a DIMM mystery - SOS

I need urgent advice...please...

I bought a 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM with speed

PC2-4200S-444

DIMM for my 1.67 GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4 but it shows up as a

PC2-3200S-288

in the System Profiler. The seller tells me that

################################################## ###########################
Apple system profiler has issues properly reading third party memory. It has
been this way for some time the memory performs properly but is read wrong.
################################################## ###########################

QUESTION 1. Could the seller's explanation be correct?

QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?

Thanks! /PaulN

In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
Paul Nevai <> wrote:

> QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
> PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?

I seem to recall that the Aluminum Powerbook models did not use PC4200
memory; their RAM bus was PC2700. If that is the case, then you can put
faster memory in there, and it will work, but at the slower speed.

--
Photography, kink, polyamory, shareware, and more: all at
http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

In comp.sys.mac.system tacit <> wrote:
> In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
> Paul Nevai <> wrote:

> > QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
> > PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?

> I seem to recall that the Aluminum Powerbook models did not use PC4200
> memory; their RAM bus was PC2700. If that is the case, then you can put
> faster memory in there, and it will work, but at the slower speed.

Nope, they use PC4200. Sorry. /PaulN

In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
Paul Nevai <> wrote:

> I need urgent advice...please...
>
> I bought a 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM with speed
>
> PC2-4200S-444
>
> DIMM for my 1.67 GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4 but it shows up as a
>
> PC2-3200S-288
>
> in the System Profiler. The seller tells me that
>
> ################################################## ###########################
> Apple system profiler has issues properly reading third party memory. It has
> been this way for some time the memory performs properly but is read wrong.
> ################################################## ###########################
>
> QUESTION 1. Could the seller's explanation be correct?

Doesn't sound right to me. It sounds like you've either got memory that
_is_ slower that what you paid for and need, or that's claiming to be.
Either way I'd return it and find a better vendor.

Where'd you buy the stuff you have?

In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
Paul Nevai <> wrote:

> I need urgent advice...please...
>
> I bought a 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM with speed
>
> PC2-4200S-444
>
> DIMM for my 1.67 GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4 but it shows up as a
>
> PC2-3200S-288
>
> in the System Profiler. The seller tells me that
>
> ################################################## ###########################
> Apple system profiler has issues properly reading third party memory. It has
> been this way for some time the memory performs properly but is read wrong.
> ################################################## ###########################
>
> QUESTION 1. Could the seller's explanation be correct?

Highly suspicious. Ask him for a reference.

> QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
> PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?

Google is your friend.

Check out the DIMM manufacturer's specs, or the chips themselves.

Example:

I have on my desk an Apacer RAM module with a label 512MB UNB PC3200 CL3,
so it claims to be a PC-3200, Clock Latency=3.

If the label was missing, I would take a look at the chips: 16 chips
Infineon of the type HYB25D256800BT-5 (you may need a magnifying glass).
I google for that, and the first match is

http://www.intel.com/technology/memo...D14_5_v0.9.pdf

where I can find that those chips are of the type DDR400, 3-3-3, able to
operate at 200MHz. Going to the Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_SDRAM

(I am sure there are other references) I can see that the memory at
200MHz using DDR400 chips is called PC-3200. The label is then correct.

> Thanks! /PaulN

FWIW.


_x.

--
Only one "o" in my e-mail address

Mike Rosenberg <> wrote:

> Paul Nevai <> wrote:
>
> > > I seem to recall that the Aluminum Powerbook models did not use PC4200
> > > memory; their RAM bus was PC2700. If that is the case, then you can put
> > > faster memory in there, and it will work, but at the slower speed.
> >
> > Nope, they use PC4200. Sorry.
>
> Take a look at this:
>
> http://www.datamemorysystems.com/AMM12.asp
>
> They say some 1.67 GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4s use PC2700 and some use
> PC2-4200.

The DDR2 PowerBooks used PC2-4200, but underclocked it to PC2-2700. See
<http://developer.apple.com/documenta...er_Notes/Macin
tosh_CPUs-G4/15inchPowerBookG4/index.html>

--
Mvh./Regards, Niels Jørgen Kruse, Vanløse, Denmark

In comp.sys.mac.system Xavier Llobet <> wrote:
> In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
> Paul Nevai <> wrote:

> > I need urgent advice...please...
> >
> > I bought a 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM with speed
> >
> > PC2-4200S-444
> >
> > DIMM for my 1.67 GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4 but it shows up as a
> >
> > PC2-3200S-288
> >
> > in the System Profiler. The seller tells me that
> >
> > ################################################## ###########################
> > Apple system profiler has issues properly reading third party memory. It has
> > been this way for some time the memory performs properly but is read wrong.
> > ################################################## ###########################
> >
> > QUESTION 1. Could the seller's explanation be correct?

> Highly suspicious. Ask him for a reference.
>
> > QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
> > PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?

> Google is your friend.

> Check out the DIMM manufacturer's specs, or the chips themselves.

> Example:

> I have on my desk an Apacer RAM module with a label 512MB UNB PC3200 CL3,
> so it claims to be a PC-3200, Clock Latency=3.

> If the label was missing, I would take a look at the chips: 16 chips
> Infineon of the type HYB25D256800BT-5 (you may need a magnifying glass).
> I google for that, and the first match is

> http://www.intel.com/technology/memo...D14_5_v0.9.pdf

> where I can find that those chips are of the type DDR400, 3-3-3, able to
> operate at 200MHz. Going to the Wikipedia

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_SDRAM

> (I am sure there are other references) I can see that the memory at
> 200MHz using DDR400 chips is called PC-3200. The label is then correct.

I am sorry. I don't understand your response. Which label is correct?
PC2-4200S-444 or PC2-3200S-288? /PaulN [sorry for the long quote]

In article <f2uq1l$nhh$>,
Paul Nevai <> wrote:

> In comp.sys.mac.system Xavier Llobet <> wrote:
> > In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
> > Paul Nevai <> wrote:
>
> > > I need urgent advice...please...
> > >
> > > I bought a 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM with speed
> > >
> > > PC2-4200S-444
> > >
> > > DIMM for my 1.67 GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4 but it shows up as a
> > >
> > > PC2-3200S-288
> > >
> > > in the System Profiler. The seller tells me that
> > >
> > > ################################################## ########################
> > > ###
> > > Apple system profiler has issues properly reading third party memory. It
> > > has
> > > been this way for some time the memory performs properly but is read
> > > wrong.
> > > ################################################## ########################
> > > ###
> > >
> > > QUESTION 1. Could the seller's explanation be correct?
>
> > Highly suspicious. Ask him for a reference.
> >
> > > QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
> > > PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?
>
> > Google is your friend.
>
> > Check out the DIMM manufacturer's specs, or the chips themselves.
>
> > Example:
>
> > I have on my desk an Apacer RAM module with a label 512MB UNB PC3200 CL3,
> > so it claims to be a PC-3200, Clock Latency=3.
>
> > If the label was missing, I would take a look at the chips: 16 chips
> > Infineon of the type HYB25D256800BT-5 (you may need a magnifying glass).
> > I google for that, and the first match is
>
> > http://www.intel.com/technology/memo...D14_5_v0.9.pdf
>
> > where I can find that those chips are of the type DDR400, 3-3-3, able to
> > operate at 200MHz. Going to the Wikipedia
>
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_SDRAM
>
> > (I am sure there are other references) I can see that the memory at
> > 200MHz using DDR400 chips is called PC-3200. The label is then correct.
>
> I am sorry. I don't understand your response. Which label is correct?
> PC2-4200S-444 or PC2-3200S-288? /PaulN [sorry for the long quote]

How could I know?

I did suggest you to look (physically, with a magnifying glass) at the
chips and identify them.


_x.

--
Only one "o" in my e-mail address

In comp.sys.mac.system Xavier Llobet <> wrote:
> I did suggest you to look (physically, with a magnifying glass) at the
> chips and identify them.

Got it. I just did that. The label is 7ED22 D9GMH. Googling it gives 36
mostly Chinese web pages. I have no idea what they mean. It looks like D9GMH
refers to overclocking. I still don't know if I have PC-4200 or PC-3200
DIMMs. Can you help? /PaulN

On 2007-05-22 03:19:23 -0700, Paul Nevai <> said:

> In comp.sys.mac.system tacit <> wrote:
>> In article <f2th7d$j68$>,
>> Paul Nevai <> wrote:
>
>>> QUESTION 2. How can I determine if in fact the memory performs as a
>>> PC2-4200S-444 and not as a PC2-3200S-288?
>
>> I seem to recall that the Aluminum Powerbook models did not use PC4200
>> memory; their RAM bus was PC2700. If that is the case, then you can put
>> faster memory in there, and it will work, but at the slower speed.
>
> Nope, they use PC4200. Sorry. /PaulN


Actually. The document that came with my 1.5GHz 15" AL powerbook
clearly states...

PC 2700 DDR 333 SO-DIMM

Further, if you go to a _reputable_ memory vendor like Crucial or
Kingston you'll see they recommend the PC 2700 SO-DIMMS as well. e.g.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...nch+Display%29

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/conf...submit1=Search

Now


http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/conf...submit1=Search

Now


Now the 1.67 15 and 17 inch AL powerbooks do take the PC 4200 SO-DIMMS.

Go search based on your model and you'll get the straight scoop.



--

thepixelfreak