memory question

[Jack Seppelt]

I am upgrading the memory in a four year old Dell Dimension 4100. I want to
purchase two 256MB modules. The memory requirements are:

non-ECC PC133 SDRAM
freq - 133MHz
non parity
Unbuffered

Not all the memory I see listed states if it is ECC or non-EEC. Can I tell
by the configuration (32 x 64) vs (32 x 72) which it is?

I see PC133 256 MB modules priced from $50 to $100. Am I safe with the less
expensive parts? Whats the difference?

Thank you.

Jack

 

[steven67@]

I am upgrading the memory in a four year old Dell Dimension 4100. I want to
purchase two 256MB modules. The memory requirements are:

non-ECC PC133 SDRAM
freq - 133MHz
non parity
Unbuffered

Not all the memory I see listed states if it is ECC or non-EEC. Can I tell
by the configuration (32 x 64) vs (32 x 72) which it is?

I see PC133 256 MB modules priced from $50 to $100. Am I safe with the less
expensive parts? Whats the difference?

Thank you.

Jack

..


Yes, 32Mx64 indicates non-ECC.

Your system can use 168-pin, 32Mx64 DIMMs with either eight 32Mx8 chips or
sixteen 16Mx8 chips. New 256MB DIMMs with eight 32Mx8 chips are more common
now, and would be cheaper than new 256MB DIMMs with sixteen 16Mx8 chips.

The cheaper 256MB DIMMs you have seen, could be the ones with eight 32Mx8
chips. These would work fine in your system. It's also possible that the
cheaper DIMMs were made with sixteen 32Mx4 chips. Your board does not support
DIMMs with x4 chips.

Crucial currently has 256MB DIMMs that are guaranteed compatible with your
system, for $57.99:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...cat=RAM&model=Dimension+4100+Series&submit=Go

 

[Mike Walsh]

If the memory is not listed as ECC it is safe to assume that it is non-ECC. If you should mistakenly buy ECC memory (not likely because of the cost) it will still work on your motherboard without the ECC function.
Of the relatively inexpensive memory, I have had the best luck with Kingston.

I am upgrading the memory in a four year old Dell Dimension 4100. I want to
purchase two 256MB modules. The memory requirements are:

non-ECC PC133 SDRAM
freq - 133MHz
non parity
Unbuffered

Not all the memory I see listed states if it is ECC or non-EEC. Can I tell
by the configuration (32 x 64) vs (32 x 72) which it is?

I see PC133 256 MB modules priced from $50 to $100. Am I safe with the less
expensive parts? Whats the difference?

Thank you.

Jack

--

When replying by Email include NewSGrouP (case sensitive) in Subject

Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.

 

[MCheu]

I am upgrading the memory in a four year old Dell Dimension 4100. I want to
purchase two 256MB modules. The memory requirements are:

non-ECC PC133 SDRAM
freq - 133MHz
non parity
Unbuffered

Not all the memory I see listed states if it is ECC or non-EEC. Can I tell
by the configuration (32 x 64) vs (32 x 72) which it is?

I see PC133 256 MB modules priced from $50 to $100. Am I safe with the less
expensive parts? Whats the difference?

Thank you.

Jack

ECC memory costs more than non-ECC. If it doesn't say, or if the
price isn't significantly higher than comparable memory, it's pretty
much a given that it's non-ECC memory.

The memory configuration isn't the way to tell. The only method of
physically identifying ECC SDRAM is to look for a small EPROM chip in
the corner of the module. Of course, this isn't 100% reliable,
because some manufacturers used the same circuit board for their
non-ECC modules, they just popped in a dummy EPROM chip as a place
holder so that it doesn't look like a chip was missing.

For most purposes, the $50 memory is probably fine. The more
expensive modules tend to go through more QC testing, to ensure that
they'll work with a low error rate for long periods. Minor memory
errors aren't noticed by most people and when they do cause a major
problem (Blue Screen of Death), it usually gets blamed on the
software.

 

[Mike Walsh]

An ECC DIMM will have an extra memory chip for the ECC bits. Most non-ECC DIMMs have 4 or 8 memory chips; most ECC DIMMs have 5 or 9 memory chips. I have never used registered memory but I believe they have the extra chip that you refer to.

The memory configuration isn't the way to tell. The only method of
physically identifying ECC SDRAM is to look for a small EPROM chip in
the corner of the module. Of course, this isn't 100% reliable,
because some manufacturers used the same circuit board for their
non-ECC modules, they just popped in a dummy EPROM chip as a place
holder so that it doesn't look like a chip was missing.

--

When replying by Email include NewSGrouP (case sensitive) in Subject

Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.