RAM installation not confirmed

  • Thread starter Thread starter greypound
  • Start date Start date
G

greypound

Last year I upgraded the RAM installation on my ASUS A78VX from 512 Mb
to 1024Mb using a new stick from Crucial (after following their memory
selection procedure)

The upgrade appeared OK, with Systems Information showing a Total
Physical Memory of 1024 Mb and CPU-Z showing 1024mb, comprising 2
sticks of 512Mb PC2700 (166MHz) in slots 2 & 3. (Melco/Micron)

I noted recenly however that Windows Task Manager shows a total of
523808 (of which typically 350996 is available) and similarly System
Properties shows only 512 Mb of RAM.

I need 1024 Mb for an OS upgrade. How do I know which is the correct
indication and if it is 512Mb - how do I get XP to recognise the
second stick?
 
greypound said:
Last year I upgraded the RAM installation on my ASUS A78VX from 512 Mb
to 1024Mb using a new stick from Crucial (after following their memory
selection procedure)

The upgrade appeared OK, with Systems Information showing a Total
Physical Memory of 1024 Mb and CPU-Z showing 1024mb, comprising 2
sticks of 512Mb PC2700 (166MHz) in slots 2 & 3. (Melco/Micron)

I noted recenly however that Windows Task Manager shows a total of
523808 (of which typically 350996 is available) and similarly System
Properties shows only 512 Mb of RAM.

I need 1024 Mb for an OS upgrade. How do I know which is the correct
indication and if it is 512Mb - how do I get XP to recognise the
second stick?
Click to expand...

For a second opinion, try memtest86+.

http://www.memtest.org

(Screenshot)
http://www.memtest.org/pics/nf2-big.gif

A7V8X is single channel and uses a VIA chipset. I wouldn't
have expected a problem with recognizing RAM.

On the single channel boards, when you have two sticks, the
best slots are slot 1 and slot 3. This gives a slightly better
impedance characteristics (but not so much different than slot 2 and
slot 3, to get all excited).

In any case, see what memtest reads out, in its 640x480 screen display.

If you're still having problems, and want further help, you can

1) Give all info printed on the modules. Like if there is a part number.
That allows tracing down what "marketing" thinks the DIMM contains.

2) Run CPUZ and use the "Save a report" function. In there, should be
a 256 byte SPD table for each DIMM. That gives a way of seeing
what the computer is seeing, when it parses the available info.
The SPD is a tiny EEPROM which stores timing info and product
data for the DIMM. Each DIMM can have slightly different info.
On rare occasions, the wrong SPD chip is soldered to the DIMM,
and the BIOS has a limited capability to discover a proper setting
using an older fallback procedure. So even when things are sabotaged
by the usage of the wrong SPD contents, some systems still manage
to start up OK.

This is an example, from a report file I grabbed from one of my
CPUZ folders. This is to show you what the tables I want, look like.

*******
Memory SPD
DIMM # 1

SPD registers
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
00 80 08 08 0E 0A 61 40 00 05 30 45 00 82 08 00 00
10 0C 04 38 01 02 00 03 3D 50 50 60 3C 1E 3C 2D 80
20 20 27 10 17 3C 1E 1E 00 00 3C 69 80 18 22 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 12 72
40 7F 98 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 39 39 43 35 33 31 36
50 2D 30 31 39 2E 41 30 30 4C 46 00 00 00 08 25 A9
60 1A 20 86 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
F0 39 39 43 35 33 31 36 2D 30 31 39 2E 41 30 30 4C

DIMM # 2

SPD registers
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
00 80 08 08 0E 0A 61 40 00 05 30 45 00 82 08 00 00
10 0C 04 38 01 02 00 03 3D 50 50 60 3C 1E 3C 2D 80
20 20 27 10 17 3C 1E 1E 00 00 3C 69 80 18 22 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 12 72
40 7F 98 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 39 39 43 35 33 31 36
50 2D 30 31 39 2E 41 30 30 4C 46 00 00 00 08 25 A8
60 1A 44 86 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
F0 39 39 43 35 33 31 36 2D 30 31 39 2E 41 30 30 4C
*******

To decode the tables, I need to dig up the appropriate JEDEC.org
document. CPUZ already does much of the decoding for us,
so there aren't really a lot of mysteries hidden in there,
but it does allow a look at the raw info.

Paul
 
Thankyou for the prompt reply - it has taken me a while to get my act
together, but here goes!

Memtest 86+ confirms the memory as 512MB (regrettably)

CPUZ 1.44.2 still shows 1024Mb - I have copied the relevant tables
below.

I updated my CPUZ to v1.52.2 - which sees only 512Mb !!


Here is the extract from the CPUZ report :-

Chipset
Northbridge VIA KT400 (VT8377) rev. 00
Southbridge VIA VT8235 rev. 00
Memory Type DDR
Memory Size 1024 MBytes
Memory Frequency 166.7 MHz (FSB + 33 MHz)
DRAM Interleave 4-way
CAS# 2.5
RAS# to CAS# 3
RAS# Precharge 3
Cycle Time (tRAS) 7


Memory SPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM #1

General
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Melco (7F7F7F8300000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part number

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 133 166
CAS# 2.0 2.5
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 3
RAS# Precharge 3 3
TRAS 6 7


DIMM #2

General
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Micron Technology (2CFFFFFFFFFFFFFF)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part number 8VDDT6464AG-335DB
Serial number 74A66587
Manufacturing date Week 08/Year 06

Attributes
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 133 166
CAS# 2.0 2.5
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 3
RAS# Precharge 3 3
TRAS 6 7


Dump Module #1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 07 0D 0A 02 40 00 04 60 70 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 0C 01 02 20 00 75 70 00 00 48 30 48 2A 40
20 75 75 45 45 00 00 00 00 00 3C 48 30 2D 55 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 57
40 7F 7F 7F 83 00 00 00 00 01 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
50 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 00 00
60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00


Dump Module #2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 07 0D 0B 01 40 00 04 60 70 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 0C 01 02 20 C0 75 70 00 00 48 30 48 2A 80
20 80 80 45 45 00 00 00 00 00 3C 48 30 2D 55 00 11
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 78
40 2C FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 08 38 56 44 44 54 36 34
50 36 34 41 47 2D 33 33 35 44 42 20 0B 00 06 08 74
60 A6 65 87 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
90 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
A0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
B0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

CPUZ v1.52.2 shows no details under SPD - so no tables available.

I may need to experiment with different DIMM slots, or buy 1Gb memory
modules - but I will waitto see what you make of the tables

JeffT
 
greypound said:
Thankyou for the prompt reply - it has taken me a while to get my act
together, but here goes!

Memtest 86+ confirms the memory as 512MB (regrettably)

CPUZ 1.44.2 still shows 1024Mb - I have copied the relevant tables
below.

I updated my CPUZ to v1.52.2 - which sees only 512Mb !!


Here is the extract from the CPUZ report :-

Chipset
Northbridge VIA KT400 (VT8377) rev. 00
Southbridge VIA VT8235 rev. 00
Memory Type DDR
Memory Size 1024 MBytes
Memory Frequency 166.7 MHz (FSB + 33 MHz)
DRAM Interleave 4-way
CAS# 2.5
RAS# to CAS# 3
RAS# Precharge 3
Cycle Time (tRAS) 7


Memory SPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM #1

General
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Melco (7F7F7F8300000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part number

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 133 166
CAS# 2.0 2.5
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 3
RAS# Precharge 3 3
TRAS 6 7


DIMM #2

General
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Micron Technology (2CFFFFFFFFFFFFFF)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part number 8VDDT6464AG-335DB
Serial number 74A66587
Manufacturing date Week 08/Year 06

Attributes
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 133 166
CAS# 2.0 2.5
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 3
RAS# Precharge 3 3
TRAS 6 7


Dump Module #1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 07 0D 0A 02 40 00 04 60 70 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 0C 01 02 20 00 75 70 00 00 48 30 48 2A 40
20 75 75 45 45 00 00 00 00 00 3C 48 30 2D 55 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 57
40 7F 7F 7F 83 00 00 00 00 01 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
50 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 00 00
60 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
F0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00


Dump Module #2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 07 0D 0B 01 40 00 04 60 70 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 0C 01 02 20 C0 75 70 00 00 48 30 48 2A 80
20 80 80 45 45 00 00 00 00 00 3C 48 30 2D 55 00 11
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 78
40 2C FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 08 38 56 44 44 54 36 34
50 36 34 41 47 2D 33 33 35 44 42 20 0B 00 06 08 74
60 A6 65 87 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
90 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
A0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
B0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

CPUZ v1.52.2 shows no details under SPD - so no tables available.

I may need to experiment with different DIMM slots, or buy 1Gb memory
modules - but I will waitto see what you make of the tables

JeffT
Click to expand...

This is the decoding sheet, to help decode the SPD bytes. I
only did the stuff roughly up to the first checksum, but did
not bother to verify the checksum was correct. I'll give that
a try later when I have a few minutes.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030417070529/http://www.jedec.org/download/search/4_01_02_04R11A.PDF

Dump Module #1

00 80 08 07 0D 0A 02 40 00 04 60 70 00 82 08 00 01

80 128 byte SPD content
08 in a 256 byte device
07 DDR SDRAM
0D 13 row address
0A 10 column address
02 2 banks (presumably one on each side of the module)
40 \__ 64 bit wide module
00 /
04 SSTL 2.5V
60 6 nanoseconds (DDR333)
70 (tac 0.70ns)
00 no parity
82 7.8us self refresh
08 x8 chip width
00 no parity chip width
01 column delay, back to back (haven't a clue)

10 0E 04 0C 01 02 20 00 75 70 00 00 48 30 48 2A 40

0E burst length 2,4,8 supported.
04 4 banks inside each chip
0C CAS3.5 and CAS3 supported
01 chip select latency 1 cycle
02 write latency 1 cycle
20 uses differential clock
00 (no added features)
75 CLX-0.5 = 7.5ns
70 CLX-0.5 Tac = 0.70ns
00 CLX-1 = undefined
00 CLX-1 Tac = undefined
48 Trp = 18ns (3 cycles)
30 Trrd = 12ns (2 cycles)
48 Trcd = 18ns (3 cycles)
2A Tras = 42ns (7 cycles)
40 Bank density 256MB

20 75 75 45 45 00 00 00 00 00 3C 48 30 2D 55 00 00

75 Tsu = 0.75ns
75 Th = 0.75ns
45 Strobe Tsu = 0.45ns
45 Strobe Th = 0.45ns
00
00
00
00
00
3C Trc = 60ns (10 cycles)
48 Trfc = 72ns (12 cycles)
30 Tck Max 12ns (DDR166)
2D DQ Skew 0.45ns
55 Tqhs 0.55ns
00
00 (Unused superset fields up to checksum field...)

Checksum byte 63 = 3F.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Dump Module #2

00 80 08 07 0D 0B 01 40 00 04 60 70 00 82 08 00 01

80 128 byte SPD content
08 in a 256 byte device
07 DDR SDRAM
0D 13 row address
0B 11 column address
01 1 bank (whole module)
40 \__ 64 bit wide module
00 /
04 SSTL 2.5V
60 6 nanoseconds (DDR333)
70 (tac 0.70ns)
00 no parity
82 7.8us self refresh
08 x8 chip width
00 no parity chip width
01 column delay, back to back (haven't a clue)

10 0E 04 0C 01 02 20 C0 75 70 00 00 48 30 48 2A 80

0E burst length 2,4,8 supported.
04 4 banks inside each chip
0C CAS3.5 and CAS3 supported
01 chip select latency 1 cycle
02 write latency 1 cycle
20 uses differential clock
C0 Fast AP, Concurrent Auto Precharge (haven't a clue)
75 CLX-0.5 = 7.5ns
70 CLX-0.5 Tac = 0.70ns
00 CLX-1 = undefined
00 CLX-1 Tac = undefined
48 Trp = 18ns (3 cycles)
30 Trrd = 12ns (2 cycles)
48 Trcd = 18ns (3 cycles)
2A Tras = 42ns (7 cycles)
80 Bank density 512MB

20 80 80 45 45 00 00 00 00 00 3C 48 30 2D 55 00 11

80 Tsu = 0.80ns
80 Th = 0.80ns
45 Strobe Tsu = 0.45ns
45 Strobe Th = 0.45ns
00
00
00
00
00
3C Trc = 60ns (10 cycles)
48 Trfc = 72ns (12 cycles)
30 Tck Max 12ns (DDR166)
2D DQ Skew 0.45ns
55 Tqhs 0.55ns
00
11 <--- naughty - superset fields normally left zeroed
The BIOS is probably too lazy to trip over that.

Checksum byte 63 = 78.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The first module has 16 chips and is double sided.
(16) x 32Mx8 = 512MB

The second module is single sided, has 8 chips of 8 bits wide
each. (8) x 64Mx8 = 512MB.

According to the Asus A7V8X manual, it uses up to 1GB sized
modules. If you remove 8 chips from a 1GB module, it would
resemble your 512MB single sided module. So in theory, both
modules should have worked. Your single sided 512MB module
is a subset of a 1GB module.

I did not verify the checksum on each module, but otherwise,
I don't see anything that should outright cause detection to fail.
The second module has a couple questionable things, but likely
not enough to stop things completely.

Test the modules one at a time, and see if the one with the
eight chips is being ignored or not. Perhaps with just that
one, single sided module installed, you'll get BIOS beep
codes for "no memory".

Paul
 
I will test the modules separately - then try them in slots #1 and #2
to see if that makes a difference.

JeffT
 
greypound said:
I will test the modules separately - then try them in slots #1 and #2
to see if that makes a difference.

JeffT
Click to expand...

The checksum on the first DIMM table is wrong. It should be 41 hex. Use the
WinXP calculator, switch to scientific mode, click the "hex" button,
then paste this into the calculator. The answer is 741 hex, drop the
first digit leaves 0x41 hex. Byte 63 for the first DIMM is 0x57.
I dropped all the 0x00 values, as they don't change the total.
These are bytes 00 through 62, sum of which should be the value
in byte 63.

80+08+07+0D+0A+02+40+04+60+70+82+08+01+0E+04+0C+01+02+20+75+70+48+30+48+2A+40+75+75+45+45+3C+48+30+2D+55=

For the second DIMM, the checksum byte 63 equals 0x78. The computed
checksum from the following, is 878 hex. Drop the leading digit leaves
0x78, which agrees with the byte 63 value of 0x78. So the second
DIMM has a good checksum.

80+08+07+0D+0B+01+40+04+60+70+82+08+01+0E+04+0C+01+02+20+C0+75+70+48+30+48+2A+80+80+80+45+45+3C+48+30+2D+55+11+10=

So who knows, maybe the bad checksum on the first DIMM, causes it
to be ignored ?

Paul
 
The checksum on the first DIMM table is wrong. It should be 41 hex. Use the
WinXP calculator, switch to scientific mode, click the "hex" button,
then paste this into the calculator. The answer is 741 hex, drop the
first digit leaves 0x41 hex. Byte 63 for the first DIMM is 0x57.
I dropped all the 0x00 values, as they don't change the total.
These are bytes 00 through 62, sum of which should be the value
in byte 63.

80+08+07+0D+0A+02+40+04+60+70+82+08+01+0E+04+0C+01+02+20+75+70+48+30+48+2A+40+75+75+45+45+3C+48+30+2D+55=

For the second DIMM, the checksum byte 63 equals 0x78. The computed
checksum from the following, is 878 hex. Drop the leading digit leaves
0x78, which agrees with the byte 63 value of 0x78. So the second
DIMM has a good checksum.

80+08+07+0D+0B+01+40+04+60+70+82+08+01+0E+04+0C+01+02+20+C0+75+70+48+30+48+2A+80+80+80+45+45+3C+48+30+2D+55+11+10=

So who knows, maybe the bad checksum on the first DIMM, causes it
to be ignored ?

    Paul
Click to expand...

I have to bow to your greater knowledge - but there is certainly an
incompatability between the two DIMMs.
I have checked them individually in different sockets and together.
They both work, but never give a working 1024Mb of RAM.

I aim to replace the older one (the original memory - with a poor
checksum) with a 1Gb DIMM, thus giving be a total of 1.5Gb of RAM.

Thanks for all your help, I will post again in a few weeks when I have
the new RAM installed.

JeffT
That is not very large nowadays, but on the A7V8X motherboard DDR333
supports two sockets only.
 
greypound said:
I have to bow to your greater knowledge - but there is certainly an
incompatability between the two DIMMs.
I have checked them individually in different sockets and together.
They both work, but never give a working 1024Mb of RAM.

I aim to replace the older one (the original memory - with a poor
checksum) with a 1Gb DIMM, thus giving be a total of 1.5Gb of RAM.

Thanks for all your help, I will post again in a few weeks when I have
the new RAM installed.

JeffT
That is not very large nowadays, but on the A7V8X motherboard DDR333
supports two sockets only.
Click to expand...

If you're buying 1GB DDR modules from Ebay, watch for the "High Density"
type. The best kind of RAM to buy is the regular kind - (16) x 64Mx8
chips. The "High Density" stuff, with the restricted chipset list
on Ebay, is (16) x 128Mx4, and my concern with the stuff, is you
can't just move it from one computer to another, due to the restricted
chipset list. If you're going to spend money on RAM, the RAM should be
usable anywhere. A lot of the Ebay sellers are honest, to the
extent they may reveal the restricted chipset list, or use the
words "high density" in the advert, as a warning.

Generally, branded RAM products at the 1GB DDR size, should be fine.
Crucial, Kingston, OCZ, Geil, Corsair, and so on, are branded products.
(We're talking about the brand of the DIMM module itself, not the
brand of the chips used. Just because the chips say "Samsung", doesn't
mean the module is a Samsung brand. There'd be a sticker on it somewhere,
if it was a Samsung branded module.)

Branded RAM makers don't usually make modules with x4 wide chips.
(One reason, is Intel doesn't support x4 on their desktop chipsets.)
I've only heard of one DIMM offered for sale on Newegg, that used x4,
so for the most part, if you get a branded product, you'd be safe.
Kingston, for example, offers datasheets. Many others don't.

(Example of a regular 1GB DDR DIMM for desktop computers)

http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR400X64C3A_1G.pdf

Good luck,
Paul
 
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