# Question about memory on 486 computers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 18, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-memory-on-486-computers/76912 "2001-08-18T16:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-memory-on-486-computers/76912/1 "2001-08-18T16:51:25Z")
Besides the computer I’m using now to write this post, I also own an old 486SX/25 computer. It has 8 - 30 pin simm memory slots. I had 20 megs and I tried replacing 4 - 1 meg chips with 4 - 4 meg chips to upgrade to 32 megs. I was a little rough and apparently ruined one or two slots. Now it only recognizes the first 4 slots, or 16 megs of memory. I thought about getting another 486 or just a 486 motherboard (eBay has a few) but then I thought, maybe there exists some sort of memory expansion I could buy. Does anything like that exist? For example, something I can plug into a memory slot that will hold 2 or more memory chips, or a memory card I can plug into one of my ISA expansion slots that will hold 4 - 30 pin simm chips? If anything like these exist, please let me know what they’re called. On eBay, I tried looking up things like: memory expansion memory upgrade memory expansion board memory expansion card Plus I also tried these searches adding 486 to the begaining, but still no luck. At least not for a 486. If there’s any place other than eBay where I can find what I’m looking for, please let me know. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-memory-on-486-computers/76912/2 "2001-08-18T20:07:49Z")
You might try here… > **[Crucial US | DRAM, Solid State Drive (SSD) & Memory Upgrades](https://www.crucial.com/)** > > Find compatible DRAM memory and SSD upgrades for your PC or Laptop with our Crucial Advisor tool or Crucial System Scanner, with FREE US delivery! ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-memory-on-486-computers/76912/3 "2001-08-18T20:57:58Z")
Thanks. I’ll give that site a try and see what I find. ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-memory-on-486-computers/76912/4 "2001-08-18T21:25:26Z")
They do exist, and are generally called memory trees. However, they may not do you any good. IIRC, most 486 boards only supported up to 32 megs(8 simms x 4 megs), so your sockets may not support more than 4 megs each. For what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-memory-on-486-computers/76912/5 "2001-08-18T21:33:08Z")
Yeah, I know that memory stackers exist for 72 simm pins. It would be cheaper if I could get around my 4 memory slot limit by having each slot hold 2 chips, but if it doesn’t work, I guess it doesn’t work. Thanks.