If there is a PCI slot (white connector), better yet a ISA slot (black connector) you may be able to find a memory expansion card. Would be an e-Bay kind of thing. But, that would be a way to increase memory.
Some of the really odd design old computers had memory above the 640K area where they would write the contents of the BIOS into RAM from the boot ROM.
If there is a PCI slot (white connector), better yet a ISA slot (black connector) you may be able to find a memory expansion card. Would be an e-Bay kind of thing. But, that would be a way to increase memory.
Some of the really odd design old computers had memory above the 640K area where they would write the contents of the BIOS into RAM from the boot ROM.
Paul – Good idea, I’m at home right now, so it’ll be another 8 to 10 hours from now, but we’ll check first thing tomorrow.
Guys, lets assume we have either an ISA or PCI connection we can use (of course also assuming we can pick up an e-bay expansion board(s)), my next concern would be; after increasing the memory to say greater than, say 256 Mbytes, how much is the slow thinking 200 MHz processor going to hinder us? Keep in mind the optimum objective is to complete 1 E@H work unit within a seven day timeframe. A modest goal, but X’s four old machines, it’ll add up over Einstein’s project span. Perhaps?
Trying to get those machines to have 128MB ram is rather perverse. If you are going to spend money, at least get motherboard/cpu/ram combination, look on ebay, there are plenty.
To be honest, I would not waste my time either. I suspect that even with RAM large enough, and 128M should be plenty. It is not likely to be able to hack it. But, if you want to try ... like I said, if it has expansion slots it should be able to take a RAM card if you can find one, or, better still a CPU daughter card.
If it is going to cost more than about $100, save your money as you can get a real basic system for about $300 at Frys, usually with Linux thrown in for grins.
If there is a PCI slot (white connector), better yet a ISA slot (black connector) you may be able to find a memory expansion card. Would be an e-Bay kind of thing. But, that would be a way to increase memory.
Some of the really odd design old computers had memory above the 640K area where they would write the contents of the BIOS into RAM from the boot ROM.
Paul, that odd design is a basic part of todays systems. Just has a different name and lets you enable/disable it.
Check you BIOS setting for "shadow ROM BIOS". Usually theres one setting for Video ROM and other setting for the system ROM and add-on adapter cards. Enabling these aren't useful and take up real RAM that could be used for better things. Most systems today use drivers to access the hardware, with the ROM BIOS used only when booting.
As for I/O based memory, that went out with Win95 [edit] and Pentiums. It added extended/expanded memory for Win3.1 and DOS, which were ways 16 bit programs could access memory past the first meg. Not suitable for Win95+ or Linux.
[edit] I've worked on many of these older systems. They just aren't upgradable. Limitation seems to be the chipset, a lot of the earlier ones just wouldn't accept larger FPO/EDO sticks, or only recognize part of the memory (32M out of 64).
I've worked on many of these older systems. They just aren't upgradable. Limitation seems to be the chipset, a lot of the earlier ones just wouldn't accept larger FPO/EDO sticks, or only recognize part of the memory (32M out of 64).
Walt
Guys – Here’s where we stand, the jury just came in!
While this thread’s been rendering helpful suggestions and items to take into consideration, we’ve been processing a S@H work unit, with the following results:
1 S@H unit =’s 82 hours, 33 minutes or almost 3 and ½ days
Using (equipment review)
1). Intel 200 MHz CPU
2). 82 Mbytes RAM
3). Windows 98 OS
After viewing Walt’s posting and re-reading most of this thread’s posts, concerning this topic, we feel that upgrading the systems now or in the future, may or may not work and in either scenario the benefits would not justify the results; with successful results in our case being, complete one E@H work unit within the prescribed timeframe.
To all, our thanks for both your time and gray matter expended on this endeavor.
A Compaq computer, huh? Well, there's a good chance you need Compaq specific memory for that.
But if it's just plain 72pin EDO RAM you look for, look here.
A couple of my 200Mhz machines are attached to Einstein (the other does not have enough RAM).
[edit] forgot to say that they were working fine. A lot of EDF, but that is to be expected.
John: your 200MHz machines are newer - they have Pentium II processors, a fair bit faster than the older Pentium/Pentium Pro in Toms system. And much better optimized for 32 bit operations.
Your system completes one result in 3.5 days, with an average turnaround of 6.3 days. Based on that, I figure Toms system will most likely finish a result in less than 7 days, but it'll always be returned late.
Tom: It might be possible to upgrade your systems, but unless you supply us with specifics on the processor, chipset and motherboard all we can do is make guesses. I use SiSoft Sandra to get that info, the 2002 version works with Win98. Shows details on motherboard, BIOS, CPU, chipsets, cache, RAM. You can download the 2002 version here. Its a German site, just click the animated icon labeled "Jetzt herunterladen".
If there is a PCI slot (white
)
If there is a PCI slot (white connector), better yet a ISA slot (black connector) you may be able to find a memory expansion card. Would be an e-Bay kind of thing. But, that would be a way to increase memory.
Some of the really odd design old computers had memory above the 640K area where they would write the contents of the BIOS into RAM from the boot ROM.
RE: If there is a PCI slot
)
Paul – Good idea, I’m at home right now, so it’ll be another 8 to 10 hours from now, but we’ll check first thing tomorrow.
Guys, lets assume we have either an ISA or PCI connection we can use (of course also assuming we can pick up an e-bay expansion board(s)), my next concern would be; after increasing the memory to say greater than, say 256 Mbytes, how much is the slow thinking 200 MHz processor going to hinder us? Keep in mind the optimum objective is to complete 1 E@H work unit within a seven day timeframe. A modest goal, but X’s four old machines, it’ll add up over Einstein’s project span. Perhaps?
Thanks Paul,
TA
Theory of Gravitational Waves & LIGO
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna - LISA
JPL-Caltech
Trying to get those machines
)
Trying to get those machines to have 128MB ram is rather perverse. If you are going to spend money, at least get motherboard/cpu/ram combination, look on ebay, there are plenty.
To be honest, I would not
)
To be honest, I would not waste my time either. I suspect that even with RAM large enough, and 128M should be plenty. It is not likely to be able to hack it. But, if you want to try ... like I said, if it has expansion slots it should be able to take a RAM card if you can find one, or, better still a CPU daughter card.
If it is going to cost more than about $100, save your money as you can get a real basic system for about $300 at Frys, usually with Linux thrown in for grins.
You can probably get
)
You can probably get motherboard/ram/cpu for $50 or less. I saw a Celeron 400, ATX motherboard, 128MB SDRAM, 4.3GB fujitsu HDD, all for under £20.
Well, you don't need a hard drive, but you can see there is no reason to try to enhance those machines any more.
RE: If there is a PCI slot
)
Paul, that odd design is a basic part of todays systems. Just has a different name and lets you enable/disable it.
Check you BIOS setting for "shadow ROM BIOS". Usually theres one setting for Video ROM and other setting for the system ROM and add-on adapter cards. Enabling these aren't useful and take up real RAM that could be used for better things. Most systems today use drivers to access the hardware, with the ROM BIOS used only when booting.
As for I/O based memory, that went out with Win95 [edit] and Pentiums. It added extended/expanded memory for Win3.1 and DOS, which were ways 16 bit programs could access memory past the first meg. Not suitable for Win95+ or Linux.
[edit] I've worked on many of these older systems. They just aren't upgradable. Limitation seems to be the chipset, a lot of the earlier ones just wouldn't accept larger FPO/EDO sticks, or only recognize part of the memory (32M out of 64).
Walt
RE: I've worked on many of
)
Guys – Here’s where we stand, the jury just came in!
While this thread’s been rendering helpful suggestions and items to take into consideration, we’ve been processing a S@H work unit, with the following results:
1 S@H unit =’s 82 hours, 33 minutes or almost 3 and ½ days
Using (equipment review)
1). Intel 200 MHz CPU
2). 82 Mbytes RAM
3). Windows 98 OS
After viewing Walt’s posting and re-reading most of this thread’s posts, concerning this topic, we feel that upgrading the systems now or in the future, may or may not work and in either scenario the benefits would not justify the results; with successful results in our case being, complete one E@H work unit within the prescribed timeframe.
To all, our thanks for both your time and gray matter expended on this endeavor.
Regards,
TA
Theory of Gravitational Waves & LIGO
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna - LISA
JPL-Caltech
A Compaq computer, huh? Well,
)
A Compaq computer, huh? Well, there's a good chance you need Compaq specific memory for that.
But if it's just plain 72pin EDO RAM you look for, look here.
A couple of my 200Mhz
)
A couple of my 200Mhz machines are attached to Einstein (the other does not have enough RAM).
[edit] forgot to say that they were working fine. A lot of EDF, but that is to be expected.
BOINC WIKI
RE: A couple of my 200Mhz
)
John: your 200MHz machines are newer - they have Pentium II processors, a fair bit faster than the older Pentium/Pentium Pro in Toms system. And much better optimized for 32 bit operations.
Your system completes one result in 3.5 days, with an average turnaround of 6.3 days. Based on that, I figure Toms system will most likely finish a result in less than 7 days, but it'll always be returned late.
Tom: It might be possible to upgrade your systems, but unless you supply us with specifics on the processor, chipset and motherboard all we can do is make guesses. I use SiSoft Sandra to get that info, the 2002 version works with Win98. Shows details on motherboard, BIOS, CPU, chipsets, cache, RAM. You can download the 2002 version here. Its a German site, just click the animated icon labeled "Jetzt herunterladen".
Walt