kevinb@wrc.unr.edu (Kevin Brewer) (11/02/90)
I have stumped the local dealer with these questions, but I am sure that they can be answered here - I don't recall them being discussed before (forgive me if they have).... I will soon (standard 4-8 week educational purchasing delay) be a _very_ proud owner of a IIsi (with Apple 13" RGB). I will be getting it with 2Meg RAM - which I know will not be enough for real(tm) work. The questions: If I upgrade it to 17Meg, will the MacOS (v6.0.7?) not have a fit? How much memory will the MacOS let me use? 17Meg!!? What about those 2Meg SIMMS - do they exist? - how much $? Thanks - KEVIN kevinb@wheeler.wrc.unr.edu Kevin Brewer kevinb@wheeler.wrc.unr.edu "When water chokes you, what are you to drink to wash it down?" -Aristotle
schneide@parc.xerox.com (Kris A. Schneider) (04/04/91)
Hi folks, Another in the long line of memory upgrade notes... My si's currently got 2M (1M static + 4*256K SIMMs). Now, my understanding is that as long as the memory speeds are fast enough (90 or 100ns I think), I can mix'n match pretty much as I please. So, my question is, if I plan on purchasing an additional 4M of memory, why wouldn't I just get a single 4M SIMM instead of 4*1M SIMMs? Seems to me I'd end up with an additional 768K of memory onboard instead of collecting dust somewhere. Although I haven't been pricing, it would also seem that a single 4M SIMM would be cheaper than 4*1M SIMMs, no? Oh well, someone please set me straight! Oh, before I let you go, let me pose the popular follow-up: where have folks been getting the best price/quality/service on memory upgrades? Thanks much! -Kris schneide@arisia.xerox.com
strange@sprite.berkeley.edu (Steve Strange) (04/04/91)
In article <1991Apr3.234333.4056@parc.xerox.com> schneide@parc.xerox.com (Kris A. Schneider) writes: > >Hi folks, > >Another in the long line of memory upgrade notes... > >My si's currently got 2M (1M static + 4*256K SIMMs). Now, my understanding >is that as long as the memory speeds are fast enough (90 or 100ns I think), >I can mix'n match pretty much as I please. So, my question is, if I plan >on purchasing an additional 4M of memory, why wouldn't I just get a single >4M SIMM instead of 4*1M SIMMs? Seems to me I'd end up with an additional >768K of memory onboard instead of collecting dust somewhere. Although I >haven't been pricing, it would also seem that a single 4M SIMM would be >cheaper than 4*1M SIMMs, no? Oh well, someone please set me straight! > All four SIMM slots must have the same size SIMM in the IIsi. This is due to the way memory is interleaved - all slots are in the same bank. I do not believe you can use just one SIMM. Steve
james@netcom.COM (James L. Paul) (04/04/91)
In article <1991Apr3.234333.4056@parc.xerox.com> schneide@parc.xerox.com (Kris A. Schneider) writes: > >Hi folks, > >Another in the long line of memory upgrade notes... > >My si's currently got 2M (1M static + 4*256K SIMMs). Now, my understanding >is that as long as the memory speeds are fast enough (90 or 100ns I think), >I can mix'n match pretty much as I please. So, my question is, if I plan >on purchasing an additional 4M of memory, why wouldn't I just get a single >4M SIMM instead of 4*1M SIMMs? Seems to me I'd end up with an additional >768K of memory onboard instead of collecting dust somewhere. Although I >haven't been pricing, it would also seem that a single 4M SIMM would be >cheaper than 4*1M SIMMs, no? Oh well, someone please set me straight! > >Oh, before I let you go, let me pose the popular follow-up: where have >folks been getting the best price/quality/service on memory upgrades? > >Thanks much! > >-Kris >schneide@arisia.xerox.com The IIsi has 2 banks of ram. One bank is soldered to the main board and is not removable. This bank is 1 megabyte, and is also used to store the video image. Bank 2 (or B) consists of 4 SIMM slots. GOLDEN RULE: ALL SIMMs IN A BANK MUST BE THE SAME DENSITY. You always change memory configurations on a bank level. Because the IIsi only has one bank, this limits flexibility somewhat. You can only change the SIMMs in bank B. Because the bank has 4 slots, you must change memory in groups of 4 SIMMs. Here are the possible combinations: 1 Meg system: Bank A: 1 Meg (soldered) Bank B: Empty 2 Meg system: Bank A: 1 Meg (soldered) Bank B: Four 256K SIMMs 3 Meg system: Bank A: 1 Meg (soldered) Bank B: Four 512K SIMMs 5 Meg system: Bank A: 1 Meg (soldered) Bank B: Four 1M SIMMs 9 Meg system: Bank A: 1 Meg (soldered) Bank B: Four 2M SIMMs 17 Meg system: Bank A: 1 Meg (soldered) Bank B: Four 4M SIMMs Once again, you cannot mix and match densities in a single bank, which you only have one of in the IIsi that can be changed. So, whenever you change your memory configuration, you have to remove ALL the old SIMMs and either put them into another mac, sell them, or put them on dusting duty. BTW, the 2 meg SIMMs are made just like 4 meg SIMMs, but with half the chips, and the 512K SIMMS are made just like the 1 meg SIMMs, but with half the chips. Thanks for the memories... -- James L. Paul Internet: netcom!james@apple.com | AppleLink: D1231 | CompuServe: 72767,3436 UUCP: {apple,amdahl}!netcom!james | GEnie: J.PAUL | Voice: 415 377-1981 Packet: N6SIW@N6EEG.CA.USA.NA | Delphi: JLPaul | Home Fax: 415 377-0381
tgoose@eng.umd.edu (Jason Garms) (04/05/91)
In article <1991Apr3.234333.4056@parc.xerox.com>, schneide@parc.xerox.com (Kris A. Schneider) writes: > My si's currently got 2M (1M static + 4*256K SIMMs). Your IIsi does not have static RAM. I think there is a confusion in terms. Static RAM refers to RAM which is high speed (typically below 30ns) and consumes very little power. This RAM is also very expensive. What is in your machine is standard RAM (DRAM). The confusion may be because this is soldered onto your logic board. (I guess and is therefore static ;->) > Now, my understanding > is that as long as the memory speeds are fast enough (90 or 100ns I think), > I can mix'n match pretty much as I please. So, my question is, if I plan > on purchasing an additional 4M of memory, why wouldn't I just get a single > 4M SIMM instead of 4*1M SIMMs? Seems to me I'd end up with an additional > 768K of memory onboard instead of collecting dust somewhere. Although I > haven't been pricing, it would also seem that a single 4M SIMM would be > cheaper than 4*1M SIMMs, no? Oh well, someone please set me straight! NO, you cannot mix and match as you please. Because of the way memory is addressed(on the Mac II models), it must be installed in banks of 4! There are four slot inside your machine(which currently have 256k SIMMs in them). Thus your upgrade options would be as follows: Remove the four 256k SIMMs and install: four 1MB SIMMs for a total of 5MB four 2MB SIMMs for a total of 9MB four 4MB SIMMs for a total of 17MB no matter what you choose, the four 256k SIMMs become fairly worthless. Jason Garms tgoose@eng.umd.edu P.S> The 256k SIMMs make nifty keychains and around Christmas time, put a hook on them and hang them on a tree!!! 8-)
edgar@function.mps.ohio-state.edu (Gerald Edgar) (04/05/91)
> four 1MB SIMMs for a total of 5MB > four 2MB SIMMs for a total of 9MB > four 4MB SIMMs for a total of 17MB The IIsi delivered to us recently had four 512K SIMMs, for a total of 3MB. By the way, can a Mac IIci (for example) use 512K SIMMs? -- Gerald A. Edgar Department of Mathematics Bitnet: EDGAR@OHSTPY The Ohio State University Internet: edgar@mps.ohio-state.edu Columbus, OH 43210 ...!{att,pyramid}!osu-cis!shape.mps.ohio-state.edu!edgar
josh@athena.mit.edu (Josh Hartmann) (04/05/91)
In article <1991Apr5.140313.12667@zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu>, edgar@function.mps.ohio-state.edu (Gerald Edgar) writes: |> > four 1MB SIMMs for a total of 5MB |> > four 2MB SIMMs for a total of 9MB |> > four 4MB SIMMs for a total of 17MB |> The IIsi delivered to us recently had four 512K SIMMs, for a total |> of 3MB. |> |> By the way, can a Mac IIci (for example) use 512K SIMMs? Yes. The ci and the si are the only Mac IIs that can take 512K SIMMs. I am not sure if the LC can. -- Josh Hartmann | ___ ___ | ``the imagination is like an josh@athena.mit.edu | | | | | | engine that can work on many mit-eddie!mit-athena!josh | / | | | \ | different fuels: but it must BITNET: your gateway | / / \ / \ \ | be powered, and sex, properly DISCLAIMER: My parents | |___| |___| |___| | used, is a fuel of high already claimed me | MAINE HOCKEY! | potency'' -- PROPAGANDA