|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222 |
On the XP machine I built, I have enough replacement parts to keep it in humming along for several more years. I have backups for everything except the RAM modules. I hesitate buying those because I have never experienced a failing RAM memory module. I have bought bad modules, but I have never seen good one fail.
I would appreciate any your personal experiences on the subject.
JBlatz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
From my perspective, I know of 2 schools of thought. The first thing is to understand that XP will only see 3.5gb anyway, so you can put 16gb in it and everything over 3.5 is just wasted. Then move on to your motherboard. How many slots?
The schools of thought come in here. A lot of people want to buy the 4gb stick and have one stick in there. If your mobo has 4 slots, I believe in 1gb sticks time 4. Then one can go bad and you aren't dead while you wait for RAM to come in the mail. OR 2-1-1, etc.... whatever your mobo form factor is.
Of course as cheap as RAM is now, nothing says you can't use a 4gb and have a spare 4gb in the drawer.
I can't even guess how many people first bragged about having 16gb of RAM in their XP machine and then argued when I told them it only accessed 3.5gb. Yes, the computer will SEE all 16gb in BIOS (BIOS doesn't know what OS you run), but the OS will never write to it. Learned that a long time ago from Microsoft themselves when I wrote nasty letters asking why they limited the RAM access. I think the exchange with the tech was up into the 20s. Back and forth we went.
And I am sure someone here will fire back about how their computer has a semi truckful of RAM in their XP machine and it "uses" all of it. My response to that has always been something close to "Believe whatever you want to believe. My life doesn't change if you are wrong." Maybe they have that one "special" version of XP that uses more RAM.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,276
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,276 |
As more and more people are moving over to Win 7 or 8 there will be less of a market for XP stuff like RAM. Thus I would expect new RAM prices for XP to increase with time. As Eddie has said ram is cheap right now and 4 gigs is the most that you should put it.
IF you are positive that you will keep XP for several more years then personally I would buy a couple of backup sticks right now.
PS – you may be able to buy some used sticks cheap. Just try them out before you really need to use them to see if they are ok.
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Those slower bus speed motherboards are going out of vogue quick and I'd grab a stick or two now. Eventually you will end up going to Win7 or 8 because you won't have a choice but why wait until older DDR2 RAM turns "vintage" and they drive the price up because it's hard to find (and because they can)?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 883
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 883 |
Quote:
Thus I would expect new RAM prices for XP to increase with time.
?????
i5 3.20GHz, 32gb RAM, 1tb SSD OS, 12tb HDD, 4gb gForce vid card, 32" monitor, Audient id44, Win10 x64, BiaB/RB 2023, Reaper 6,IK Multimedia Total Studio 3.5 MAX, Waves 10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,809
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,809 |
RAM is simply RAM there is no XP RAM - if that what is meant. Although Yes outdated RAM does go up in price, but its usually easily available via ebay etc. I am no expert, but I think its true that as long as the slot size is the same you can upgrade RAM speedwise. Its not true that all I gig RAMs operate at the same speed. DDR 3 trumps DDR2, etc etc... After this I get a bit lost, and my nurse has to come and fetch me... 
Last edited by ZeroZero; 12/23/12 02:33 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222 |
I appreciate your responses but perhaps my fault was that I did not clearly state a question to be answered.
Have you ever personally experienced a failing RAM memory module on any of your PCs?
JBlatz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,276
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,276 |
When I was working at a compute store we did see a number of units come in with bad ram. Usually the cause was something else like an external power serge, a faulty power supply, brown out, a short in the mother board etc. So personally if I were you I would get a backup of ram
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
I have seen memory registers ON a chip fail. (A "spot" on the silicon an stop working.) It is hard to address this without knowing your experience level.
What yo need to look at is what is inside the memory chip slot. Somewhere in there will be a "key". That key, or notch, or whatever you would call it, is in different places for the different RAM speeds. You have SDRAM (Synchronous dynamic random access memory) and then DDR SDRAM (Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory). The key in the slot will be in a different place. I have replaced at least 4 motherboards for people who tried to shove their new RAM into a slot that was not meant for it and they cracked the memory slot.
Now, Zero is correct in saying that there is no such thing as XP RAM. The RAM is determined by the motherboard. Crucial, Kingston... all the people who make RAM, they have no way to know or no concern with what OS is going to be on a computer. It's all about the form factor.
There is also speed at which the RAM is accessed. All of that is set up by the motherboard. If the motherboard will only support a CPU of a certain form factor (the pin configurations are different - the slot has to match the CPU) then the front side bus of that CPU sets the speed of the RAM. You can FIT faster RAM into a slot if the form factor is correct, but it will perform down to the speed of the slowest chip.
The best path for this is to shut your computer down, take the door off, read the markings on the chip and match it up. You may have to pull it out to see it. In fact I am sure you will have to.
But to answer your initial question, yes, I have seen RAM go bad from power dips or surges.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,274
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,274 |
Quote:
I appreciate your responses but perhaps my fault was that I did not clearly state a question to be answered.
Have you ever personally experienced a failing RAM memory module on any of your PCs?
Hard to get a straight answer sometimes. 
NO!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 330
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 330 |
To answer the question, not directly with any machine I own.
However working as volunteer advisor on computer help forums, I have seen a few enquiries where their fault turned out to be faulty RAM, so yes it does happen, rarely, but it does.
To now clarify the subject of how much RAM can you fit.
As Eddie said, Windows XP with a 32 bit operating system, the maximum that Windows can use is actually about 3.8GB, so not all of the supposedly 4GB fitted will be utilised.
However strangely enough with 64 bit operating systems, Windows XP, Vista or 7 and 8 and 64 bit CPU to match, the maximum RAM is near infinite. However that is influenced by the other hardware soldered to the motherboard, and for low end boards can be as low as that 4GB.
So if thinking of building a system now, and using a 64bit system make sure the motherboard will handle the amount of RAM you intend or would like in your system.
As far as DDR2/3/4 Each level of this is not backward or forward compatible, a motherboard is fitted with the slot type for the RAM type required, whether DDR 2, or 3 or 4.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
I appreciate your responses but perhaps my fault was that I did not clearly state a question to be answered.
Have you ever personally experienced a failing RAM memory module on any of your PCs?
I have troubleshot and repaired computers where RAM failure was indeed the culprit.
Don't have any sort of records available on that to come up with a statistical, but offhand I'd say that, while the situation is not epidemic in nature, it does indeed occur.
It does not seem to be something that happens with time, though, in quite a few cases the failure was found in rather "new" machines or in machines where the customer had added aftermarket RAM chips to up the memory ante at some point, it probably worked at first, but at some point they would start to have failures such as the Blue Screen of Death, Freezeups, Crashes, or he inability to load a program. Most customers would suggest that they thought they had a virus or the likes when presenting. Good Diagnostic software tools can be used to pinpoint whether or not such problems are due to Memory probs, or PSU issues, etc.
As for whether or not the OP should purchase spare RAM or not, well, I cannot answer that question and neither can anybody else. Your present RAM could last forever, or it could fail tomorrow, as there are many factors to consider that might cause ram chips to go south, not just catastrophic component failures, which, if you think about it, cannot be predicted. But consider some of those other situations, such as a lightning strike somewhere on your power line that may get inside the puter and may damage ram or even other components. That could happen even if the PC is turned off but still connected to AC power and Internet/Network cabling, audio peripherals, etc.
I can say this: Those folks who have tried to maintain an older PC and matching OS for a longer time, in general, eventually always end up having to bite the bullet and upgrade anyway at some point.
Consider that Support for XP is soon to become extinct, as well.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Quote:
Consider that Support for XP is soon to become extinct, as well.
Yep. April, 2014. Micro$oft will disown XP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222 |
Thanks guys, your responses seem to substantiate what I have experienced. You have seen memory module problems and failures on other people rigs, most notably on newer PCs or PCs with RAM upgrades, but you have never experienced any on your own personal machines. I know some of you work your units pretty hard, often regularly carrying them back and forth to gigs, and that was the primary reason for asking my question on the forum.
I'll probably buy a couple of sticks of RAM, but I'll bet with the usual care, caution, and maintenance I'll never need them. In all my years of computing on the PCs I've owned, I've seen failing hard drives, power supplies, CD/DVD burners, monitors, as well as other components but never a memory module. From your responses, it is clear that memory modules are pretty far down on your GTF and PWF lists ("Guaranteed to Fail" and "Probably Will Fail" lists).
Again, thanks for taking the time to respond.
JBlatz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
Join the conversation on our forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,393
Posts778,632
Members39,645
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean