>From: Jared Bland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >In-Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >I recently got 2 old PC machines from the thrift store. They will be >used for flashing PCI GFx cards and/or parting out. They both have >interchangeable SIMMs of various sizes. I was wondering if I could use >these SIMMs in my Performa 6115CD or if there would be an >incompatibility of some kind. I have 2x16MB, 2x4MB and I at startup on >one of the machines I see a total RAM count of 5000KB or so with >another pair of SIMMs I received with the machines. > >Thank you all in advance, >Jared Bland
It all depends. What physical size are the SIMMs? If they are physically compatible, then you must determine if they:
Meet Apple's spec for RAM. To determine this, look at the chips on the SIMMs, write them down. Check the following sites for info:
http://www.chipmunk.nl/DRAM/ChipManufacturers.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ganswijk/chipdir/
Then check Apple's site for what your particular Mac needs. I won't give you a link for that, you should know how to get to Apple's site! :-)
If all seems well after checking everything (and I mean, check EVERY stick, changes are made during runs!), carefully do the following:
Remove all memory that your Mac currently has, and then try one (or two, I'm not sure what the Performa requires) sticks at a time. Boot up the Mac, try things out, look for any error messages or strange behaviour.
Be aware that the PC RAM may be of smaller size than you are used to (when testing it by itself), so don't open up a slew of applications. Just try things out.
If all still is OK, pull out the PC RAM and reinstall the Apple's original RAM in it's original slots. Then install the PC RAM again. Try things out again. Look for error messages, goofy behaviour. Be especially vigilant for the next few weeks, and don't install new software until you are sure that the RAM is OK. (new software can produce error messages which can make you think the RAM is going bad)
BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL!!! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!! Use an anti-static mat or wrist strap when working inside your Mac and PC's, or touch an unpainted metal part of the computer (power supply is best) while the computer is plugged in (static electricity will not go to ground unless it is plugged in), and do it often to ground static build-up - but UNPLUG THE COMPUTERS WHILE WORKING INSIDE THEM, AND ESPECIALLY WHILE REMOVING AND INSERTING RAM OR CARDS INTO THE SYSTEM. I CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DESTROY YOURSELF, YOUR HOUSE, YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, AND YOUR COMPUTER BY DOING SOMETHING DUMB.
Realize that the PC RAM probably will not work. In the earlier days of computing, Apple and PC worlds rarely had interchangeable parts. Things are much better now, but there are still things better off left on the store shelves.
BTW, the 5000 KB that you are seeing is this: 2x 4 MB SIMMs (as you said it was using two) 640k base RAM 360k upper-level RAM
the 640k and 360k are old, old holdouts from the dark 8088 and 286 days, when MS-DOS PC's only had 640k of memory (or 1 MB) and DOS couldn't work with any more, really. All Windows and DOS versions up to WinME still have this limitation, but GUI systems now use advanced memory managers to bypass this limitation. However, you can still use old DOS in these systems (if you want to), they are all built on DOS v7.
Be extremely careful, do your homework first, and if it doubt, DON'T DO IT. And, have fun...
I CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO ANY DAMAGE DONE TO YOU, YOUR COMPUTER, OR YOUR OTHER PROPERTY. YOUR ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS.
Michael Burek, Ph.D.
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