Hey guys, 3 questions. How can I tell what kind of memory my pc uses, and how much it can be upgraded to? Also, how can I see if I got a so called 64 bit or 80 something bit pc?


want to upgrade to vista.

 

did you build the box yourself or from dell/hp/etc?

The amount of ram you can install depends on if there are empty slots on your motherboard

Go to start => All programs => Accessories => System Tools => System Info, and post the info here

 

you need the manuals for the motherboard in order to figure out what the max memory capacity for that board is...or just go to the manufactures website and look at the pdf manual there.

To learn what type of memory your pc uses, all you have to do is go to the website of a major memory maker...plug in your motherboard info and it will give you all the types of memory it supports.

If you have a dell/hp or bought the machine as a whole, chances are you won't find what kind of motherboard the system uses...open up the side panel and look at the markings on the board.

 

You can use this website http://www.crucial.com , they can scan your system. I have always bought my extra memory from these guys.

 

Download CPU-Z... here is a direct link http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-138.zip

once you've got that up and running click the memory tab and voila, it tells you what type (ddr, ddr2), the speed, and the timings

Your question was pretty vague so I dont know what application you need this for...

I can recommend Corsair, their memory is freakin balls! They have a value line which should suffice for casual applications, and then they have their performance ram which overclocks like a bitch. I wouldn't buy something overly expensive unless you're going to overclock, otherwise it would be a waste.

 

To answer your 64bit question, you have to find out what kind of processor you're running and whether it is 32bit or 64bit. Chances are if your PC is more than a year or two old, then it is running a 32bit processor. If it is newer and a fairly high end system, you might be running a 64bit processor. Windows Vista runs under optimal conditions using a 64bit processor, but if you run 64bit vista, you're going to have a ton of compatibility issues with software and hardware drivers. As windows XP is a 32bit operating system, the programs written for it are designed to work in a 32bit environment. When you try and run windows xp programs on vista, vista is forced to use something called an emulator. This emulator allows 32bit programs to run in a 64bit environment, but is very inefficient. Many games written for XP will not run under Vista, as well as certain applications such as iTunes. Also, when upgrading to vista, you will have to find 64bit drivers for all of the hardware inside your PC, a long and pain in the ass process. My recommendation would be to not upgrade to Vista for at least a year, so that microsoft can work out the bugs and compatibility issues associated with any newly launched product.

:endgeek

 

I think you're better off staying with whatever you have now...

 

Stay away from Vista until the dust has settled. But if you want to see how compatible your current system is run the Windows Vista Advisor