I have a question what kind of RAM an old computer that an acquaintance of mine has will take. I do not have physical access to the machine, but I have the photographs of the user manuals which I will post below.
My question concerns the statement in the user manual regarding the fact that it does not support double sided x16 DIMMs. What does that mean?
Can it take normal 1GB DIMM's from newegg?

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Yep, just pick up some DDR-400/533 :)

Similar to below :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159023

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You are looking for first generation DDR RAM. Havoc posted link to specific example. In general, it is this RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000170147%201052107965&name=184-Pin%20DDR%20SDRAM

The second generation is called DDR2, that is not for you.

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Thank you for the replies. :)

My specific question pertained to the "no support double-sided x16 DDR DIMMs"

Are any of the ram kits sold on Newegg that and why do I have to avoid them?

OR can I just buy any DDR 1 Ram and it would be good to go?

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Sorry missed that part, DRAM organization, Written in the form of 64M x 4, where 64M is a number of storage units (64 million), x4 (pronounced "by 4") — number of bits per chip, which equals the number of bits per storage unit. There are x4, x8, and x16 DDR chips. The x4 chips allow the use of advanced error correction features like Chipkill, memory scrubbing and Intel SDDC, while the x8 and x16 chips are somewhat more expensive.

The terms 'single sided' and 'double sided', originally meant exactly this-- that if chips were located only on one or both of the sides of the module.

However they should really now be 're-defined' as 'single banked', or 'double banked'. The question is whether the memories appear as a single memory bank to the computer, or use two CAS lines, effectively appearing as two complete memory assemblies on one module. Unfortunately, some memory sizes and makes, can be 'double banked', yet only have chips on one side of the module. This has happened at odd intervals through the
history of memories, when larger memory technologies appeared, and the manufacturers have implemented them in this way, to provide 'reverse compatibility'. Also modules can have chips on both sides and still be single banked.

Looking at the modules, does not guarantees the right answer. But most of the times, it's correct, but that's not a 100% positive answer, it's more guessing than finding out the straight answer.

Any DIMM can have two physical banks and only one bank can be accessed at any time. The choice of which bank is opened requires decoding of the address. In a scenario where only one single-sided DIMM is present in the system, the choice is the default since there are no other possibilities.

If a double-sided DIMM is used instead, the controller has to make an intelligent choice with respect to the issuing of the so-called chip select (CS) command to select the correct bank within which the information is stored. In case, there are two double-sided DIMMs in the system, there are four possible choices and only one is correct. Decoding a larger memory space will take more time and that is why most chipsets currently offer a variable CMD rate where the choices are 1T or 2T. Since the command sequence (Bank Activate, Read) is issued in a fixed timing sequence, this additional latency applies only for the initial access, whereas all subsequent commands are queued according to the latencies set in the BIOS. Therefore the CMD latency only affects random accesses or the time until the first word is output (tRAC). But this is another story, this is why for example on A64 systems running 1T with more than 2 DIMMs is rarely possible. Having 4 sticks in an A64 system already stresses the on die memory controller, even if it's configured as 2T.


Kinda confusing I guess, best bet buy from a local shop and ask them if you can bring it back if it isn't the right RAM haha.

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This reads simmilar to the PC that I have and the manual says:-

• PC2100(266MHz)DDR SDRAM
  
• PC2700(333MHz)---''---
  

by my book these come in three flavours 128,256,512-MB hope this helps

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Old enough to know better(but)still young enough not to care

That chipset was used on many of the older Intel based boards. Without knowing the MotherBoard Model it is really hard to pin down. So if you rpictures has the Model number then this page should give you waht you are looking for under the 845 Chipset Boards including access to the manual for identifying the correct RAM.

http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/archive.htm

Regards

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Please consider a Donation to the Seti Project.

That chipset was used on many of the older Intel based boards. Without knowing the MotherBoard Model it is really hard to pin down. So if you rpictures has the Model number then this page should give you waht you are looking for under the 845 Chipset Boards including access to the manual for identifying the correct RAM.

http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/archive.htm

Regards

It's a "soltek" motherboard Soltek SL-85DR2-C.

Here are the other two pictures that I have:











So my question is, since it supports a maximum of 2x 1GB DIMM, then how do I know that the 1 GB dimm will have 1 row instead of 2?
would something like this work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159106

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I checked the manufacturer's page here for that AllComponents memory you linked to, and under the composition column for 184pin Desktop DDR RAM, all of the 1GB sticks are x8; none of them are x16, so I'm thinking you should be good on that.

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I think you should be able to find what you want here:

http://www.memoryx.net/soslmome28.html

or Here:

http://www.archmemory.com/memory.cfm/Soltek-Memory-SL-85DR2-C-18957

I Googled "Soltek SL-85DR2-C" and found these 2, there are many more.


Dave

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Dave

I checked the manufacturer's page here for that AllComponents memory you linked to, and under the composition column for 184pin Desktop DDR RAM, all of the 1GB sticks are x8; none of them are x16, so I'm thinking you should be good on that.

I don't think so, If the Dimm has chips on the back of the Dimm It's Double Sided, But then I have experience with these older PCs as I've built more than a few. X8 could be double sided as I've seen on Newegg that Ram makers here and there put 4 ram chips on one side and 4 on the back too. As unless One can actually see the Dimms, The Dimms could Double or Single Sided.

I think you should read Havok's post there, Joker. You're dead wrong about the literal "double sided" being chips on both sides. It all depends on how its logically laid out in the chip's SPD.

It used to be correct that chips on both sides meant it was "double sided" back in the days of 72pin SIMMs and even 30pin SIMMs, but not anymore. I think you're information is a bit dated, sorry.

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. . . Newt - Jokers right and ANY other chips [present context - made recently] MAY work - per se - though it WON'T read right for the RAM [i know - i tried it]

ADDED Note: i show 3.25 GB RAM - whereas i have 2 chips - 'supposed to be' 4GB


@ OZZ - You are right to an 'extent' [as aforementioned above - regarding the NEWER Chips - they WILL read wrong for the amount of RAM]

your board uses: 512MB 2.5V DDR PC2100 CL 2.5 32MX8 (DIM-706464LHD0CG)

look for the 'exact number' of Model on the Board itself to ID it

i have some 'extras' of those chips - give a shout - see your PM - i'll give you what you need . . .

btw - the double-sided DO virtually have chips on BOTH sides [SIMMs] - THEY cannot be used on this particular Board


With Respect, joanne & richard

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

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. . . Newt - Jokers right and ANY other chips [present context - made recently] MAY work - per se - though it WON'T read right for the RAM [i know - i tried it]

ADDED Note: i show 3.25 GB RAM - whereas i have 2 chips - 'supposed to be' 4GB

Are you sure that's not a limitation of your 32bit OS and hardware?

@ OZZ - You are right to an 'extent' [as aforementioned above - regarding the NEWER Chips - they WILL read wrong for the amount of RAM]

I don't think so. As long as the SPD information is programmed properly, then they memory I suggested should work.

I think your personal issue is a limitation with your hardware and nothing to do with using single or double-sided memory chips.

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I checked the manufacturer's page here for that AllComponents memory you linked to, and under the composition column for 184pin Desktop DDR RAM, all of the 1GB sticks are x8; none of them are x16, so I'm thinking you should be good on that.

I don't think so, If the Dimm has chips on the back of the Dimm It's Double Sided, But then I have experience with these older PCs as I've built more than a few. X8 could be double sided as I've seen on Newegg that Ram makers here and there put 4 ram chips on one side and 4 on the back too. As unless One can actually see the Dimms, The Dimms could Double or Single Sided.

I think you should read Havok's post there, Joker. You're dead wrong about the literal "double sided" being chips on both sides. It all depends on how its logically laid out in the chip's SPD.

It used to be correct that chips on both sides meant it was "double sided" back in the days of 72pin SIMMs and even 30pin SIMMs, but not anymore. I think you're information is a bit dated, sorry.

Well Ok, But back then, like the manual said, "No Double sided ram"(And they meant It too) and back then that meant just what the ram back then looked like. Maybe today It's different, but If I'm wrong ok, But It's the OPs money and I'd play It safe with old hardware as the motherboard clearly can't access the chips on the back side of the Dimms and that's most likely not something a Bios upgrade would fix, But since I didn't design the motherboard or even use an Intel chipset of that era, I'd trust the manual, Otherwise the OP may have to endure a restocking charge and then reorder the ram If Yer wrong about the motherboards capabilities.

...and that would be very unfortunate if I were wrong, but I provided proof direct from the manufacturer of the RAM module he's looking at, and the composition of the chip is x8, which that board says it is compatible with.

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I was looking at the picture you posted of the motherboard. Next to the ram slots, it says to use DDR 266/200 (the speeds of the ram).

I also notice that the label on each slot says DDR 1 and DDR 2. This does NOT mean that you can put DDR memory in one slot and DDR2 memory in the other slot. That notation simply identifies as Slot Number 1 and Slot Number 2. (If you were to only use one memory module, you would only use Slot Number 1.) You can only use DDR memory.

Hope this helps.

Looks like Kingston Valueram P/N KVR266X64C25/1G would work for you, and it's even on sale! KVR266X64C25/1G - Part Detail . Of course, $72 for 2 gig of memory isn't cheap, but if you're determined to use this board, it may be worth it to you. You could also possibly find it cheaper on Fleabay, though I just did a search on it and currently the best price with shipping is about $41 each, though I did see an recently completed auction (260416028992) where he sold 2 of them for $24 each including shipping, so if time isn't of the essence, you may be able to pick them up for less. And, Kingston has a lifetime warranty, so if you do get used ones, if they happen to be toast they should honor the warranty, unless there is physical damage.

Good luck!

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So again just to double check, I want to get a 512 MB module from Kingston. Here is a link to a pdf of the specification: http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR266X64C25_512.pdf.
There it says:

The components on this module include
sixteen 32M x 8-bit (8M x 8-bit x 4 Bank / 133MHz, 7.5ns, CL2.5 components) SDRAM
in TSOP packages.

Would this ram work in the motherboard?

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One of the cool things of the Crucial web site is that they have a database of (almost) all the motherboard models in existence and what RAM is best used on them. You're under no obligation to buy from them.

I checked your motherboard and found this result. With that information you can shop around.

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