[kwlug-disc] Refurb laptops & monitors - Eco-Tech Recycling?

[Gordon Dey]

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On 14-04-23 11:43 AM, unsolicited wrote:
> I see a number of refurb laptops, computers, and monitors, at 
> http://www.eco-techrecycling.com/refurbs.php (Found via kijiji
> search.)
> 
> Anyone with any comments on the offerings?
[edited]
> - More memory, the better.

For these older CPU Intel chips, the memory controller architecture
could take advantage of symmetric memory bank pairs. (google this for
more info, there is an Intel white paper on memory architecture.) That
is, 2x2GB sticks performs better than 1x4GB and so on. So I would
advise looking for memory in pairs and in powers of 2 (1, 2, 4, 8, 16).

Also, the older parts actually only had a 32b address bus (i.e. 4GB),
expanded out to 36b with a Paged Address Extension (PAE) feature.
Means low memory often has to have trampolines, or the like, to get to
the upper 5-64GB. That is why these older CPUs alway have to work a
little harder, or have slower accesses to upper memory. I wouldn't
bother with any more than 2x2GB with a celeron, say, whereas 2x4GB in
an i3, i5 or i7 *is* worth it.

AMD? No idea. YMMV!

Gord.

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