Gateway 825GM Memory Upgrade

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Buying a new system, despite their relatively low cost these days, is not always an option. I have the following system and it runs FS9 with multiple addons very, very well. It runs FSX with a few addons, but mostly default well. I have no complaints. Here are the specs:

 

Gateway 825GM purchased new in May 2005

Windows XP Media Center, SP3

3.4GHz Intel Pentium 4

ATI Radeon HD 4550 Graphics Card

1.0 GB = 512 MB (removable) + 512 MB (removable) Samsung cards/chips/whatever you call them.

4 sockets available (two filled by above removable chips)

Spec sheet says maximum memory is 4.0 GB (I [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ume a 1GB chipset in each socket)

PC3200 DDR SDRAM DIMMs. Supports Dual Channel DDR.

800MHz FSB, Intel 915G Chipset.

 

So, given that the "data" says that the 825 can support 4 gigs, does that mean it would be wise to install 2 completely free Samsung 1GB chipsets (1 in each free socket) that were given to me when we s[Mod - lovely stuff]ped one of our work computers? If yes, given that this is not a dual core and from what I read only 2GB will be useable, should I just put one in or would there be any advantage to both.

 

I have checked the cards visually, and they will fit into the sockets, 184 pin cards. The factory installed cards say "512MB DDR PC3200 CL-3" and the given cards say "1GB DDR PC3200 CL-3"

 

Do I need to worry about Power Supply ratings?

 

Please guys, don't tell me to junk this system and buy a new one. It has worked fine with flightsim and VATSIM since 2005 (FS9) and 2008 (VATSIM). I recently migrated the WinXP OS and data from the factory 250GB HD to a new 1TB HD. So the HD has plenty of life ahead of it. The ATI Radeon is only a couple years old and like I said, even with FSX I have no complaints and I'm not at all interested in PMDGs stuff now that they abandoned FS9. I have ASE and it works fine with both FS9 and FSX.

 

I have the aircraft I want and the only thing I am heading towards now are the visuals; airports, mesh, and photoreals, which is why I am curious if more memory will help me. I do a lot more VFR flying now than I did when I started out on VATSIM. Seems that is the way of this hobby. We all (a euphemsim, I know) want to start with big tin and only as we mature as virtual pilots realize the sheer joy of low and slow.

 

Anyway, your advice about the cards would be appreciated. They "fell into my lap" and it seems a shame not to use them unless using them yields absolutely no gains.

 

Thanks

 

Randy

[Bradley Grafelman]

So, given that the "data" says that the 825 can support 4 gigs, does that mean it would be wise to install 2 completely free Samsung 1GB chipsets (1 in each free socket) that were given to me when we s[Mod - lovely stuff]ped one of our work computers?

Most likely, yes. Probably the only reason to say "no" (based on the info you give below) would be if they're damaged (obviously). Even if only two of the new sticks worked, though, you could at least fill the two remaining slots you have. (Don't forget your static mat and grounded wrist strap when handling sensitive electronics components! )

 

In order to take advantage of the dual channel option, however, you'd want to ensure that you pair the similar sticks together. Often, the "channels" weren't next to each other like you'd imagine. For example, for DIMMs 1-4, channel 1 is probably DIMM1 + DIMM3, leaving channel 2 to be DIMM2 + DIMM4. (Or maybe I was always just lucky whenever I purchased or worked on someone else's motherboard and they just happened to be setup that way to mess with your head.)

 

TL;DR: Yes.

 

If yes, given that this is not a dual core and from what I read only 2GB will be useable, should I just put one in or would there be any advantage to both.

 

Well for one, having a dual core CPU has nothing to do with the limiting factor on the amount of usuable RAM here. Doesn't matter if you have one core or 128 cores. What does matter is that the 32-bit technology used to map addresses to those RAM sticks creates the 3 GB barrier. Sometimes (depending upon hardware) this can be worked around using Physical Address Extension (PAE), though Micro$oft will still limit the usable RAM to 4GB in those cases (even if the hardware can support more).

 

TL;DR: There's no 2 GB limit (it's closer to 3GB), and the number of CPU cores will have no bearing on your maximum amount of usable RAM.

 

I have checked the cards visually, and they will fit into the sockets, 184 pin cards. The factory installed cards say "512MB DDR PC3200 CL-3" and the given cards say "1GB DDR PC3200 CL-3

In that case, the new sticks have the same form factor ("DDR" vs "DDR2", etc.), the same maximum/desired clock frequency ("PC3200"), and the same CAS latency rating ("CL-3"; lower is better).

 

TL;DR: Remove your two existing sticks and utilize the four new ones.

 

Do I need to worry about Power Supply ratings?

Extremely unlikely, no.

 

Please guys, don't tell me to junk this system and buy a new one. It has worked fine with flightsim and VATSIM since 2005 (FS9) and 2008 (VATSIM).

Okay, I won't tell you that. But the smart[Mod - Happy Thoughts] in me is forcing me to make some comment, like...

 

There are still usable typewriters that have been working fine for decades. For some reason, though, people still use Micro$oft Office, OpenOffice, etc. for even the most basic of their word processing needs.

[Luke Kolin]

Please guys, don't tell me to junk this system and buy a new one.

 

Why not? You have a space heater that does a bit of math on the side. The power consumption of a 3.4Ghz dual core Pentium is astronomical compared to a Haswell or Ivy Bridge system. Same with the RAM, although to a much smaller degree.

 

Unless they have free electricity in Idaho, you may discover that had you bought a Sandy Bridge in 2010 it probably would have paid for itself a few times over already.

 

Cheers!

 

Luke

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Thanks for your honest and helpful reply Bradley. I do appreciate it.

 

However, although "tongue in cheek" and apologetic when you wrote it...

 

...the smart[Mod - Happy Thoughts] in me is forcing me to make some comment, like...

 

There are still usable typewriters that have been working fine for decades. For some reason, though, people still use Micro$oft Office, OpenOffice, etc. for even the most basic of their word processing needs.

 

...was completely unnecessary. Ever own a Swiss Army Knife? I mean a "no kidding, honest to God, the real deal Swiss Army Knife"? If you did, ever use all the possible attachments that are incorporated into it? I had one. Got it in Switzerland on a deployment. Gave it to my son. A two-bladed "Old-Timer" that was my dad's is all I need. Open Office...yeah, I got it and, yeah, I use it...does everything I need a word processing program to do. Bells and whistles are cool if you have a need to ring them or pull the chain. I don't.

 

And Luke's response was a typical "Luke Kolinism". Added absolutely nothing to the topic. Must be extremely self-gratifying to add absolutely nothing to a topic, because it seems this happens an awful lot from some.

 

See, the thing is, based on those times I have seen you, Bradley, and you, Luke, actually contribute something to a topic, offer some help, give a poster a direction to travel, I have an underlying respect for the knowledge you two possess. And yet I cringe when I see postings like the above. Not so much yours, Bradley, but the final entry and Luke's in its entirety.

 

Why not? You have a space heater that does a bit of math on the side.

 

Yep, you are absolutely correct. Also have a 1971 Ford 4X4 with an antiquated 390 cid engine and a "divorced" transfer case and solid front axle. Drives like a dream and is killing the ozone layer by layer. Still hunt with my Dad's 1917 military Enfield in 30.06 caliber. Strange, but that also suits me just fine. What many suggest in these forums is tantamount to "Keeping up with the Jones" and I have never, ever heard that phrase used in a good light to those "chasing".

 

Silence is the virtue of those who are not wise

Silence is wisdom and gets a man friends

Silence is wisdom when speaking is folly

 

-Proverbs

 

Thanks again Bradley for the advice you offered. Oh, and thanks to you as well, Luke. You are a funny guy!!

 

Randy

[Luke Kolin]

See, the thing is, based on those times I have seen you, Bradley, and you, Luke, actually contribute something to a topic, offer some help, give a poster a direction to travel, I have an underlying respect for the knowledge you two possess. And yet I cringe when I see postings like the above. Not so much yours, Bradley, but the final entry and Luke's in its entirety.

 

While my posts can be sarcastic a lot of the time, you should pay less attention to the specific language. The power consumption delta between a P4 and a Core 2 is significant - to go forward a full three generations of microarchitecture is huge enough that you're going to see some real cost savings each month. $15 a month over a year gets you close to a CPU/mobo/RAM upgrade - certainly over 24 months.

 

How many hours a day is the PC on, and what's the price of power in your neck of the woods?

 

What many suggest in these forums is tantamount to "Keeping up with the Jones" and I have never, ever heard that phrase used in a good light to those "chasing".

 

That may be true in some cases, but not always. In addition to your power consumption issues, you're getting to the point where you're in real danger of the capacitors going on the motherboard. Your operating system isn't supported by the vendor any more and getting future security patches is going to be hit or miss. Future software support is going to get interesting as more and more authors [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ume that people are using Vista or newer systems.

 

Your Ford is powered by something similar to your P4. It partially converts gasoline into noise and nitrous oxide and produces a little bit of power as (unintended?) by-product. If you had a 60-mile commute each day I think upgrading that vehicle would be a no-brainer. I certainly saw a lot of SUVs in the suburbs here in Atlanta until 2008; then they were all replaced by Priuses and (now) Leafs - I think the owners were keeping up with the rising costs rather than their neighbors.

 

Change should be considered carefully. Over time conservatives can transition into reactionaries averse to any sort of change.

 

Thanks again Bradley for the advice you offered. Oh, and thanks to you as well, Luke. You are a funny guy!!

 

I'm glad I could liven up your day. I'll get off your lawn now.

 

Cheers!

 

Luke

[Bradley Grafelman]

[Randy Tyndall 1087023]

Thank you, Bradley, for that resounding round of applause...oh wait, that was for Luke. My bad.

 

While my posts can be sarcastic a lot of the time, you should pay less attention to the specific language

 

Agreed, yet it is difficult to get past the "tone" and see the real meat of the post when you do that. Think of it as another motorist helping you when you have a flat and no spare. While the motorist is helping you, true, do you really want him to rail you about how you should have a spare especially with tires like yours with no tread and really, you should buy new tires, or do you just want him to get you to a tire shop so you can get your tire fixed and back on the road.

 

The power consumption delta between a P4 and a Core 2 is significant - to go forward a full three generations of microarchitecture is huge enough that you're going to see some real cost savings each month. $15 a month over a year gets you close to a CPU/mobo/RAM upgrade - certainly over 24 months.

 

That seems straightforward enough, and I have looked at, since your post above, newer generation products such as the Haswell and others. Pricing seems reasonable enough, as you said, at a modest income to consider replacing, but I am somewhat reluctant to take the task on myself.

 

you're getting to the point where you're in real danger of the capacitors going on the motherboard. Your operating system isn't supported by the vendor any more and getting future security patches is going to be hit or miss. Future software support is going to get interesting as more and more authors [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ume that people are using Vista or newer systems.

 

I couldn't agree more and recognize the fragility of my system because of its age. a new, or at least newer system, will undoubtedly come with Windows 7 or 8. I've seen the posts. I've read about the issues and quite frankly, I am worried that the money I have invested in my addons and software will be difficult, but not impossible, to get to the same level of functionality I have now. I suspect that the majority of issues discussed in these and other forums are in many cases a result of the user not understanding what the system wants or is trying to do. Change from one's "comfort zone" is difficult and often comes about because a capacitor melted, forcing the change.

 

Luke, I sincerely appreciate your post and your explanation. I will try to take how you make your points in a different light...but sometimes it is difficult.

 

And thanks to you, Bradley, for helping me see...whether you realize it or not...Luke's post in a way that helped.

 

Randy