Re: Help IIgs How much RAM

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

kevin kuk <kuk@polaris.fnal.gov> wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I've look over the FAQ and could not find a answer to tell how much
> RAM a IIgs has? 

The easiest way is to call up the Control Panel, go to the RAM Disk
screen, and look at the "Largest Selectable" line.  Add 256K to this
figure, and you have the total amount of RAM installed in your IIgs,
including the motherboard "fast" RAM, motherboard "slow" RAM, and the
memory expansion card.

In a ROM 1 IIgs, this figure is equal to the amount of RAM on the memory
expansion card.  (The ROM 3 has more than 256K of RAM on the
motherboard, so the calculation is a little more complicated.)

In case you don't know how to get into the Control Panel, there are two
methods:

1. If the computer is currently switched on, then press
Control-Apple-Escape.  This takes you to the Desk Acessory menu, and
Control Panel is the first item in the menu.

2. If the computer is currently switched off, then turn it on while
holding down the Option key.  This will give you a menu with four items,
number 1 of which takes you into the Control Panel.  (You can also get
to this screen while the computer is on by pressing
Control-Option-Reset, but this forces you to reboot the computer.)

> Inventory of the system:
>  Apple II gs ROM version 01
>  color monitor
>  3 1/2 disk drive
>  5 1/4 disk drive
>  Apple IIgs Memory Expansion with 32 memory chips on it (I opened the cover
>  and looked)

I can tell you now that you have 1.25 MB of RAM in total (1280 KB),
assuming your memory card is correctly configured.  That is sufficient
to run System 6.0 or 6.0.1 with a minimum of add-on options, but you
will find it difficult to do much with only a single 3.5" drive.

You should consider adding a hard drive to the computer if you want to
be able to make full use of System 6.  A second 3.5" drive would help
somewhat, but it will still be limited.

If you want to be able to use more features of the system software (e.g.
the ability to copy files to and from Macintosh 3.5" disks) you will
need more memory.  A 4MB memory expansion card for the IIgs shouldn't
cost more than US$120 (plus shipping costs).

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand