I will check for anwser in a couple of hours or so.

[g-smooth2k]

how many bays do you have?

No. of 5.25" and No. of 3.5" Bays exposed and Hidden

How bays is being used ? (5.25" & 3.5")

How much RAM do you have?

What kind of RAM are you using?

How many sticks of RAM do you have?

How many open RAM sockets do you have?

[nasrules]

you can mix manufacturers, you just can't mix types (sd, ddr, rd etc.)

[el_omega]

Bays? I don't know what this mean.

I currently have a Micron Tech. (256 MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM) card.
I have 3 DIMM open slots.

[el_omega]

you can mix manufacturers, you just can't mix types (sd, ddr, rd etc.)

did not know that, but thanks for sharing that.

Could I just take the one I have and replace it with just one of 512mb?

If so, maybe I would do this because it seems hard for me to find another 256 from same manufacturer.

[g-smooth2k]

You can Mix manufacturers Memory.

You can install another

256 MB of DDR PC 2100 333 MHz 184-pin DIMM or

512 MB of DDR PC 2100 333 MHz 184-pin DIMM

I have mixed manufacturers memory and it works fine

as long as it is the same type of memory.

but you cannot mix a SDRAM with a DDR RAM memory

problems will occur.

[g-smooth2k]

Originally posted by el_omega
Bays? I don't know what this mean.

I currently have a Micron Tech. (256 MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM) card.
I have 3 DIMM open slots.

Bays CDROM is using 5.25" Bay
Floppy Drive is using a 3.5" Bay

Oh Did you build the computer or

did you buy a computer from a manufacturer?

[nasrules]

you could add either a

256MB DDR DIMM

or a

512MB DDR DIMM

chances are the one you have will be a 168-pin module and slot.

it doesn't matter about the manufacturer, just make sure it's DDR.

[cpugeniusmv]

seems like my buddies have answered the memory question, now onto the harddrive:

if you want the max space for what you've got, i'd leave the 40 in and put the 120 in as well, if you put them on the same ide cable, just make sure that you set the 40 gig jumper to master, and the 120 to slave.

[vipp]

When I needed more space ( I had 40 GB), I simply bought a new 80 GB hard drive, and added it in. Now I have 120 GB. I mainly use the 80 for storage of files, and the 40 for programs.

Also, when I upgraded RAM, I bought two 256's, because that was cheaper than getting one 512. I found pricewatch.com is the best place to price shop. (heh, no wonder they named it that)

[phalkon30]

Just to sum some stuff up here....

You can mix manufacturers (and off brand memory is usually the same, I've never had a problem, so I'd save a few bucks and go no name)

You CAN NOT mix types

I think you can mix speeds, but your memory will only be as fast as the slowest chip, so if you have ddr 2100, don't buy 2700, it won't help

If you have 3 slots, then YES, you CAN add more memory, I tend to put the largest chip first, but it shouldn't matter really

For the HD, how many IDE devices do you have? (cd/dvd drives or hard drives) you can have a max of four including the new drive

What OS do you have? 98 has a limit to how big a drive can be, I think that might be over it...not sure

[nasrules]

Originally posted by phalkon30
I think you can mix speeds, but your memory will only be as fast as the slowest chip, so if you have ddr 2100, don't buy 2700, it won't help

If you have 3 slots, then YES, you CAN add more memory, I tend to put the largest chip first, but it shouldn't matter really

For the HD, how many IDE devices do you have? (cd/dvd drives or hard drives) you can have a max of four including the new drive

What OS do you have? 98 has a limit to how big a drive can be, I think that might be over it...not sure

correct phalk. you can mix speeds, but it will only go as fast as the slowest component. same applies to cas latency methinks.

yeh, i tried putting my 256mb before my 128mb when i upgraded, but couldn't get either in, ended up putting the 128 first after hours of battling with the modules.............fucking scabby dell mobo's...............

isn't 98 ok with sizes? or maybe it's just 2000 and xp. 95 for sure can't, but shouldn't 98 be alright with fat32?

[cpugeniusmv]

Originally posted by nasrules
correct phalk. you can mix speeds, but it will only go as fast as the slowest component. same applies to cas latency methinks.

yeh, i tried putting my 256mb before my 128mb when i upgraded, but couldn't get either in, ended up putting the 128 first after hours of battling with the modules.............fucking scabby dell mobo's...............

isn't 98 ok with sizes? or maybe it's just 2000 and xp. 95 for sure can't, but shouldn't 98 be alright with fat32?

it's not 98 that has a problem with disk sizes, but fat32...i think you can have up to 100something GB that it will recognize...ntfs, however, recognizes substantially more.

[nasrules]

Originally posted by cpugeniusmv
it's not 98 that has a problem with disk sizes, but fat32...i think you can have up to 100something GB that it will recognize...ntfs, however, recognizes substantially more.

damn!!! owell, i'm only getting a 60 (to add to my pathetic 20)

[phalkon30]

137gig max for fat32 and 98 http://www.md4pc.com/questions/58.htm