In article , wrote:

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 04:08:05 GMT, (Don Ward)
wrote:

I have a Pent3 Gateway mini tower that has provision for 3 pc100 sdram chips.
Gateway web site lists 384 mb max... well yes if i use 128/pc100.
What if i put 3 pc100/256 or 512 chip sets??
Is there something with motherboard that limits the ram to 384mb??
Model # TB3 Esseential 500 with MB 4000508....
Thanks
don ward

The gateway site for the serial # shows motherboard as #4000608.. its
looks similar but not exactily as your site showed.
The MB definately has 3 memory slots next to the processor. It came with
one 128mb pc 100 chip ..
I am new to the pc world and the term "registered memory" is not familiar
what does it mean ???
As for up grading this is to be used primarily as a server or just for
nominal email... i have a killer p4 i assembled for my digital audio
work...
thanks for the start
How do i find mother board configurations at gate way under what
catagory thanks

don ward


This is conflict in the data you've provided.
The "TB3", as well as the Essential 500, suggests to me that it's an
Intel Tabor, 440BX chipset, standard ATX motherboard.

On the other hand, the "4000508", appears to be the part number for
something different, an NLX form-factor motherboard with only 2 memory
slots, integrated video, and a PCI riser daughterboard.
http://support.gateway.com/s/Servers...00050801.shtml

Let's assume you have the first one, the Tabor 440BX, as you also
mentioned the 3 memory slots, like this:
http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERB...00050301.shtml

The Tabor can accept up to 768MB of memory. "Some" people have
successfully used regular non-registered memory to achieve this 768MB,
but according to Intel's documents, registered memory is required for
(either 512MB or above 512MB, I forget which). At any rate i expect
you can use 512MB of non-registered memory fine, but if you wanted to
try 768MB it might be a good idea to buy under the assumption that you
do need registered memory. Frankly I wouldn't buy 768MB for that age
and speed of system, it might not even be all that cost effective to
add 512MB if you're wanting to upgrade again anytime soon.

The board can accept max of 256MB per slot, PC100 or PC133, but it
must be 128Megabit modules, as 16x8 configuration, 16 chips per module
to total that 256MB. The higher density PC133 256MB modules you'll
find in stores today, won't work. Typically you're more likely to
find the memory you need spec'd as PC100, and these days it'll usually
cost almost twice as much as the higher density PC133 memory you can't
use.

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don ward