HowTo: 1024mb of ram Win98/SE/ME

ThugsRook · 05-06-2003, 09:33 PM

Windows98/SE/ME can run 1024mb of ram but you will need to make a couple of tweaks to get it to boot and run at its best.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOW TO

in order to even bootup you will need to specify a set vcache value....
(boot to safe mode if 1024mb is already installed)

open the file C:\windows\system.ini in notepad.
scroll down to where it says vcache and add a new line under it like this:

[vcache]
MaxFileCache=524288

save file and reboot.

also ~ do not use any other custom tweaks you may have previously applied!

effectively ~
you will be running upto 512mb of dedicated vcache memory and at least 512mb of dedicated system memory, which is still better then just running 512mb of "shared" memory.

* optionally you could run 256mb (262144) for vcache, giving you more system ram to use.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BENCHMARKS

1024mb of ram may not give you the huge gains in benchmarks youd expect. for the most part, the extra ram will be good for large file handling and multitasking. (like DivX, Mpeg, or MP3 encoding)

with that being said, here's the benchmarks that at the very least show there is no performance degredation.....

1) 2x256mb XMS3200 LL cas22261 2.5v
2) 2x512mb KHX3000 cas22261 2.5v

> DivX 505 < lower is better
512mb = 24:49
1024mb = 24:27

> 3DMark2001 <
512mb = 14364
1024mb = 14384

> X-Isle Tech Demo < 1280x1024x32
512mb = 108.7
1024mb = 108.7

> UT2003 Demo < 1280x1024x32, flyby - botmatch
512mb = 119.0 - 77.5
1024mb = 119.0 - 77.5

> Quake III Arena < 1280x1024x32
512mb = 223.3
1024mb = 223.4

> Re-Volt < 1280x1024x32
512mb = 321.5
1024mb = 322.1

> Aida32 Membench < read - write
512mb = 4769 - 1190
1024mb = 4772 - 1192

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NOTES

doing a clean OS install should not be a problem until you load video and sound card drivers. make sure you mod the system.ini file before that.

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Cogar · 05-06-2003, 11:11 PM

Great post!

Thank you for the information.

mandacat · 05-06-2003, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThugsRook
Windows98/SE/ME can use more then 512mb of ram.
after reading the article below i thought id give it a shot......

Rather than a "Myth", the Win98/ME limitation appears to have been started by Microsoft themselves (what else is new). Check out this article

LINK

bajo · 05-06-2003, 11:42 PM

Too bad my tusl2-c puppy is limited to 512mb ram only !

Cogar · 05-06-2003, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mandacat
Rather than a "Myth", the Win98/ME limitation appears to have been started by Microsoft themselves (what else is new). Check out this article

LINK

Hehe. Most amusing.

BKA · 05-06-2003, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the article. Although Windows 98 is a thing of the past for me it is still good to know.

SLM crew chief · 05-06-2003, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajo
Too bad my tusl2-c puppy is limited to 512mb ram only !

We have good ole' INTEL to thank for THAT one!

goku008 · 05-06-2003, 11:53 PM

i wish u posted that 2 years ago when i still used those crappy windows

**pointreyes** · 05-07-2003, 12:07 AM

I tried what was posted over 1.5 years ago and even though I could use my 1 Gig of RAM, ME was extremely slow.

It was so slow that my 3DMark2001 bench with my 8500DV was 75% slower.

Menus and all the software were slugs.

ThugsRook · 05-07-2003, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pointreyes
I tried what was posted over 1.5 years ago and even though I could use my 1 Gig of RAM, ME was extremely slow. It was so slow that my 3DMark2001 bench with my 8500DV was 75% slower. Menus and all the software were slugs.

yes i have tried this many times before on earlier platforms and got very bad results too.

but now on the P4 platform it works perfectly.
benchmarks are as good or slightly better then running 2x256mb XMS LL running the same specs.

but you must use those vcache settings.

<EDIT> could it be because of the DCDDR that it now works?

Mikki · 05-07-2003, 12:31 AM

Thugs, is there any difference or advantages for using the system.ini settings on a system with only 512mb?

traveler · 05-07-2003, 12:32 AM

Good find Thugs. I'll give it a whirl on my next build. I wonder how the best OS there is for gaming will behave with games running and a huge amount of memory.

__________________

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ThugsRook · 05-07-2003, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mikki
Thugs, is there any difference or advantages for using the system.ini settings on a system with only 512mb?

yes, there is a slight performance advantage.
anyone running 512mb of mem on Win98 should add these line to their system.ini file:

[vcache]
MaxFileCache=262144

this "hack" also fixes a hd cache problem when deleting large files / directories in Win98/SE. (the system will hang and require a C+A+D reboot)

you run Win98se Mikki ~ double check my results for me

Mikki · 05-07-2003, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by traveler
Good find Thugs. I'll give it a whirl on my next build. I wonder how the best OS there is for gaming will behave with games running and a huge amount of memory.

__________________

Visit and chat with the AsusBuds at the #asusboards channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat
If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com

Actually, that's a good question, now that we have a way for Win98 to use more than 512mb, it'd be cool to see how much it actually uses on certain games/apps and what the difference (if any) is....

Mikki · 05-07-2003, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThugsRook
yes, there is a slight performance advantage.
anyone running 512mb of mem on Win98 should add these line to their system.ini file:

[vcache]
MaxFileCache=262144

this "hack" also fixes a hd cache problem when deleting large files / directories in Win98/SE. (the system will hang and require a C+A+D reboot)

you run Win98se Mikki ~ double check my results for me

Hehe...as soon as I'm done testing this new memory I will....

05-06-2003, 09:33 PM	#1
ThugsRook Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: FLA Posts: 1,832	HowTo: 1024mb of ram Win98/SE/ME Windows98/SE/ME can run 1024mb of ram but you will need to make a couple of tweaks to get it to boot and run at its best. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO in order to even bootup you will need to specify a set vcache value.... (boot to safe mode if 1024mb is already installed) open the file C:\windows\system.ini in notepad. scroll down to where it says vcache and add a new line under it like this: [vcache] MaxFileCache=524288 save file and reboot. also ~ do not use any other custom tweaks you may have previously applied! effectively ~ you will be running upto 512mb of dedicated vcache memory and at least 512mb of dedicated system memory, which is still better then just running 512mb of "shared" memory. * optionally you could run 256mb (262144) for vcache, giving you more system ram to use. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BENCHMARKS 1024mb of ram may not give you the huge gains in benchmarks youd expect. for the most part, the extra ram will be good for large file handling and multitasking. (like DivX, Mpeg, or MP3 encoding) with that being said, here's the benchmarks that at the very least show there is no performance degredation..... 1) 2x256mb XMS3200 LL cas22261 2.5v 2) 2x512mb KHX3000 cas22261 2.5v > DivX 505 < lower is better 512mb = 24:49 1024mb = 24:27 > 3DMark2001 < 512mb = 14364 1024mb = 14384 > X-Isle Tech Demo < 1280x1024x32 512mb = 108.7 1024mb = 108.7 > UT2003 Demo < 1280x1024x32, flyby - botmatch 512mb = 119.0 - 77.5 1024mb = 119.0 - 77.5 > Quake III Arena < 1280x1024x32 512mb = 223.3 1024mb = 223.4 > Re-Volt < 1280x1024x32 512mb = 321.5 1024mb = 322.1 > Aida32 Membench < read - write 512mb = 4769 - 1190 1024mb = 4772 - 1192 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES doing a clean OS install should not be a problem until you load video and sound card drivers. make sure you mod the system.ini file before that. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- __________________ P4 2.26b @ 3.59ghz KHX3000 2x512mb @ 422ddr c2622 Abit IC7-G @ 211fsb SR-A-A-A-E ThermalRight SP-94 & NB-1C eVGA LE6800 GTU @ 425x1200 Last edited by ThugsRook : 01-23-2004 at 03:15 AM.
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05-06-2003, 11:11 PM	#2
Cogar Level 15, lawful good Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: It varies, but usually within 100 yards of a keyboard. Posts: 7,222	Great post! Thank you for the information.
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05-06-2003, 11:42 PM	#4
bajo C1eaner Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: TX, USA Posts: 17,181	Too bad my tusl2-c puppy is limited to 512mb ram only ! __________________ USA "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them." Duke (The Shootist) Gigabyte_AGP_LGA775, PentiumD960_dual core 3.6GHz, SapphireHD3850_AGP512MB_DDR2, WD RaptorX 150GB SATA_clearTop_16MB + Seagate 1TB SATA_32MB, CorsairDominator 2GB 8500_1066MHz, Dell 24" 2408WFP *AGP +DVIx2 +HDMI +DisplayPort +USB2x4, XPproSP3 Inspiron9400 17"uxga CentrinoC2duoT7600_2.39GHz_685MHz 4GB Micron6400@800_675_400MHz GeForceGo7900GSMobileForce_M6Enhanced_256MB 2x200GbSATA_7200rpm_16MBcache Vista hp, VistaP6001SP1
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05-06-2003, 11:49 PM	#6
BKA Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,093	Thanks for the article. Although Windows 98 is a thing of the past for me it is still good to know. __________________ DFI LT X48-T2R Q9450@3.2 2-3870(CF) 4GB Patriot Viper Vista x64 ULT
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05-06-2003, 11:53 PM	#8
goku008 L33t H4x0r Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 575	i wish u posted that 2 years ago when i still used those crappy windows __________________ AMD64 3000 @ 2.6ghz MSI Nforce4 Board eVGA 6800 Ultra 1GB Ram 1Gb-PC4000 Corsair Plat Audigy2 Platinum Sound 2x 36.6GB Western Digital Raptors Raid 0 200GB Maxtor 7.2k rpm 8mb Cache 320GB Western Digital 7.2k rpm 8mb Cache 250GB Western Digital 7.2k rpm 8mb Cache External Lite-On DVDRW Dual Layer 16x Antec 430watt True Power True Blue
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05-07-2003, 12:07 AM	#9
pointreyes The race for quality has no finish line- so technically, it's more like a death march. Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 18,159	I tried what was posted over 1.5 years ago and even though I could use my 1 Gig of RAM, ME was extremely slow. It was so slow that my 3DMark2001 bench with my 8500DV was 75% slower. Menus and all the software were slugs. __________________
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05-07-2003, 12:31 AM	#11
Mikki Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,299	Thugs, is there any difference or advantages for using the system.ini settings on a system with only 512mb?
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05-07-2003, 12:32 AM	#12
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,178	Good find Thugs. I'll give it a whirl on my next build. I wonder how the best OS there is for gaming will behave with games running and a huge amount of memory. __________________ Visit and chat with the AsusBuds at the #asusboards channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com
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