pc memory scan, unsure what it means?

Ok i recently looked at another thread and decided too run this scanner too see if i could upgrade too more Ram. I recived too completely different messages, i'm not really sure what they mean, could someone please explain too me.


Maximum Memory Capacity 3072MB,2048MB
Currently Installed Memory:768MB
Available Memory Slots:1
(by the way i have atleast 2 memory slots in my pc)
Number of Banks: 3
Dual Channel Support: No
CPU Manufacturer: AuthenticAMDCPU Family:AMD Athlon(tm) Processor Model 4, Stepping 4
CPU Speed: 1410 MHz

Customers should verify processors are C Revisions for 266MHz FSB. If processor is B Revision the FSB is only 200MHz.A:

3072MB,2048MB.
Adding the maximum amount of memory will improve performance and help extend the useful life of your system as you run increasingly demanding software applications in the future.

then i also recived this message at the side, what the heck does it all mean.

Currently installed memory:

You system has two different slot config.

Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200,DDR PC2700,SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*

*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.

You might want to read this: http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/cm_to.htm


Anyway, I'm not sure what this scanner of yours is, but its results seem pretty straight forward. Let's take a look at each part:



Your computer supports configurations of up to 3 gigabytes, or up to 2 gigabytes of RAM. It doesn't say what the rules are for the two different limits. I would guess it depends either on what type of memory you use, or possibly on some kind of user-switchable setting somewhere in the BIOS or maybe even physically on the motherboard somewhere.

If you don't know what gigabytes are, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabyte
If you don't know what RAM is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAM


You currently have 768 megabytes of RAM physically in your machine.


You have one empty memory slot available.


I'm not sure how it's defining a "bank" in this context. It could mean you currently have three memory modules in place. That would make mathematical sense, given you've got a total of 768MB, if each module is 256MB.


Your machine does not support dual-channel-enabled memory.

If you don't know what dual-channel-enabled memory is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture


You've got an AMD Athlon 4 processor, operating at 1.41 gigahertz

Wow, that's an old processor. Circa 2001, if my Googling serves.



There is more than one version of your processor available. If the one you have is "revision C", then your system's front side bus is operating at a speed of 266 megahertz. If it's "revision B", then your system's front side bus is operating at a speed of 200 megahertz.

If you don't know what front side bus is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_side_bus


I'm not sure why this was repeated.


Pretty self-explanatory. Adding more memory is good.




As I said before, your system supports two different configurations for memory. One configuration will give you a maximum of 3GB, and the other will give you a maximum of 2 GB. What exactly makes the difference, I don't know. You could probably google for the answer, though. Try searching for the make and model of your computer, along with the words "memory configuration".


There are three different types of memory modules that will work with the slots you have.

You can read about the various types at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_SDRAM and at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC133


This is just a note, mentioning that while you could conceivably put more memory in the machine than you're supposed to, it will only ever use the maximum amount it actually supports. For example, let's say you've got four slots for memory on your motherboard. If you were to put a 1GB module in each of those slots, you'd have a total of 4GB physically sitting there. But your machine is not capable of using 4GB. It can only use a maximum of 2 or 3. So some of that 4GB would just sit there unused, wasted.

Chosen pretty much hit all the points. This particular one means how many memory slots your computer has so you are currently using 2 since it also says only 1 slot is available. You probably currently have a 256 and a 512 chip

Maximum Memory refers to how much RAM your motherboard can handle. I've never seen a scan produce 2 values so I don't know what that means. It could be an error but if not you might want to contact your computer manufacturer to find out what the motherboard can handle.

You can upgrade your RAM. Simplest way is probably to get 2 1024 chips

ok thank you both for your wonderful answers, when i asked the question i was curious why it had posted that i could not upgrade anymore and it also said that my motherboard can handle 2048MB Ram or 3072MB Ram. Just a little confusing why it said both and why it posted too different answers, thank you Dagmar i think i get it now and i'll upgrade too 2GB and hope for the best lol.

Chosen i understand most of that already, i know enough about PC's too get me by so yes i know what Ram, CPU etc all are but thanks for your help too.

Is there anyway you can find out what graphics cards would be supported on my Motherboard. At the moment i have a very old GEForce 3.

Yes my pc is very old about 4 years i believe, it was a gift a couple of years ago, though it runs SL good, i'd like too spead it up a little if possible

Read the manual that you got with your computer. There will probably be a section on upgrading memory, and it will tell you what memory configurations your computer can handle, as well as the hardware specifications you need for the memory cards.

(Though I have no doubt that the previous advice in this thread is good, checking your manuals is still a good thing to do before spending the money on memory.)

Once again, please read this: http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/cm_to.htm

I hate to nitpick, but really, it gets a bit annoying to read "too" over and over again, where you should be using "to" or "two". I know English is not everyone's first language, and that it is one of the more challenging ones, but still, using the right words is important. Punctuation and capitalization would be nice as well.

Anyway, to answer your question about the graphics card, you'll need to know two things. First, does it have a dedicated video card slot? It's obviously way too old to have a PCI Express slot, but does it have an AGP slot? If it does, then you could conceivably go with something as recent as a GeForce 7 series card. You'll just have to make sure it's the right version of AGP for your card of choice, since voltages can vary. If it doesn't have an AGP slot, then you're stuck with the really old stuff. I think the last time nVidia made a GeForce card with a PCI interface was back in 2005.

Second, how big is your power supply? Does it have enough wattage and connectivity to accommodate a more powerful video card?

As Amity said, your best bet is to read the manual that came with the machine, assuming you still have it. If you don't then you'll have to do some research.

Really, though, don't you think it's time to just let that machine die? By the sound of it, it's at least seven years old. Computers have advanced at least two or three generations in that time. Even if you did manage to arm wrestle a better video card into it, the machine as a whole is still going to be ridiculously slow and incredibly underpowered. If I were you, I'd take whatever amount of money you were thinking of spending on a new video card and more RAM, and just put it toward buying a new computer. That old dinosaur you've got is not worth the effort.

Seriously, for a couple of 1GB PC3200 memory modules, you'd be looking at about $80. Then, for a GeForce 7 series video card, assuming you could even use one, you'd be adding another $50-150. That puts your total at somewhere between $130-230, which is half way to the cost of a brand new low-end machine from Dell or HP or something. And "low-end" doesn't automatically mean total crap these days. For under $400, you can get a pretty decent little desktop. It won't break any speed records for that price, but it will be lightyears ahead of what you've got now, and will even be usable for SL at modest settings.

Ok thanks for your help again, when i wrote that last post it was like 1am where i live, by the way just because i make a few grammer and spelling mistakes does not give you the right too assume that i'm not fucking English, cause mate i am. So i have a few spelling issues big fucking deal, it's not causing you any harm is it.

The PC is 4 years old i know this as i asked the person i bought it off, it's a custom built one so no i don't have any manual, if i did i'd have looked through that first.

It does have a agp slot, the person who built it, built it to last.

The reason i wanna upgrade this one is because i'm on a very very tight budget, i have only £200 to spend, i'm sorry if i don't have a great paying job and all that but i can't afford too put anymore money on it.

Even if i was going too buy a pc, i'd never and i mean never buy a DELL PC, i've bought them in the past nothing but problem after problem. I'd sooner get a custom built one, i don't and never will buy store bought ones. Your just asking for trouble if you do.

I can handle SL pretty well thank you, like i said when this pc was built it was built too last, my brother inlaw don't mess around. It may be a 4 year old PC in real but because of the way it was built it was better than most pc's out at the time.

First of all you don't have to get annoyed with anyone here, it's not productive. However you think Chosen gave it, he gave great advice, even on the grammar tips

How you ended your last reply was in fact quite telling, yes 'at the time', but seeing the power of all computers have doubled at least every 6 months, your machine is probably at best only a quarter as good as a basic cheap computer on the market now. How about getting your advice from the original builder seeing as you trust them so much?

Oh i trust my brother inlaw ok but he's the tightest person in the world, if i asked too much he'd probally charge me. He's a computer techh.

I'm not getting annoyed persay, it's just upsetting a bit why do people have too nitpick on the smallest of thing's so i have a few spelling and grammers issues. I'm trying too fix this myself, i really don't like it when people start, i could have been dyslexic. Even though i'm not it's still not fair too just start picking problems about that person.

I'm sorry if i get a bit emotional but would you like it if someone just started saying things about anything you have problems with. I can't help the way i am and how i spell.

I'm not looking too upgrade more than i need, another GB would be good and a new graphics card, i was looking at the 6600 if that works i don't know. That's why i'm asking here.

The last place i asked was some proper pc forum and i got one reply that started out with them laughing and telling me that i need too get real and buy a new pc, so i explained that i could not afford a new pc and i said this as nicely as possible and for my troubles i was booted off the forums so i aint ever doing that again.

Well if you only have a £200 budget then it seems that upgrading the RAM and the video card is the best you can probably do. I would do a search on the forums for whatever applications you hope will run better with the upgraded videocard to make sure you are not dissappointed although generally speaking the feedback for the NVidia Geforce vid cards 7600 and above here has been good. If you prefer custom builds then you can continue to use your upgrades in a new computer to save on the cost of the build so you can continue to benefit from the upgrades. Good luck!

Ok thank you Dagmar, i'll have a look around the forums and i have heard that both the 6600 and the 7600 are both very good models, so either of those would be great. Fingers crossed they would work. When i do buy can you recommend any good places on the web you have bought parts from. I know about Newegg but i'm unsure if they deliver too the UK and how much it would cost.

As for applications the main things i use are my Virus scanner, SL, Photoshop and all the windows stuff that runs. Not going too be running much else i don't think.

There's no need to get testy. In suggesting that perhaps English was not your first language, I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. 99.999999% of all English speakers in the world at least know that the word "I" should be capitalized, for example.

As for "harm", well the only one who might be harmed is you, since you're the one asking others for answers. A lot of people won't bother to read posts that are not properly punctuated. It is a bit of a mental strain to try to read them, so a lot of people won't bother. I was trying to be generous. Please don't snap at the hand that's feeding you.

Had all your posts been properly punctuated, just as everyone else's replies were, I have no doubt you would have gotten at least double the amount of responses you did.


Forgive me if I'm misinterpreting your tone, but you seem to be saying that as if the rest of us were somehow automatically supposed to know you would have looked through the manual if you had it, and that it's somehow insulting to you that we didn't. You'd do well to realize that that's a fairly ridiculous outlook on your part.

Look, the fact is lots of people who do have manuals don't read them, and then they post questions that they wouldn't have needed to ask had they just read. Why else do you think it would be that the phrase "read the manual" is so commonly used that it has become an abbreviation? Search any tech-related forum on the Internet , and you'll find "RTM", and it's more emphatic version, "RTFM", printed thousands upon thousands of times. If everyone in possession of a manual were to read it, those abbreviations wouldn't even exist.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with pointing out that a manual is often the best source of information to answer simple questions like the ones you've been asking. Don't make such a big deal out of it.


I hate to break it to you, but there's absolutely no such thing as a computer that is "built to last". Even the ultra high end machine I spent $8000 on last year is now merely "above average". By this time next year, it will be "slow". And by the time it's as old as yours is now, it will be just as much a dinosaur.

Technology changes fast. There's no getting around that.

The fact that your machine does have an AGP slot gives it a bit more useful longevity than if it didn't, which is good. But even within AGP, there have been several generations. As I said, voltages can vary, and that can severely limit your options. If yours is a 1.5-volt slot, then you can't use a 3.3-volt card with it, and vise versa. Hopefully it's "universal", which would allow for both options, but there's no guarantee that it is.

And then there are speed considerations. If you've only got a 1x slot, for example, then an 8x card won't do you a whole lot of good. While a card built for 8x will run circles around one made for 1x, all that extra speed inside the card itself will be meaningless if the card can only talk to the rest of the machine at 1/8 its own speed.


"I can't afford it" is perhaps the biggest lie that human beings tell themselves every day. Allow me to offer two quick arguments to counter it.

First of all, no matter how meagerly your job pays, the fact is you were able to save that £200. I don't know how long it took you to do that, but whatever amount of time it was, if you were to continue to save for another equal period of time, you'd double your savings. Then you'd be able to spend £400 on a better machine. It might not feel good to continue to wait, but in the long run, it will be more than worth it.

Second, while I don't pretend to know what prices are like in Europe, I do know that in the US, you have lots of options for new desktops for the amount of money you have. If my conversion is right, £200 is about $313, right?. Here's a small list of machines you could afford, any of which would be better than what you've got now:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010+4018&name=%24200+-+%24300

And that's just from one seller. If you shop around, there are tons of others.


OK, if you want a custom-built machine, then get one. You could buy a cheap barebones system from ASUS (or from any number of other manufacturers), and then spend the rest of your budget on the components it needs. Here are some examples:

Barebones system $75: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110067R

2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo $112: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115032

2GB DDR2 667 RAM $50: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134372

GeForce 7600GS $50: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141031

160GB SATA hard drive $50: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148230

CPU cooling fan $15-30: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=CPU+fan+775&x=0&y=0

Total cost: ~$350

Note, I didn't check very carefully to ensure total compatibility, or to make sure those particular items were the absolute best bang for the buck, and it's possible there's a part or two I might have forgotten. I only spent about 5 minutes searching just one website. But I think you get the idea. The total price is very close to your proposed budget, and you'd end up with a system that beats the pants off what you've got now. Shop around more diligently than I did, and I'm sure you could probably piece together an even better system for even less money. As I said earlier, "low end" doesn't have to mean junk these days.

That said, you could also do OK with something from Dell, HP, or Gateway. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with Dell in the past. I'm not exactly a big fan of theirs, myself, but I can tell you I've got a 4-year-old Dell machine sitting over on the other side of the room, and it still runs like a champ. It was my only PC until I splurged on my high end machine last year. It doesn't handle SL all that well anymore, but it does everything else just great.


According to the specs you listed, if you got it just 4 years ago, it was old even when it was new. It was hardly better than most PC's at the time. In fact, it was considerably worse.

That's not an insult, by the way. It's simply a statement of fact. I'll explain quickly.

Your processor is an Athlon 4, which was current in 2001, not 2004.
Your GPU is a GeForce 3, which was also current in 2001, not 2004.
Your RAM is DDR, which was current from about 2000 to early 2004, if I remember correctly

In 2004, a "better than most" CPU would have been an Athlon XP model 10
In 2004, a "better than most" GPU would have been a GeForce 6 series
In 2004, "better than most" RAM would have been DDR2

Your computer was already several generations behind the times, across the board, in 2004. The only category in which it might have been "better than most" is in comparison with other computers that were also 3-4 years out of date at the time. It certainly was nowhere near as powerful as any computer that was current in 2004.

Again, that's not an insult, so don't take it as one. Clearly, you've got some emotional attachment to your machine, and that's fine. But don't let that color your judgment. Specs are specs.

In any case, if you feel that that old clunker of yours "handles SL pretty well", then I would submit that you have no idea what you've been missing. The oldest machine I have here is that Dell I mentioned. It happens to have been brand new in 2004, so I think it makes for a pretty good comparison, based on your "better than most" statement. These days, while it does run SL with fair stability, I have to crank most settings way down, and disable a lot of features, if I want a decent frame rate on it. I'd imagine you probably have to go even lower on yours. There's simply no way you wouldn't, with your slower processor, older graphics card, and significantly slower memory.

The amount of graphical quality in SL you miss out on at those low settings is staggering. If you've never seen how SL appears and behaves on a more modern machine, I can assure you your jaw will hit the floor when you discover what you've been missing.

Bottom line, putting more RAM and a better graphics card in that old machine will improve things slightly. But you're still bottlenecked in several places. Your processor is quite slow, and your RAM is even slower in comparison with today's standards. And there's no telling so far what speed and voltage your AGP slot is. Basically, you're driving around right now in a 1972 Pinto, and you're hoping that changing the muffler and the fuel pump will somehow make it new again. It won't. You need a new car.

QFT

I have a laptop and a desktop. The laptop I got in 2006, it wasn't high end or anything, but it ran SL fine and all that.

Then I built my PC, made to be able to handle anything I plan to do graphically for about 2 years, about 6 months ago now, and it handles Windlight on highest settings (Draw distance down for less network strain)

Now, when I built my PC, I didn't use Windlight at first, and the difference was still staggering..I was amazed, quite simply, at how wonderful my SL actually looked.

Now with Windlight, the difference between the two is even larger... this machine (I play SL on my PC while on the forums on the laptop) runs slow frame rate, and doesn't looks so great. My PC, again, handles the best, and I can't stop taking snapshots because of it.

Ok first off I will try too correct my grammar in future but not all of us are completely bothered it, so I don't spend 30 mines correcting grammar and spelling.

Yes you greatly misinterpreted my tone, i was just explaining that i don't have the manual so i could not read it, there is no need for you too get testy.

Yes it is old and i should probably buy a new one but i mean it when i say i can't afford too save up anymore, it took me nearly 2 years too save up that. Like i said I’m on a low paid job, it is not my fault i can't afford too spend £300 on a new one.

I’ve been looking it up my agp slot has 4x on it so i read but still it tells me nowhere what Graphics Cards will run on my PC. I know it will take 2GB and i could upgrade my CPU too the Asus 2600 i think.
But that is all i found.

I don't have the technical expertise of others in this thread, but I can tell you this from my personal experience and limited technical knowledge. The amount of selective upgrading that you can do on an old computer is limited. As new hardware and software is developed, it assumes that you are using top-of-the-line hardware at the time it is developed.

If you put a brand-new, top-of-the-line graphics card in a computer that's a year old, you have a good chance that it will work just fine. Put that brand-new graphics card in a two-year-old computer, it will probably still work just fine though not completely as well as it could. Put it in a four-year-old computer, and chances are high that it just isn't going to work well.

By putting the new upgrades into an old computer, you may save a little money buy not buying an entirely new computer. But you run a high risk of wasting a lot of money on new parts that just don't work completely in your old computer. In the long run, it could make a lot more financial sense to wait and save up a little more money to buy the new computer.

The good news is that replacing your old computer with a new one is fairly cheap these days (I'm speaking about US- I don't know why it would be different overseas, but I guess one never knows). The motherboard and disk drives are the cheap part. The things that start to make computers expensive are the things you were going to buy for your old computer anyway- extra RAM and a graphics card.

The one thing you'd want to take care to research is to determine if the operating system on your new computer will run the important programs you want to take from your old computer. (Hopefully some of those compatibility problems with Windows Vista have been worked out, but I took the easy way out and "downgraded" to XP rather than wait on Vista to work.)

Even if you could make new components work in your old computer, think about this: You're not a technical person. You don't want to spend hours tweaking it yourself, and you probably don't want to over-rely on forums and friends to do it for you. If you're going to buy extra memory and a graphics card anyway, save yourself some extra hassle and shell out a little bit extra money to buy a new system.

You may wish to look into a browser that has build in spell check. It's how I personally find my spelling mistakes, and I believe Chosen mentioned doing the same at one time or another, at least with long posts.

I use Mozilla Firefox, which has a built in spell checker on par with MS Word or something similar, though I don't think it has a grammar 'spell check'.

When you get into things like these forums and such, where you may be typing out a very long post, spelling really can deter people from reading it. Shorter posts and such don't hurt so much, but with things the length of some of Chosen's responses, and even my longer ones, it can really start to be a nuisance.

Thank you Amity, I know I should buy a new PC and I’m going too look into it, though when I do I’ll just be using my current Windows XP. I've seen Vista in action and I really don't like it all that much so not for me I’m afraid.

I never said I was not technical. So I know a little about computers and I know where too put things. Plus my Partner was a Technician so he can help fit them.

Plus I’d rather rely on people I can trust, I know way too much about computer shops and places like Curry’s and Comet, too buy one from them or too let them build me on. Most places are rip off merchants. I should know I used too work at Comet

Keira I’ll look into Modzilla i currently use it but I’ll also try Word as I’m used too that.

Good move on the XP. You won't find many small computer shops recommending Vista, it's too much work to get working as smoothly and as non-annoyingly as XP.

Anyhow, your graphics card compatibility depends on the type of slot. You aren't going to find a comprehensive list of every graphics card that works for a specific slot, because there are just too many. You can search something like http://www.Newegg.com (My personal favourite parts store online) for your slot type and go from there if you like though.

Also, DDR memory is slower than the current DDR2, but cheaper I believe, which may work on your side. If you want to upgrade memory, you may be able to get the whole remainder of that2 gigs for pretty cheap. The only thing is, while it will help considerably, you still won't be running SL amazingly well or anything like that.

Hoping that you meant upgrade your graphics card to the ASUS 2600, because that is definitely not a CPU. Anyhow, that does fit an AGP 4x slot, and runs pretty cheap, around 75-90 USD.

As Chosen said though, upgrading your RAM and your graphics card will only go so far on a machine like that. I'd also like to recommend that you hold out longer and buy something better all together. If it would take another year to save that much more, then so be it. By then you can get even better for the same price, and SL should run that much smoother.

ETA:: Just checked on Newegg, the cheapest 1 gig stick of DDR PC3200 that I find is just under 30 USD, which is NOT cheaper than DDR2 it turns out. So oops on that bit.

LOL i must have said it wrong there is a CPU out there that called the 2600XP (model no AXDA2600DKV3C), i read that it would work on my PC, i've never heard of that Graphics Card. I'll look it up.

Thanks for the tip. though it's ok too say that if i wait another year that a better PC would be available for the same price but SL is still upgrading and wanting more and more so i'd probally have too save another 100 on top of that too get a decent PC *sigh*

Oh does Newegg deliver too the UK? I could not seem too find the prices for delivery for UK on it.

Mmm i just looked up the Asus and i can't find it as a Graphics Card only found CPU's, strange

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121087
--------------------------------------

Newegg uses FedEx for shipping, so you should be able to get it in the UK.

The CPU you're talking about is an AMD Athlon XP 2600+, but for some reason I can't find it to check specs. Whether your PC can take it depends on the socket type of your motherboard, which I can't tell from info above. AMD is correct, but can't say on the socket type, since I dunno what socket your current is. The XP 2600+ is a Socket A CPU.

I can't recall right now how well ATI and SL do, but I'm about to check the 'approved graphics card' list thingy to see if that helps know if that particular card will work. I also don't know if that card is any better than what you currently have, since I don't know what you have now (Has that been mentioned?).

ok thanks, how well does ATI work with SL?

You'd also want to make sure your PC can handle new stuff power-wise. If your power supply is already right near it's limit, a better graphics card, more RAM, new CPU may just overload it and then you'd have a whole buncha nothing and all your savings gone.

UPDATE:: The 2600 is one of the listed 'approved' ATI card types.

Hi i'm not really sure about my power supply, I think i'll have a look on Newegg and see what cheap pc's they have, that would work with SL.

Hi I’m not really sure about my power supply, I think I’ll have a look on Newegg and see what cheap pc's they have, that would work with SL.

Do you know what the payment methods would be on Newegg and if they do deliver too the UK, i can't find an information on there web page about if they do or not.