Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!ogicse!plains!kperson
From: kperson@plains.UUCP (Kerry Person)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: 386 Memory question (simms)
Message-ID: <4922@plains.UUCP>
Date: 30 May 90 14:37:26 GMT
References: <5923@buengc.BU.EDU>
Reply-To: kperson@plains.UUCP (Kerry Person)
Distribution: usa
Organization: North Dakota State University, Fargo
Lines: 30

In article <5923@buengc.BU.EDU> rem@buengc.bu.edu (Robert E. Mee) writes:
>I have a question about memory configurations
>for a 386 system. I'm about to buy an SX that
>comes standard with 1mb in 4 256k simms. I asked
>the salesperson if it was possible to have 1
>1mb simm in it's place. He went on to say that 
>in order to use 1mb simms I have to use a minimum
>config of 4 meg!!!
>
>Is this correct?
>
>this machine is an Arche 386SX if you need to know.
>
>Thanks for any info,
>
>Rob


Keep in mind how the data is stored.  Each of those SIMMs stores four bits of
data.  If you place a 1 Meg SIMM in place of the four 256's, the
machine has no way to know that all sixteen bits should now be stored in one
chip.  In fact it is physically impossible, without some major hardware
changes.  The chips have to work parallel to each other, so if you increase
the capacity of the first four bits, you gotta do the same with the rest.

At least that's the way it seems it should work.  Or does the memory get 
stored 32 bits at a time on a 386?  Conflicting opinions welcomed.

Kerry Person
(kperson@plains.NoDak.edu)