Australian PC World - Enhancing your memory

Enhancing your memory

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Quite suddenly last year, memory got cheap -- really, really cheap. We've written a lot about memory upgrades, but there are still plenty of Windows users who've grown tired of hearing their hard disks thrashing away.
If you're running Windows 3.x with less than 8Mb of memory or Windows 95 with less than 16Mb, adding memory is an obvious first upgrade for your machine (see "Upgrades to shoulder the load" in our February issue). And if you're juggling multiple resource-hungry applications, you may want to add even more memory. If so, do it now -- there may never be a better time to buy memory.
Adding memory is a snap as long as you avoid incompatible memory types. Here are the basics.
Check your memory. Open your PC's case and find the existing memory; it may be hidden under cables or other hardware. Most motherboards have four long white memory sockets, but some have more. Newer PCs typically use 72-pin single in-line memory modules, while most older PCs use 30-pin SIMMs. If all your system's memory sockets are filled, you can buy extenders that let you add more sockets or trade in your SIMMs for some with higher capacity.
Buy new memory. You should increase memory to at least 16Mb for Windows 95. Check your PC's manual, and if you need more information call the manufacturer or your dealer. Except in ultrafast PCs, memory speed is usually not an issue. Some motherboards work with an odd number of SIMMs; others require that you install memory in matched pairs (two 4Mb modules, for example). Consult your manual to determine the correct order for filling sockets with SIMMs.
Install the new memory. Ground yourself by touching a metal part of the PC case before you remove the SIMMs from their protective pouch. Orient the notch on each new SIMM, and insert it at an angle into the socket. Pressing down firmly, pivot the SIMM into a vertical position until the clips on each side click into place. The properly installed SIMM should be vertical and firmly seated in the socket. Don't force it. Leave the cover off your PC for now.
Update the BIOS. Turn on your PC. You should see the memory size "count up" to the new total. You'll probably also see an error message about memory size. Enter your PC's BIOS setup (a message that appears during boot-up usually tells how). Normally, this sets the new size automatically. If not, enter the size manually. Then exit BIOS setup and restart the system. When your PC counts up to the correct amount of memory, turn it off and then replace the cover.
- Stan Miastkowski

Category: Hardware
Issue: Mar 1997
Pages: 179