Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!sjsca4!poffen From: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com (Russ Poffenberger) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Different Time-Rated Chips on the Computer Message-ID: <1990Aug23.160306.21353@sj.ate.slb.com> Date: 23 Aug 90 16:03:06 GMT References: <14202.26d270cf@max.u.washington.edu> Reply-To: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com (Russ Poffenberger) Organization: Schlumberger Technologies, San Jose, CA. Lines: 43 In article <14202.26d270cf@max.u.washington.edu> scott@max.u.washington.edu writes: >Hello, >I have an 6-Meg 386 computer that I have purchased a year ago or so. >It has been work almost flawlessly since then, but still have few >questions that I hope someone could help me with. > >Originally the 386 came with only 1-Meg populated on the motherboard >with 256K-1bit-80ns chips. Since then, I have added an additional >5-Meg of memory in the following form: > > Motherboard > 1 Meg of 256K-1bit-100ns > > Add-on board > 3 Meg of 256K-1bit-100ns > 1 Meg of 256K-1bit-150ns > >My 386 has a clock speed of 20Mhz, switchable to 25Mhz turbo mode, and >it has a buffer cycle of 8Mhz. > >As you can see, I have several different time-rated chips in my computer, >most of which are above the recommended 80ns. >My question is this: Is there any danger or problems to my computer that >I should know about if I want to keep my computer with these memory chips? >Is this only a prelure for an impending break-down of my computer? >For the few months since I had this setup, my computer has worked fine >for all applications, including Windows 3.0. However, since I will be doing >some lengthy works on my computer, it would be catastrophic if my >computer would start suffering from chronic crashed or breakdowns, >especially in the middle of my work. >Any comments will be appreciated. > I wouldn't say a "breakdown" but you are more likely to get memory errors during use. A memory error will probably crash the machine requiring a reboot. The problem may tend to get worse with age, and while in turbo mode. Russ Poffenberger DOMAIN: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com Schlumberger Technologies UUCP: {uunet,decwrl,amdahl}!sjsca4!poffen 1601 Technology Drive CIS: 72401,276 San Jose, Ca. 95110 (408)437-5254