DETERMINING MEMORY UPGRADE OPTIONS
A method to determine memory/upgrade options retrieves memory configuration data from a non-volatile storage element associated with system memory modules, determine the total memory capacity of the computer system, determines a residual memory capacity based on the prior obtained information, and presents the user with a series of options to upgrade existing system memory or replace one or more currently installed memory modules.
1 . A method to provide memory upgrade information comprising:
determining a current memory configuration of a computer system, wherein the current memory configuration comprises configuration data for memory modules currently installed in the computer system;
determining a total memory capacity for the computer system, wherein the total memory capacity is a maximum amount of memory that may be installed in the computer system as limited by aspects of the computer system and aspects of the memory modules;
determining memory upgrade options for the computer system, wherein the memory upgrade options are based on the current memory configuration and the total memory capacity; and
providing the memory upgrade options to a user.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current memory configuration comprises accessing a non-volatile storage device on each of the memory modules.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration data for memory modules currently installed in the computer system includes an operating speed of the memory modules.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration data for memory modules currently installed in the computer system includes a size of the memory modules.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration data for memory modules currently installed in the computer system includes an organization or layout of the memory modules.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration data for memory modules currently installed in the computer system includes a type of technology standard utilized by the memory modules.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current memory configuration of the computer system is stored in a non-volatile storage device by the computer system.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aspects of the computer system include a maximum number of physical memory module sockets on the computer system.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aspects of the computer system include a maximum number of address lines utilized by the computer system.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aspects of the memory modules include constraints on a type of technology standard utilized by the memory modules.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total memory capacity for the computer system is stored in a non-volatile storage device by the computer system.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining memory upgrade options for the computer system comprises determining a residual memory capacity and determining configuration data for new memory modules.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the memory upgrade options further comprise adding the new memory modules to the computer system.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the memory upgrade options further comprise replacing the memory modules currently installed in the computer system with new memory modules.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the configuration data for the new memory modules is obtained from sources outside of the computer system.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the memory upgrade options to the user comprises an interactive interface wherein the user may select a memory upgrade option and be presented with new memory upgrade options based on the selection.
17 . A computer system comprising:
a processor;
system memory electronically coupled to the processor, wherein the system memory comprises one or more memory modules currently installed in the computer system; and
computer-readable media comprising a computer program product, the computer program product storing a configuration routine including instructions to determine a current memory configuration, determine a total memory capacity, and determine memory upgrade options, wherein the instructions to determine the total memory capacity comprise instructions to determine a maximum amount of memory that may be installed in the computer system as limited by aspects of the computer system and aspects of the memory modules.
18 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to determine the current memory configuration comprise instructions to determine configuration data for the memory modules currently installed in the computer system.
19 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to determine memory upgrade options comprise instructions to determine memory upgrade options based on the current memory configuration and the total memory capacity.
20 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the configuration routine is further configured to include instructions to provide the memory upgrade options to a user.
21 . A computer-readable media comprising:
a computer program product, the computer program product storing a configuration routine including instructions to determine a current memory configuration, determine a total memory capacity, and determine memory upgrade options, wherein the instructions to determine the total memory capacity comprise instructions to determine a maximum amount of memory that may be installed in the computer system as limited by aspects of the computer system and aspects of the memory modules.