Memory facts & queries (SDRAM - PC100/133)

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CBFalconer

I want to upgrade the memory on my system. The MB manual (Intel
SE440BX-2) data insists that the components be unbuffered, with
gold plated connectors, and have an SPD (Speed Presence Detect)
feature, and PC100 speed or better. I absolutely want ECC.
Mismatching plating with connectors can lead to long term failures.

Crucial suggests two packages, one PC100 and one PC133. The PC133
is cheaper! (probably higher volume) It does specify unbuffered,
but says nothing about plating and SPD. The price is about 90 and
100 for the two varieties (256 meg each). This would be almost
$200 for a 512 MB upgrade. Too much for this system.

What I see on Ebay is much cheaper, with prices ranging from about
$40 down. No mention of buffering, SPD, or plating.

Any suggestions. Especially what can I count on without its being
mentioned.

--
Some useful references about C:
<http://www.ungerhu.com/jxh/clc.welcome.txt>
<http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html>
<http://benpfaff.org/writings/clc/off-topic.html>
<http://anubis.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc22/wg14/www/docs/n869/> (C99)
<http://www.dinkumware.com/refxc.html> (C-library}
<http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/> (GNU docs)
 
I want to upgrade the memory on my system. The MB manual (Intel
SE440BX-2) data insists that the components be unbuffered, with
gold plated connectors, and have an SPD (Speed Presence Detect)
feature, and PC100 speed or better. I absolutely want ECC.
Mismatching plating with connectors can lead to long term failures.

Crucial suggests two packages, one PC100 and one PC133. The PC133
is cheaper! (probably higher volume) It does specify unbuffered,
but says nothing about plating and SPD.
Click to expand...

They should all have gold plating and SPD. It is extremely
rare to find any PC100 or 133 without both of these, and it
may even be a manditory part of the spec. Basically you
need the "typical" PC100 ECC memory, and your chipset is
among the most popular in history to have used it.

The price is about 90 and
100 for the two varieties (256 meg each). This would be almost
$200 for a 512 MB upgrade. Too much for this system.

What I see on Ebay is much cheaper, with prices ranging from about
$40 down. No mention of buffering, SPD, or plating.
Click to expand...

If you can physically see (a picture of it), the SPD is a
tiny, perhaps 4 x 3mm surface-mount chip that's usually in
the upper right corner. The existence of the chip alone is
a sign of the SPD support, they wouldn't put them on at that
additional expense and not use it. Gold plating- assume it
is.
Any suggestions. Especially what can I count on without its being
mentioned.
Click to expand...

I would avoid eBay if possible, especially if their return
policy isn't very good. You might try other online
pricematching services to find a seller you're comfortable
dealing with, and preferribly a name-brand module though it
need not be Crucial... in this day and age PC100 memory is
quite mature, mainly you'd want to avoid the generic
lowest-cost construction parts. I vaguely recall seeing
Viking memory for around $65 at various places but I dont'
remember any that I've dealt with- but perhaps you have.
One can check a bit on questionable companies at
http://www.resellerratings.com
 
I want to upgrade the memory on my system. The MB manual (Intel
SE440BX-2) data insists that the components be unbuffered, with
gold plated connectors, and have an SPD (Speed Presence Detect)
feature, and PC100 speed or better. I absolutely want ECC.
Mismatching plating with connectors can lead to long term failures.

Crucial suggests two packages, one PC100 and one PC133. The PC133
is cheaper! (probably higher volume) It does specify unbuffered,
but says nothing about plating and SPD. The price is about 90 and
100 for the two varieties (256 meg each). This would be almost
$200 for a 512 MB upgrade. Too much for this system.

What I see on Ebay is much cheaper, with prices ranging from about
$40 down. No mention of buffering, SPD, or plating.

Any suggestions. Especially what can I count on without its being
mentioned.
Click to expand...

PC133 is completely compatible with PC100 it's just faster. Your system
can't take advantage of the higher speed but the timing margins will be
better.

If I were you I wouldn't be putting any money into a system that old,
spend a little more and buy a modern box. Even the lowest end modern
systems will run rings around your current system which I'm guessing is
probably a PII in the range 333-450MHz.
 
PC133 is completely compatible with PC100 it's just faster. Your system
can't take advantage of the higher speed but the timing margins will be
better.

If I were you I wouldn't be putting any money into a system that old,
spend a little more and buy a modern box. Even the lowest end modern
systems will run rings around your current system which I'm guessing is
probably a PII in the range 333-450MHz.
Click to expand...


BX chipset could not use higher-density (what is most
commonly called "PC133" today) memory. There were
low-density PC133 modules but it seems many places have
taken to differentiate high and low density by merely
referring to them as PC100 or PC133.
 
General said:
PC133 is completely compatible with PC100 it's just faster. Your system
can't take advantage of the higher speed but the timing margins will be
better.

If I were you I wouldn't be putting any money into a system that old,
spend a little more and buy a modern box. Even the lowest end modern
systems will run rings around your current system which I'm guessing is
probably a PII in the range 333-450MHz.
Click to expand...

It's a PIII at 450. It is blindingly fast after my 486-80 :-) At
any rate, that is why I want a cheap memory upgrade. Otherwise I
will only put things in it that can be moved to newer systems, such
as disk drives. It has advantages, such as ISA slots, proper
serial and parallel ports, etc. Unfortunately it can only handle
one floppy, so I can't mount my 5 inch drive and have to keep the
486 running :-( I've got a lot of old stuff around here.
 
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