Multiple RAM chips on a single controller slot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Christoph Burschka
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Christoph Burschka

Hi, this is a very simple (and possibly stupid) yes-or-no question, but I
haven't been able to come up with Google query to answer it:

I have a motherboard with 2 x 2GB DDR2 slots, but only 4 1GB DDR2 chips left
over right now. Is there a device that can connect multiple memory chips to a
single memory slot on the board, in effect combining them into a "virtual"
larger one?

Thanks for indulging me.

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Key: http://burschka.de/christoph/0x55A52A2A


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Christoph said:
Hi, this is a very simple (and possibly stupid) yes-or-no question, but I
haven't been able to come up with Google query to answer it:

I have a motherboard with 2 x 2GB DDR2 slots, but only 4 1GB DDR2 chips left
over right now. Is there a device that can connect multiple memory chips to a
single memory slot on the board, in effect combining them into a "virtual"
larger one?

Thanks for indulging me.
Click to expand...

Possibly, but I don't think it's a good idea:

1) It may not physically fit into the space in your chassis. Even if it
does fit, you might have to sort of jam it in with cables or other
components putting pressure on it in the wrong direction.

2) Electrically it might be flaky. As high as the bandwidth is between
the board and your memory, I can't see that added complication is a good
thing.

3) The price would likely not justify the aforementioned risks. You can
get 2 x 2GB DDR2 for about $40. Just spend it and don't buy yourself
pain by trying to save $10.
 
Christoph said:
Hi, this is a very simple (and possibly stupid) yes-or-no question, but I
haven't been able to come up with Google query to answer it:

I have a motherboard with 2 x 2GB DDR2 slots, but only 4 1GB DDR2 chips left
over right now. Is there a device that can connect multiple memory chips to a
single memory slot on the board, in effect combining them into a "virtual"
larger one?

Thanks for indulging me.
Click to expand...

Years ago, they made adapters like that.

There is nothing like that for the current generations of RAM.
Adapters were a more popular solution for some of the older
RAM technologies.

You can sell your 4x1GB DIMMs on Ebay, then buy 2x2GB
new modules.

But memory is cheap right now, so you can even
buy 2x2GB now for a nominal fee. And keep the 4x1GB, because
when the memory industry collapses, the prices will
shoot up again. What happens to the memory industry now,
will all depend on the generosity of some foreign
governments ("bailout").

So buy your DDR2, while it remains cheap.

The raw parts cost for a 2GB memory DIMM, is about $16.

http://www.dramexchange.com/

The cheapest 2GB module I can find, is $15.99 :-)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159020

If there were adapters available, they'd be more expensive
than the RAM they were interfacing to.

Paul
 
Thanks for your information! :)

I think I'll first get the system set up with 2x1 GB chips, and later upgrade as
necessary. It's not a bad idea to have the motherboard running with less memory
than its full capacity - after all, it's far easier to switch the memory chips
than to upgrade the motherboard.
Years ago, they made adapters like that.

There is nothing like that for the current generations of RAM.
Adapters were a more popular solution for some of the older
RAM technologies.

You can sell your 4x1GB DIMMs on Ebay, then buy 2x2GB
new modules.

But memory is cheap right now, so you can even
buy 2x2GB now for a nominal fee. And keep the 4x1GB, because
when the memory industry collapses, the prices will
shoot up again. What happens to the memory industry now,
will all depend on the generosity of some foreign
governments ("bailout").

So buy your DDR2, while it remains cheap.

The raw parts cost for a 2GB memory DIMM, is about $16.

http://www.dramexchange.com/

The cheapest 2GB module I can find, is $15.99 :-)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159020

If there were adapters available, they'd be more expensive
than the RAM they were interfacing to.

Paul
Click to expand...


--
"Omniscient? No, not I; but well-informed."
----------------------
XMPP: (e-mail address removed)
AOL: 313125838 / cburschka
Key: http://burschka.de/christoph/0x55A52A2A


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Christoph said:
I think I'll first get the system set up with 2x1 GB chips, and
later upgrade as necessary. It's not a bad idea to have the
motherboard running with less memory than its full capacity -
after all, it's far easier to switch the memory chips than to
upgrade the motherboard.
Click to expand...

Check whether the system is ECC capable (which will probably
require the MB manual). If so you would be well advised to get ECC
memory when you upgrade. The result is an order of magnitude more
reliable, and also will not make errors without warning you in some
manner. Note that ALL the memory needs to be ECC capable - a
mixture will not work.

Please do not top-post. Your answer belongs after (or intermixed
with) the quoted material to which you reply, after snipping all
irrelevant material. See the following links:

<http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html>
<http://www.caliburn.nl/topposting.html>
<http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html>
<http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/> (taming google)
<http://members.fortunecity.com/nnqweb/> (newusers)
 
Christoph said:
I have a motherboard with 2 x 2GB DDR2 slots, but only 4 1GB DDR2 chips left
over right now. Is there a device that can connect multiple memory chips to a
single memory slot on the board, in effect combining them into a "virtual"
larger one?
Click to expand...

Isn't that what memory modules are for, to combine memory chips onto a
single circuit board that can be plugged into one of those slots?

I've seen circuit boards with multiple SIMM or maybe DIMM sockets to
allow multiple memory modules to be plugged into a single memory slot
or bus slot, but I don't think they're at all practical with modern
memory.
 
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