[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Expanded or Extended Memory?

evans@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (04/11/90)

Hi there.  I am looking for some advice concerning adding memory.
I currently have a DTK 286 12Mhz machine with the standard 1Mb of
RAM.  I run PC Tools TSR, but that is all for now.  I have read
quite a bit about extended and expanded memory but I'm still not
sure what will be the best for what I want to do.  I want to go
into Windows 286 and set up a multitasking environment with Lotus,
Wordperfect, dBase and Procomm.  From what I've read I believe I
should go with extended memory using a LIM/EMS 4.0 board to manage
it.
 
Is this the right way to go?  Or should I go to something like
Intel's Aboveboard, i.e. Expanded Memory?  Is a Windows Multitasking
environment too much to ask of a 12 Mhz 286, with or without extra
memory?
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Doug Evans                         | evans@eerie.acsu.buffalo.edu
University Computing Services      | evans@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
SUNY at Buffalo                    |

wargopl@image.soe.clarkson.edu (Peter L. Wargo) (04/11/90)

From article <1104.26228282@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu>, by evans@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu:
> 
> 
> 
> Hi there.  I am looking for some advice concerning adding memory.
> I currently have a DTK 286 12Mhz machine with the standard 1Mb of
> RAM.  I run PC Tools TSR, but that is all for now.  I have read
> quite a bit about extended and expanded memory but I'm still not
> sure what will be the best for what I want to do.  I want to go
> into Windows 286 and set up a multitasking environment with Lotus,
> Wordperfect, dBase and Procomm.  From what I've read I believe I
> should go with extended memory using a LIM/EMS 4.0 board to manage
> it.
>  
> Is this the right way to go?  Or should I go to something like
> Intel's Aboveboard, i.e. Expanded Memory?  Is a Windows Multitasking
> environment too much to ask of a 12 Mhz 286, with or without extra
> memory?

Most *good* expanded (EMS) boards let you configure memory in both ways -
extended AND expanded.  I suggest finding one of those boards.  As far as 
windows goes, it will use both kinds of memory.

Just for the record, (since I am poor) I have only 1M of extended memory
on my 8MHz Zenith Z-248, with an 80M hard disk.  I am running windows 286,
excel, word for windows, and pagemaker.  I get by pretty well using
Microsoft's HIMEM.SYS, with a 448K disk cache and a 512K ram drive.  (The
ram drive is used for swapping windows and 4dos)  This setup seems to
work very well, especially after modifying WIN.INI to swap to the ram drive.

Of course, If someone out there wishes to donate a 386 with 4M of EMS,
I won't complain... :-)

p.s. Extended memory is much better for a ram disk or spooler than expanded.


-- 
-Peter L. Wargo       internet: wargopl@sun.soe.clarkson.edu
 (315) 265-0809         BITNET: clutx.BITNET
"Any Unix box in a storm..."

stephen@hantsb.enet.dec.com (Stephen Wong) (04/12/90)

In article <1104.26228282@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu>, evans@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu writes...
>...Is a Windows Multitasking
>environment too much to ask of a 12 Mhz 286, with or without extra
>memory?

I do think that runing multiple applications (ie. using Windows) on a 12MHz 286
is something almost inbearable no matter how much memory you have!  Consider
Desqview with a lot EMS 4.0 memory.  Or upgrade to 386 is even better!