Most hardware will drop to the least common denominator. So you should be fine. On Oct 9, 2014 10:37 PM, "Michael Havens" wrote: > sorry about the delay.... I had to go to work. > > top - 22:16:50 up 1 day, 8:59, 2 users, load average: 0.30, 0.19, 0.15 > Tasks: 168 total, 2 running, 166 sleeping, 0 stopped, 0 zombie > %Cpu(s): 12.0 us, 2.3 sy, 0.0 ni, 84.1 id, 1.7 wa, 0.0 hi, 0.0 si, > 0.0 st > KiB Mem: 1983332 total, 1812836 used, 170496 free, 57184 buffers > KiB Swap: 5855656 total, 40496 used, 5815160 free. 560792 cached Mem > > it looks to me like the additional memory will be beneficial. > > Nobody answered my question; if I am sent the 533 Mhz ram instead of the > 800 will the different speed rams play together? The reason I ask is Amazon > sent me a letter saying my order (the 533 Mhz) had shipped then I tried to > change my order and the company said that it wouldn't be a problem. > Further, they didn't charge me more so I am thinking they are BSing me. But > if they did that I would write a negative customer feedback report. SO I > guess they really are sending me the right memory for the price I paid for > the slower memory. This company is Computer Memory Solutions > > . > > :-)~MIKE~(-: > > On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 7:49 PM, Mark Phillips > wrote: > >> I have found the best number to watch is the amount of swap used. If that >> grows, then you need more RAM. If you are running slow and not using swap, >> then adding RAM won't help. >> >> Mark >> >> On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 4:53 PM, Carruth, Rusty wrote: >> >>> Unless his problem is LACK of ram. Yes, I know it said 489M free. >>> Without a look at top I'm not convinced yet that he won't see any >>> improvement. >>> >>> >>> >>> Here is 'top' from a machine which is pretty un-loaded: >>> >>> >>> >>> top - 16:40:14 up 63 days, 1:12, 3 users, load average: 0.42, 0.62, >>> 0.67 >>> >>> Tasks: 287 total, 1 running, 282 sleeping, 0 stopped, 4 zombie >>> >>> Cpu(s): 3.8%us, 0.9%sy, 0.0%ni, 95.3%id, 0.0%wa, 0.0%hi, 0.0%si, >>> 0.0%st >>> >>> Mem: 2564652k total, 2053712k used, 510940k free, 91448k buffers >>> >>> Swap: 6095864k total, 371340k used, 5724524k free, 516624k cached >>> >>> >>> >>> And here's a top from one of our servers: >>> >>> >>> >>> top - 16:42:03 up 141 days, 19:59, 6 users, load average: 0.00, 0.02, >>> 0.05 >>> >>> Tasks: 274 total, 1 running, 273 sleeping, 0 stopped, 0 zombie >>> >>> %Cpu(s): 3.1 us, 0.6 sy, 0.0 ni, 96.0 id, 0.3 wa, 0.0 hi, 0.0 si, >>> 0.0 st >>> >>> KiB Mem: 32898652 total, 32469852 used, 428800 free, 2711252 buffers >>> >>> KiB Swap: 33506300 total, 1224 used, 33505076 free, 22613684 cached >>> >>> >>> >>> (yeah, 32G of ram. I can edit (using emacs) a 20G file with NO >>> problems. I know because I have) >>> >>> >>> >>> Again, nice and responsive (but then this machine says: >>> >>> >>> >>> /var/log/dmesg:[ 0.000007] Calibrating delay loop (skipped), value >>> calculated using timer frequency.. 4399.98 BogoMIPS (lpj=8799976) >>> >>> /var/log/dmesg:[ 0.121190] smpboot: Total of 4 processors activated >>> (17599.95 BogoMIPS) >>> >>> >>> >>> So I suppose that's a pretty hot machine.) >>> >>> >>> >>> On the OTHER hand, look at this machine, which runs pretty much as well >>> as everything ELSE here I've mentioned: >>> >>> >>> >>> top - 16:45:51 up 51 days, 23:59, 28 users, load average: 4.79, 4.46, >>> 4.51 >>> >>> Tasks: 335 total, 1 running, 330 sleeping, 0 stopped, 4 zombie >>> >>> %Cpu(s): 70.4 us, 0.8 sy, 0.0 ni, 28.6 id, 0.0 wa, 0.0 hi, 0.1 si, >>> 0.0 st >>> >>> KiB Mem: 8159892 total, 7781364 used, 378528 free, 290460 buffers >>> >>> KiB Swap: 2086908 total, 0 used, 2086908 free, 5508492 cached >>> >>> >>> >>> /var/log/dmesg:[ 0.000001] Calibrating delay loop (skipped), value >>> calculated using timer frequency.. 5985.88 BogoMIPS (lpj=11971768) >>> >>> /var/log/dmesg:[ 0.074024] smpboot: Total of 2 processors activated >>> (11971.76 BogoMIPS) >>> >>> >>> >>> Again, fast cpu, but then I've got 4 processor-bound applications >>> running all the time on it so its at a load average of 4.79. I've >>> remembered that the important numbers come from: >>> >>> >>> >>> %Cpu(s): 70.4 us, 0.8 sy, 0.0 ni, 28.6 id, 0.0 wa, 0.0 hi, 0.1 si, >>> 0.0 st >>> >>> >>> >>> If that said: >>> >>> >>> >>> %Cpu(s): 70.4 us, 0.8 sy, 0.0 ni, 0.6 id, 26.0 wa, 0.0 hi, 0.1 si, >>> 0.0 st >>> >>> >>> >>> You'd have something of a slow machine. If it said: >>> >>> >>> >>> %Cpu(s): 20.4 us, 0.8 sy, 0.0 ni, 8.6 id, 70.0 wa, 0.0 hi, 0.1 si, >>> 0.0 st >>> >>> >>> >>> Youd be going to lunch while waiting for it to finish whatever you were >>> doing, if I remember the numbers right. >>> >>> >>> >>> IMHO, YMMV, etc, etc J >>> >>> >>> >>> I look forward to hearing what Mike discovers. >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org [mailto: >>> plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org] *On Behalf Of *Mark Phillips >>> *Sent:* Thursday, October 09, 2014 4:36 PM >>> *To:* Main PLUG discussion list >>> *Subject:* Re: memory >>> >>> >>> >>> Mike, >>> >>> On page 91 of the Dell Dimension C521 that I sent to you, you can use >>> memory sticks at 533 MHz, 667 MHz, and 800 MHz. Since the original ones are >>> 800 MHz, you did the right thing by changing your order from 533 MHz to 800 >>> MHz. >>> >>> >>> >>> Bottom line...unless you were doing a lot of RAM intensive computations >>> on this machine, you won't see a lot of performance improvement for your >>> investment of $50 in the memory. >>> >>> Mark >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 2:06 PM, Michael Havens wrote: >>> >>> I emailed the company I bought the ram from and they said they would >>> send the 800 Mhz instead of the chips advertised. If that happens I don't >>> know. If it does not happen should I get the matching 533Mhz ram or can I >>> have the mismatching speeds (will it default the the slower speed)? >>> >>> >>> :-)~MIKE~(-: >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 12:41 PM, wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> I did a search on "CPU family 15 Model 79 Stepping 2" and this is what I >>> found. >>> >>> >>> http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Sempron%2064%203400%2B%20-%20SDA3400IAA3CN%20%28SDA3400CNBOX%29.html >>> >>> And here is the benchmark I found >>> http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Sempron+3400%2B >>> >>> I would say at least in part the cause of your computer being slow is >>> the CPU. >>> >>> I'd be interested to hear if more RAM makes a difference. Of course RAM >>> might effect performance if you are doing something that requires a lot of >>> RAM. I assume more RAM will effect compile speed. >>> >>> This is a testament to Linux breathing life into old iron. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2014-10-09 14:03, Michael Havens wrote: >>> >>> bmike1@C521 ~ $ lscpu >>> Architecture: x86_64 >>> CPU op-mode(s): 32-bit, 64-bit >>> Byte Order: Little Endian >>> CPU(s): 1 >>> On-line CPU(s) list: 0 >>> Thread(s) per core: 1 >>> Core(s) per socket: 1 >>> Socket(s): 1 >>> NUMA node(s): 1 >>> Vendor ID: AuthenticAMD >>> CPU family: 15 >>> Model: 79 >>> Stepping: 2 >>> CPU MHz: 1000.000 >>> BogoMIPS: 2004.24 >>> Virtualization: AMD-V >>> L1d cache: 64K >>> L1i cache: 64K >>> L2 cache: 512K >>> NUMA node0 CPU(s): 0 >>> >>> :-)~MIKE~(-: >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 10:04 AM, wrote: >>> >>> what CPU does that box have? >>> >>> On 2014-10-09 09:36, Mark Phillips wrote: >>> Michael, >>> >>> It seems the max memory is 4GB for that system - 4 banks of 1 GB >>> sticks. >>> RAM memory Capacity - 4 GB >>> Memory Type - DDR2 SDRAM - DIMM 240-pin >>> Data Integrity Check - Non-ECC >>> Speed - 667 MHz ( PC2-5300 ) >>> Features - Dual rank , unbuffered >>> >>> You already have 2 1GB sticks in the machines - what speed are >>> they? >>> You should match the speed for all four sticks. >>> >>> The second set you mentioned are only 533 MHz, whereas your bus is >>> 667 >>> MHz. If your system is slow, get the fastest memory you can afford. >>> >>> Mark >>> >>> On Wed, Oct 8, 2014 at 1:51 PM, Carruth, Rusty >>> wrote: >>> >>> Yes, 1024 is one gig, but often some memory is stolen by the >>> motherboard - for example if you have an on-board graphics card >>> that uses main memory for its RAM. >>> >>> >>> >>> Personally, if you can afford it and the 4G is less than 2x the 2G >>> I'd get 4G - but if you could find 2x2G sticks then you could >>> have 6G total - not bad IMHO. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> FROM: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org >>> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org] ON BEHALF OF >>> Michael Havens >>> SENT: Wednesday, October 08, 2014 1:43 PM >>> TO: PLUG >>> SUBJECT: memory >>> >>> >>> >>> I know this is a stupid question but... >>> >>> >>> >>> I got a Dell dimension c521. It is slow so I figure I should add >>> memory. There are 4 memory slots with 2 being used. How much memory >>> is that? Well, the cards that are in there say it they are two >>> cards with 1024 mb apiece. 'free -h' reports >>> >>> >>> >>> free -h >>> >>> total used free >>> >>> shared buffers cached >>> >>> Mem: 1.9G 1.4G 489M 18M >>> 59M 535M >>> >>> >>> >>> isn't 1024 one gig? Where is the rest? >>> >>> >>> >>> SHould I buy this? >>> >>> >>> >>> NEW 4GB 4X1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHZ RAM MEMORY FOR DELL DIMENSION >>> C521 [1] >>> >>> >>> >>> or should I get this? >>> >>> >>> >>> 2GB (2X1GB) RAM MEMORY CMS COMPATIBLE WITH DELL DIMENSION C521 >>> DESKTOP [2] >>> >>> :-)~MIKE~(-: >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] [3] >>> >>> Links: >>> ------ >>> [1] >>> >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/4x1GB-PC2-5300-667MHz-Memory-Dimension/dp/B00KFND9SC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-1&keywords=dimension+c521+memory >>> >>> [2] >>> [2] >>> >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/Compatible-Dell-Dimension-C521-Desktop/dp/B00BL30RZS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-3&keywords=dimension+c521+memory >>> >>> [3] >>> [3] http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >>> >>> >>> Links: >>> ------ >>> [1] http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> [2] >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/4x1GB-PC2-5300-667MHz-Memory-Dimension/dp/B00KFND9SC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-1&keywords=dimension+c521+memory >>> [3] >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/Compatible-Dell-Dimension-C521-Desktop/dp/B00BL30RZS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-3&keywords=dimension+c521+memory >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >