On 07/28/2003, Doug apparently wrote: > Reply to Mikael Bystr�m message 7/27/2003 2:08 PM > >Dear Micke- >This is all new to me but my techie friend will understand. According to >my System Profiler I have a Power PC G3 with 192MB of memory. But the >screen on my HD shows I have 1.5G left, whatever this means. You said I >need 384MB of memory so do I need to buy another 192MB of DIMMs?
I saw that Mikael was leaving the list, so I'll try to handle this one for you, Doug. What the window on your Macintosh's hard drive is showing is the amount of _storage_ on your hard drive. This storage (barring major mishaps) doesn't go away when you turn your system off - the contents of RAM (the 192MB of memory) will be gone if you turn your system off (or the power fails and you're using a desktop without battery backup). RAM = where the programs and data are *temporarily* stored when the program(s) are running This is usually measured in MB (megabytes). Some systems can have 1 GB (gigabyte) of RAM or more (newer models, usually). Hard drive = 'permanent' storage, where you save a file after creating it or making changes. This is usually (nowadays) measured in GB (gigabytes), say 10GB, 20GB, or a lot of current hard drives are in the 40 or 60 GB size range. BTW, depending on how the manufacturer counts it, 1GB = 1024MB (or 1000MB). Some manufacturers use one equivalent, others use the other. Also, CDROMs are storage (like a hard drive, but not where you can save files to them, unless you have a CD-R drive and media), and are usually in the (maximum) size range of 550 to 600 MB. Examples of these are commercial programs you might buy, MacOS 8.1 and later versions of MacOS. What Mikael was referring to was the RAM needed to (adequately) run MacOS X.whatever. Since you have 192MB of RAM, I'd guess you have a 64MB RAM chip and another that is 128MB. Depending on your model of PowerMac, you could either (if you have more slots for RAM) add a 256MB RAM chip (SO-DIMM, SIMM, or other style - check <http://www.everymac.com> for specific info on your model of PowerMac and which RAM style it needs). Alternatively, if you have no extra slots, you could pull the 64MB RAM chip and replace it with a 256MB one. Any amount above the 384MB that Mikael mentioned will work, and RAM prices are more reasonable now, so you ought to be able to find a 256MB for as low as $30 or so. MacResQ, Other World Computing, Small Dog Electronics, MacSolutions, RAMSeeker and others are good places to check. Actually, after you check on EveryMac.Com, I'd suggest bump your RAM to the maximum you can afford/justify. You can never have too much RAM, I've found. HTH, Jim Rohde "Give what you have. To someone it may be better than you dare think." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a mail message with a SUBJECT line of "unsubscribe" to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
