How Much Memory? Is there too much?

[zippyjuan]

:bandit: I want to upgrade the memory in the Compaq that was given to me. It has a AMD K6 processor and 98mb installed. I haven't opened it up yet, but specs say I should have 3 slots. Max recommended is 384mb (of PC100 DIMM SDRAM). What if I put in two (or three) 256MB strips or would I be wasting my money on the extra memory? Is it more efficient to have all three slots used, or is it like water, they just roll over to the next one when necessary? Anything to watch out for in buying memory (good or bad)? Thanks for the help!

[DaFunkyUnit]

if you are using windows XP or win2k, then the more memory, the better. However, if you're using Win98, then it only utilizes at most 256MB efficiently.

you might want to check if your motherboard supports having all 3 slots occupied. some motherboards can only have 1, 2 or some other even number of slots used.

hope that helps

[zippyjuan]

:bandit: I do have Windows 2000. At present the board has one 64k strip and one 32k. Just replacing those with 256 each should give a big boost. Thanks for the info!

[OC]

If the max "recommended" is only 384mb, that means that each slot can only address 128mb maximum. While a 256 stick in each slot might actually function, you will still only see 128mb in each slot. This is a hardware limitation of the motherboard.

-OC

[EvilHorace]

That's true. I tryed that with a PC at work and it not being my money, I opted for a 256mb stick but that older PC only sees it as 128mb.
It'll work but you're just wasting money for the added memory that can't be utilized by that mobo. Get 3 128mb sticks.