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Memory question (modified 0 times) justme Profile Hi, Got a memory question... I see SODIMM memory module for PowerBook G3 FireWire memory for sale (high profile) and it appears to be ok... has anyone had luck with this? What is the differance between high and low profile? Also was there any limit to the memory size an I-Opener can accept (and still use)... that is can an I-Opener without any limitation handle a 256 or a 512MB sodimm? I vaguely recall reading something about a problem with the via chip set processing large memory chips on the sodimm... can someone enlighten me (and yes I did try a search or two before posting this)... thanks! Thanks 03-03-2001 15:04:24

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) vailr Profile Low profile is what you need for the IOpener. 128 MB is the maximum, 256 won't work. 03-04-2001 12:52:06

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) zyxw Profile | Email Hmm, I thought it was something to do with 32 vs 64 or some such in the memory stick. Wouldn't 256MB be ok if it was 64x32? I'm not clear on why exactly it's an I-Opener issue, is there a defect in the design? 03-05-2001 07:56:04

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) Programmer Profile Chipset Issue.. The chipset in the IOpener does not recognize 256Mbit or larger sdram chips.. The largest that it will recognize are 128Mbit sdram chips.. if you can find a sodimm that has 16 128Mbit chips (256MB), and it fits in the IO physically, then you can use it. Samsung makes one of these. it uses physically smaller chips. as for 512MB, you would need to find a sodimm with 32 chips (not likely) the onboard memory locations will take up to 64MB of ram, but I believe that something must be done to the bios for it to be recognized.` you SHOULD be able get further by modifying your sodimm to make the memory look like 2 seperate sodimms, however, I have not done this and do not know of anyone who has. 03-05-2001 08:30:07

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) zyxw Profile | Email Ok, bear with me as I'm not 100% sure about the "language" of memory sticks at this level, but isn't 32x64 something like 32 or 64 meg equivelent or 64 32 meg equvelent chips? For example can you review say http://www.premiersystem.com/in25pc144pin.html and help me understand how by reading the description you can determine if it will or won't work in an I-Opener at 256MB... Thanks very much 03-05-2001 08:49:10

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) Programmer Profile 32Mx64 refers to the configuration of the sodimm.. 32Mbits x 64bits == 32Mbits x 8Bytes == 256MBytes the configuration of the sodimm is actually rather unimportant to us, and it is the sdram chips ON the sodimm that are our problem. The sodimm pictured looks to have 4 chips on the side that we can see. If that is all the chips it has, it is using 512Mbit sdrams, which will not work for us. If it has another 4 chips on the back, then it is using 256Mbit sdrams, which will also not work. Our only hope for 256MB on the IO is to use a sodimm that has 16 128Mbit chips. http://www.usa.samsungsemi.com/products/newsummary/sdramdimm/M464S3323BN.htm is one such device, if you look at the datasheet you can see that it uses shrink-tsop sdrams, and fits 16 of them 8 per side on a regularly sized sodimm.. samsung doesn't list any 512MB sodimms, so obviously they don't have one with 32 shrink tsops somehow stuck to a board... 03-05-2001 11:54:09

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) TheBarron Profile Has anyone ever found a source from which to buy this Samsung part? 03-15-2001 00:25:13

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) _chrismage Profile | Email i looked on pricewatch and i couldn't find the samsung chip. However, I did a search for '128mbit 256mb' and I found several 256MB sodimms made from 128mbit chips for $91. as long as it uses 128mbit chips, then it should work, right? 03-15-2001 06:35:56

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) Programmer Profile Righto.. it should have 16 chips, presumably shrink tsops.. 03-15-2001 11:30:07

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) justme Profile Hi, Ok if you find a working 256MB stick, PLEASE do report it to this newsgroup, $91 sounds dirt cheap and I'd buy several instantly 03-15-2001 12:25:16

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) BarfArf Profile I think I found a 256mb sodimm that may work with the i-opener based on the specifications that Programmer was nice enough to provide info for (thanks!) - it's pretty pricey compared to other sodimms, but it looks like it may work, and may be worth it to some people. I'm probably going to order one next week to try it out from www.memory.com. I'll keep you posted. - BarfArf --- I sent him Programmer's post: "the configuration of the sodimm is actually rather unimportant to us, and it is the sdram chips ON the sodimm that are our problem. The sodimm pictured looks to have 4 chips on the side that we can see. If that is all the chips it has, it is using 512Mbit sdrams, which will not work for us. If it has another 4 chips on the back, then it is using 256Mbit sdrams, which will also not work. Our only hope for 256MB on the IO is to use a sodimm that has 16 128Mbit chips. http://www.usa.samsungsemi.com/products/newsummary/sdramdimm/M464S3323BN.htm is one such device, if you look at the datasheet you can see that it uses shrink-tsop sdrams, and fits 16 of them 8 per side on a regularly sized sodimm.. samsung doesn't list any 512MB sodimms, so obviously they don't have one with 32 shrink tsops somehow stuck to a board..." --- and here's the reply that I got: "Sir, We do offer a chip that matches these specifications perfectly. Description: 144 Pin SDRAM PC100 DIMM 3.3v 256MB DIMM (32Mx64 DIMM /16Mx4/CL3) (using 16 chips, 128MBit Technology, very low profile) Part # A32MSS64V8L Price: $168.10 Best Regards, Alpha Memory, Inc." 05-18-2001 11:43:00

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) DeanBag1 Profile this may be completely off the wall, but I remember, way back in 1995, They used to have these memory adaptor things, to take 2 memory chips and put them in the adaptor, which then went into one memory slot on your computer. A similar product could help us out a lot. We could have two (or even 4) 128MB SODIMMS that have the 128MBIT SDRAM chips on them, and put into one of these things, and then to the computer, it would just look like a single 256 MB(or 512 MB) SODIMM that had the correct SDRAM-chip size. of course this is a fictional device, but one that I think could be easily produced, since it was done before for other memory types. 05-18-2001 11:57:25

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) mp3boombox Profile | Email the memory limate is a phisical or bios limate. using those adapters will not help. 05-18-2001 18:10:22

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) Programmer Profile Actually, such a device should work.. The problem is the manner in which the chipset recognizes memory. It only perceives a maximum of 128Mbit SDRAMs. 128MB represents one fully populated bank; there are 6 banks for a total of 768MB. The one problem that would occur is that the memory socket usually only has 2 banks available to it. This would limit you to 256MB unless you ran the other 2 bank lines in from somewhere. 05-21-2001 06:41:29

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) BarfArf Profile ... another 256MB possibility from Crucial memory, but I don't know how much money it is, and I couldn't find it by part number on their web site... - BarfArf ----- Start message ------ Hello, We do have 256MB SODIMM memory modules that are 128MB component based. You will want the following module: CT32M64S4D8 When ordering please specify in the comments section that you require the .opt extension of the module. Thanks for your interest. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask. (For a faster response, please include this e-mail in your reply). At Crucial, we are committed to taking care of our customers by providing the highest-quality products and most reliable service and support. To check on current pricing or to place an order, please visit our Web site at http://www.crucial.com or contact our sales department at 800-336-8896 (US and Canada only) or 208-363-5790. Thanks for thinking of Crucial! 05-21-2001 16:13:25

RE:Memory question (modified 0 times) rambusted Profile Programmer's got it - mostly. The reason for the 128Mbit limit is that the controller (via 686 northbridge) drives 12 row addresses during read and write cycles. That's how many row addresses a 128M chip (not module) has. A 256Mb (and above) DRAM chip, however, has 13 row addresses. So if you buy a module (SO-DIMM in this case) with 256Mb chips, the system recognizes half the memory. This addressing limitation is common among "older" chipsets, even Intel's 440BX, 810, and 815. BTW, all SDRAMs (including DDR SDRAMs) have 4 internal banks - I'm not sure where the "6 banks" comment comes from. SO-DIMMs will almost certainly use either x8 or x16 chips. There's room only for 8 chips total (unless you get a module with stacked chips). If the PCB is single-sided, most likely it is x16-based, whereas double-sided could be x8-based (1 bank) or 2 banks of x16's. Here's a quick summary (these are OK to use): 64MB using 128Mbit (8Mx16) chips - 4 chips - 8Mx64 (1 bank) 128MB using 128Mbit (16Mx8) chips - 8 chips - 16Mx64 (1 bank) 256MB using 128Mbit (16Mx8) chips - 16 chips (stacked) - 32Mx64 (2 banks) the system will see only 128MB on these ---- 128MB using 256Mbit (16Mx16) chips - 4 chips - 16Mx64 (1 bank) 256MB using 256Mbit (32Mx8) chips - 8 chips - 32Mx64 (1 bank) 256MB using 256Mbit (16Mx16) chips - 8 chips - 32Mx64 (2 banks) ============================= - the web is just a memory - 11-07-2001 16:35:36

I have 256MB RAM in my IO..... (modified 0 times) Georgie Profile Just in case anyone is interested. It is a low profile, 16-chip, CAS-2 PC100 SODIMM. I bought it two months ago on Ebay for - hold on to something - $49! It was dirt cheap at that time.... My stick is beautifully pictured here. Look for an Ebay item with this image, pay attention to the sticker. If you keep watching this page on Ebay, you will have your RAM in no time. Just keep looking for sellers who put no reserve on the price. Good luck! Georgie 11-07-2001 19:48:57

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