DIMMs?

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DIMMs?

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sean
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:20 am Post subject: DIMMs?
What are they/is one?

jema
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:25 am Post subject:

Duel Inline memory modules:

Quote:

Short for dual in-line memory module, a small circuit board that holds memory chips. A single in-line memory module (SIMM) has a 32-bit path to the memory chips whereas a DIMM has 64-bit path. Because the Pentium processor requires a 64-bit path to memory, you need to install SIMMs two at a time. With DIMMs, you can install memory one DIMM at a time.

Why do you need to know?

jema

sean
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:28 am Post subject:
If we order a Mac, you have the option to add extra memory/a bigger hard drive etc. I'm just starting to look into it at the moment, but I'm assuming it's easier and cheaper to add to the spec at this stage rather than later.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:30 am Post subject:
Not necessarily, the last time I bought a Mac I bought extra memory when i ordered but had to install it myself

jema
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:36 am Post subject:

sean wrote:

If we order a Mac, you have the option to add extra memory/a bigger hard drive etc. I'm just starting to look into it at the moment, but I'm assuming it's easier and cheaper to add to the spec at this stage rather than later.

Doesn't follow. Often the base price can be a good deal and then they make money on the accessories.

jema

Treacodactyl
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:37 am Post subject:

I often think memory is good to add (if they install it) as there is a chance of damaging things. Although has anyone ever damaged a memory chip?

I would tend to think another disk can be added later. Personally I would rather have two HDDs in case one goes bang. (Is there any cheap RAID support of PCs?)

I'm amazed by the cheap PCs with 160GB or more on sale. I quite like the idea of an external drive to put any confidential or important data on so it can be carfully stashed.

jema
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 11:43 am Post subject:
Lots of PC's now come with RAID supporting mother boards, they can be used as a rule in any of the three basic raid modes. 1) Mirror - for backup 2) Striped - for speed 3) Mirror + stripe with 4 drives for both. jema

mrutty

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1578

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 5:15 pm Post subject:

jema wrote:

Lots of PC's now come with RAID supporting mother boards, they can be used as a rule in any of the three basic raid modes.

1) Mirror - for backup
2) Striped - for speed
3) Mirror + stripe with 4 drives for both.

jema

Good job I re read that one, was about to point out that the RAIDs were labelled wrong

jema
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 5:34 pm Post subject:

mrutty wrote:

jema wrote:

Good job I re read that one, was about to point out that the RAIDs were labelled wrong

]]

Oh you mean mode 1, mode 2 etc, I couldn't tell you off the top of my heads the correct numbers.

jema

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 6:55 pm Post subject:
I don't trust raid, what if the controller dies? I have three backups of my data, one in the server at home, one in my PC at work and a removable hard drive (in a drive bay) that I use to transfer data from one to another so I've got virtually complete data in 3 places.

jema
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 04 7:09 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

I don't trust raid, what if the controller dies? I have three backups of my data, one in the server at home, one in my PC at work and a removable hard drive (in a drive bay) that I use to transfer data from one to another so I've got virtually complete data in 3 places.

I want a fast PC, and fast disk access is what matter for what I do, I have also had RAID enabled motherboards for ages.....

But for me, no RAID here, for the same reasons, if a RAID array goes and you do not have the full 4 drive mirror option, you are quite stuffed. So I rely on DVD backups.

jema

sean
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Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 04 10:22 pm Post subject:
So what's RAID then?

Treacodactyl
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 04 7:09 am Post subject:

Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. Various ways (levels) of arranging disk drives to speed data retreival up and/or make storage more robust etc.

For example the same data is stored on at least two disk drives and if one crashes you have an instant back up. There were five levels when I was at uni, probably far more now and they were aimed at company servers but with the cheapness of disk drives it would seem ideal to have a setup at home.

I'd rather have two 60GB disks in a raid setup than one 160GB disk. Especially if I have a way of storing all the pics onto a DVD drive as I'm not sure I would need 160GB.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Dec 29, 04 10:05 am Post subject:
But depending what RAID level you're on if the controller dies so does your data, with HD's so cheap nowadays I have a HD in a removable caddy that I use for backups weekly

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