Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Sun, 11 Nov 2001 02:00, Tom Brinkman wrote: | It won't break. You could try to break it tho ;) IIRC, early on | in the kerenl config, there's an option called 'big' or 'high' memory | support. It's off by default in what I'm calling a regular kernel. If | you recompile the kernel with this option on, then the kernel will be | able to address megagigs of ram. Problem is I vaguely remember it's | off for good reasons, ie, high memory support in a 'regular' kernel | can break or degrade other stuff ;> If you do recompile, I suggest | you edit the Makefile's EXTRAVERSION = -?mdk to somethin else, say | = -big , so you'll have a completely new kernel version and you can | keep your existing kernel. | | FWIW, as long as you're in there installing new ram, pull out that | existing 128mb stick, clean the contacts lightly with a pencil eraser | and re-install it. Also, re-seat all your other stuff like IDE | cables, peripheal cards, etc. Clean any dust bunnies out of all the | heatsinks. Can't hurt, may save you some future problems Tom, thanks for the advice and the extra tips! Muchly appreciated. I've decided to install all the ram and the enterprise kernel alongside the 'regular' kernel and see how that goes. This kernel thing is also a first for me but I've been following the threads on installing kernels and saved all the relevant posts. I'll hang on to your advice should I later decide to recompile. I'll read up some docs on kernels (the enterprise one in particular) tonight. skinky -- But what ... is it good for? (Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip) Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Saturday 10 November 2001 04:00 am, skinky wrote: > On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 17:44, Tom Brinkman wrote: > | > | The regular kernel will work as always, it just won't see > | more'n about 900+mb of ram. > Well anyway, thats good news Tom, thanks. I'll put the two new > 512mb sticks in slots 2 & 3 like you said, and leave the 128mb > stick in the first slot... then I'll hold my breath while I wait to > see if anything breaks! > > skinky It won't break. You could try to break it tho ;) IIRC, early on in the kerenl config, there's an option called 'big' or 'high' memory support. It's off by default in what I'm calling a regular kernel. If you recompile the kernel with this option on, then the kernel will be able to address megagigs of ram. Problem is I vaguely remember it's off for good reasons, ie, high memory support in a 'regular' kernel can break or degrade other stuff ;> If you do recompile, I suggest you edit the Makefile's EXTRAVERSION = -?mdk to somethin else, say = -big , so you'll have a completely new kernel version and you can keep your existing kernel. FWIW, as long as you're in there installing new ram, pull out that existing 128mb stick, clean the contacts lightly with a pencil eraser and re-install it. Also, re-seat all your other stuff like IDE cables, peripheal cards, etc. Clean any dust bunnies out of all the heatsinks. Can't hurt, may save you some future problems -- Tom Brinkman Galveston Bay, USA chmod +x /bin/Laden.al-Qaeda.Taliban Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 17:44, Tom Brinkman wrote: | On Friday 09 November 2001 06:34 pm, skinky wrote: | > On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 11:09, Tom Brinkman wrote: | | Regular' kernels will only address 'bout | | > | 900+ mb of ram. So if you want to use all that ram, you'll need | > | to install a -enterprise kernel (it's on your CD's or you can get | > | the latest from cooker). | > | > Firstly, Dennis, Jose and Tom thanks to you all for your replies. | > Tom, when you say "'regular' kernels will only address 'bout 900+ | > mb of ram" does that mean I can install all of the ram but only | > 900+ mb will be recognised | | Yes | | >- or is LM8.1 ('regular' kernel) not | > likely to work anymore? | | The regular kernel will work as always, it just won't see more'n | about 900+mb of ram. Oh heck! hehe... I've been playing around with my filters in kmail and it looks like I'm reading email in the wrong order : ) Well anyway, thats good news Tom, thanks. I'll put the two new 512mb sticks in slots 2 & 3 like you said, and leave the 128mb stick in the first slot... then I'll hold my breath while I wait to see if anything breaks! skinky -- But what ... is it good for? (Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip) Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 16:31, Dennis Myers wrote: | On Friday 09 November 2001 16:11, you wrote: | | > Other relevant bits are: Soltek SL-KAV75 mobo and Athlon TBird | > 1.0GHz CPU. | | If this is the same board as listed on the soltek site as a SL-75KAV | then as you look at the attached URL you see that your board will take | up to 1.5G. I see three slots so that means you can put all of the | sticks in and have a screamer. HTH | http://www1.soltek.com.tw/English/home/01.htm Yes its the same board and the manual says it can take 1.5gb, but going by what Tom says, I'm not sure if putting in more ram than linux can handle is such a good idea : (. I don't want to break anything. I'll try the 128mb stick and one of the 512mb sticks. Like I said earlier, I should have done my homework before rushing and buying stuff so I've got no-one to blame but myself ; ) skinky -- But what ... is it good for? (Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip) Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Friday 09 November 2001 10:17 pm, Randy Kramer wrote: > Jose M. Sanchez wrote: > > Some machines cannot handle more than 512mb of memory, or run out > > of cache for more than 512 megs of RAM. > > Some motherboards handle less than that -- the TX-Pro II > motherboards I use can only handle 64 MB in each of two sockets for > a maximum total of 128 MB (although I can also add some 72 pin > memory, not sure how much). > > Randy Kramer I was curious 'bout that too. Currently most motherboards can handle 256mb modules, 3 or 4 slots. When stinky said he had 512mb sticks I went to the Soltek site an looked at his motherboard. 3 slots, capable of 512mb each for a 1.5 gig total. Soltek's a great board, but I'd stil be a little leary of 512mb modules -- Tom Brinkman Galveston Bay, USA chmod +x /bin/Laden.al-Qaeda.Taliban Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Friday 09 November 2001 06:34 pm, skinky wrote: > On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 11:09, Tom Brinkman wrote: Regular' kernels will only address 'bout > | 900+ mb of ram. So if you want to use all that ram, you'll need > | to install a -enterprise kernel (it's on your CD's or you can get > | the latest from cooker). > Firstly, Dennis, Jose and Tom thanks to you all for your replies. > Tom, when you say "'regular' kernels will only address 'bout 900+ > mb of ram" does that mean I can install all of the ram but only > 900+ mb will be recognised Yes >- or is LM8.1 ('regular' kernel) not > likely to work anymore? The regular kernel will work as always, it just won't see more'n about 900+mb of ram. -- Tom Brinkman Galveston Bay, USA chmod +x /bin/Laden.al-Qaeda.Taliban Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Fwd: Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
Once again this should have gone listwise. I can't pay attention. -- Forwarded Message -- Subject: Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 21:31:51 -0600 From: Dennis Myers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Friday 09 November 2001 16:11, you wrote: > Hi all > > I am about to upgrade the hw in my pc. > 2 x 512MB PC133 SDRAM (not sure whether to leave the old RAM in also) > nVidia GeForce2 MX400 64MB AGP graphics card > Soundblaster Live 5.1 sound card > > If I boot linux after doing the following, is the new hardware likely to > be recognised? : > Other relevant bits are: Soltek SL-KAV75 mobo and Athlon TBird 1.0GHz CPU. If this is the same board as listed on the soltek site as a SL-75KAV then as you look at the attached URL you see that your board will take up to 1.5G. I see three slots so that means you can put all of the sticks in and have a screamer. HTH http://www1.soltek.com.tw/English/home/01.htm -- Dennis M. --- -- Dennis M. Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
Jose M. Sanchez wrote: > Some machines cannot handle more than 512mb of memory, or run out of > cache for more than 512 megs of RAM. Some motherboards handle less than that -- the TX-Pro II motherboards I use can only handle 64 MB in each of two sockets for a maximum total of 128 MB (although I can also add some 72 pin memory, not sure how much). Randy Kramer Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 11:09, Tom Brinkman wrote: | On Friday 09 November 2001 05:11 pm, skinky wrote: [snip] | > If I boot linux after doing the following, is the new hardware | > likely to be recognised? : | > | > - ensure harddrake and kudzu run on boot, | > - shut down the computer | > - swap the RAM modules | > - install AGP graphics card | > - install sound card | > - boot into BIOS settings and | > - - - disable onboard sound | > - - - enable AGP graphics | > | > Or should I install one thing at a time? Is there anything tricky | > I need to know about installing RAM? I'm just trying to avoid | > reinstalling LM8.1. | | | You should be able to put 'em all in at once, including the old | ram if you want. Jeezz, if I understand you're gonna have 1.25 gigs | of ram! Which (maybe besides the SB Live!) is gonna be sort of a | problem. 'Regular' kernels will only address 'bout 900+ mb of ram. | So if you want to use all that ram, you'll need to install a | -enterprise kernel (it's on your CD's or you can get the latest from | cooker). You might later find you'd settle for havin less ram | recognized so you can use a regular kernel tho. The -enterprise | edition (Big Mem enabled) has issues of it's own from what I've read. | | Mandrake 8.x will see the GeF2 and set it up great... 2d only tho | with the Linux open source drivers. You might find it difficult to | get the nVidia closed source drivers goin with an -enterprise kernel. | I dunno, you'll just haft'a see. Sb Live! could be problems too. | There's been a lot of noise about Lives!'s havin/causing problems | with various hardware combo's, specially some mobo's, any OS. For | the ram, if you keep the old stick, I'd put it in the first slot, put | the new ram in slots 2 & 3. Firstly, Dennis, Jose and Tom thanks to you all for your replies. Tom, when you say "'regular' kernels will only address 'bout 900+ mb of ram" does that mean I can install all of the ram but only 900+ mb will be recognised - or is LM8.1 ('regular' kernel) not likely to work anymore? I'm not keen on using the enterprise kernel so if my system won't work I'd rather just leave the 128mb and add (1x) 512mb stick. And in which case, that'll teach me for not doing my homework first won't it?! I guess I can save the other 512mb stick for another pc. skinky -- But what ... is it good for? (Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip) Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
RE: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
Some machines cannot handle more than 512mb of memory, or run out of cache for more than 512 megs of RAM. You may want to try with one 512mb strip first, then work up from there. -JMS |-Original Message- |From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of skinky |Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 5:12 PM |To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |Subject: [newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM | | |Hi all | |I am about to upgrade the hw in my pc. I currently have: | |1 x 128MB PC133 SDRAM |crappy 1MB S3 PCI graphics card |AC97 onboard sound | |Changing the above with: | |2 x 512MB PC133 SDRAM (not sure whether to leave the old RAM |in also) nVidia GeForce2 MX400 64MB AGP graphics card |Soundblaster Live 5.1 sound card | |If I boot linux after doing the following, is the new hardware |likely to |be recognised? : | |- ensure harddrake and kudzu run on boot, |- shut down the computer |- swap the RAM modules |- install AGP graphics card |- install sound card |- boot into BIOS settings and |- - - disable onboard sound |- - - enable AGP graphics | |Or should I install one thing at a time? Is there anything |tricky I need |to know about installing RAM? I'm just trying to avoid |reinstalling LM8.1. | |Other relevant bits are: Soltek SL-KAV75 mobo and Athlon |TBird 1.0GHz CPU. | |TIA |skinky |-- |But what ... is it good for? |(Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, |commenting on the microchip) | | Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
[newbie] Installing new hardware incl. RAM
Hi all I am about to upgrade the hw in my pc. I currently have: 1 x 128MB PC133 SDRAM crappy 1MB S3 PCI graphics card AC97 onboard sound Changing the above with: 2 x 512MB PC133 SDRAM (not sure whether to leave the old RAM in also) nVidia GeForce2 MX400 64MB AGP graphics card Soundblaster Live 5.1 sound card If I boot linux after doing the following, is the new hardware likely to be recognised? : - ensure harddrake and kudzu run on boot, - shut down the computer - swap the RAM modules - install AGP graphics card - install sound card - boot into BIOS settings and - - - disable onboard sound - - - enable AGP graphics Or should I install one thing at a time? Is there anything tricky I need to know about installing RAM? I'm just trying to avoid reinstalling LM8.1. Other relevant bits are: Soltek SL-KAV75 mobo and Athlon TBird 1.0GHz CPU. TIA skinky -- But what ... is it good for? (Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip) Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com