SODIMM 100Mhz 133Mhz HD LD

Hi, hope you can help out here

Machine: Dell Inspiron 5000e PIII-800
Recommended RAM: SODIMM 100Mhz Low Density (16 chips)
Maximum RAM: 2off 256Mb = 512Mb

I'd like to max out this machine to 512Mb and would like to use 133Mhz
modules, as naturally they're cheaper than the rarer 100Mhz ones.

This is confused in that occasionally 133Mhz modules are sold as being
66/100/133 compatiable.

This is also confused as the word on the street is that the Dell 5000/5000e
requires Low Density modules, as in 16chips.

First off, I have two 128Mbyte 100Mhz 4-chip (high density) modules in the
machine at present. That kind of blows out the high/low density theory??

Any takers?

Thanks kindly,

Aly

 

Re: "I have two 128Mbyte 100Mhz 4-chip (high density) modules in the
machine at present. That kind of blows out the high/low density theory?"

No, not at all. Think about it; 512 MB is 4x 128MB. So you are looking
for 512MB using 16 chips, or 8 chips per 256MB. That's what you'v got,
you've got low density modules.

 

http://www.computing.net/hardware/wwwboard/forum/8802.html

Now I'm totally confused.

It's saying here that my current 256Mb should be 16*128Mbit, thus implying
that my modules should have 8 chips on them.

With my 512Mb aims I'm heading for 32*128 or 64x64 overall.

Time to get out the magnifying glass me thinx..

??

(but thanks, please carry on)

 

I think what's making this confusing is that a fair number of sellers just
say 256Mb PC100/133 SODIMM 144pin and leave it at that, boom!! There's also
varying methods of identifying the chip composition when they do list the
specifics. Some will refer to the modules in Mbits, which others will make
references in Mbytes. Also confusing is that chips can be addressed in
different ways depending on how the board is wired up. So you could
technically have a board with 512Mbit chips on it, which is wired up so the
computer sees 64Mbit chips.

32Mbyte * 64

That says to me 32Mbytes * 64 = 2048Mbytes. But then if you take the
initative and divide by 8, we reach 256Mbytes. So it makes me wonder if
that 32Mbyte flag is actually 32Mbit. Or even 32 * 64Mbit seeing as I'm
starting to question their understanding of what they're selling. The peeps
in these PC World centres etc. neither know nor care.

High density chips are 512Mbit, 256Mbit. Low density chips are 128Mbit,
64Mbit. Sooooo

HD 512Mb with 512Mbit chips = 64Mbytes per chip = 2 chips (64Mbytes * 2)
(512Mbits * 2)
HD 256Mb with 512Mbit chips = 64Mbytes per chip = 4 chips (64x4) (512 * 4)
HD 512Mb with 512Mbit chips = 64Mbytes per chip = 8 chips (64x8) (512 * 8)

HD 128Mb with 256Mbit chips = 32Mbytes per chip = 4 chips (32x4) (256x4)
HD 256Mb with 256Mbit chips = 32Mbytes per chip = 8 chips (32x8) (256x8)
HD 512Mb with 256Mbit chips = 32Mbytes per chip = 16 chips (32x16) (256x16)

LD 128Mb with 128Mbit chips = 16Mbytes per chip = 8 chips (16x8) (128x8)
LD 256Mb with 128Mbit chips = 16Mbytes per chip = 16 chips (16x16) (128x16)
LD 512Mb with 128Mbit chips = 16Mbytes per chip = 32 chips (16x32) (128x32)

LD 128Mb with 64Mbit chips = 8Mbytes per chip = 16 chips (8x16) (64x16)
LD 256Mb with 64Mbit chips = 8Mbytes per chip = 32 chips (8x32) (64x32)
LD 512Mb with 64Mbit chips = 8Mbytes per chip = 64 chips (8x64) (64x64)

Also... These 64x32 numbers etc. are swapped around, depending on which
manufacturer you check.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr+Productline=Dell+Inspiron
&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+5000+Series&submit=Go

In the link above, 256Mb is described as 32Meg x 64, which I bet is 32chips
x 64Mbit ICs.

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=9597&mfr=D
ell&model=Inspiron+5000e+650&Sys=9597-Dell-Inspiron+5000e+650-850+%28PIII%29
&distributor=0&submit1=Search

Kingston don't even tell you what sort of modules you're buying. So you
can't even double check on the numbers.

I'm searching here for links to back up these therories yet am just finding
256Mb PC133 SODIMMs, boom!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/512MB-2-X-256MB-MICRON-PC133-144-PIN-LAPTOP-MEMORY_W0Q
QitemZ6816255292QQcategoryZ80201QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There's another one, tells me nothing. I bet there's 8 chips on there
though, 4 on each side. Sooo. 256 / 8 = 32Mbyte chips (8x32). Low density?
If there's 4 chips on the whole board; 256 / 4 = 64Mbyte chips. (8x64).
Based on the table up above let's swap round to get (64x8). 64Mbyte chips
are 512Mbit. 32Mbyte chips are 256Mbit. Either way, those are high density
boards!!?? Answer is, we don't! Without those composition numbers spelling
out the arrangement.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6806161364&category=315
75

There's another one but this time it has the configuration on it, same
boards too.

32 Meg x 64. I guess that's 32Mbits x 64 chip layout. 32*64 = 2048 / 8 =
256Mbytes!!!

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr+Productline=Dell+Inspiron
&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+8100+Series&submit=Go

Another search on Crucial for a Dell Inspiron 8100 listed as compatiable.
Same configuration as the previous crucial link. 32Meg x 64. Bits? or
Bytes? 32*64=2048. /8 = 256Mbytes. 32Mbit chips!! 64 of 'em! or 64Mbit
chips, 32 of them!

LOW DENSITY????

I'm determined to get my head around this by working through it. Speed I
don't think to be too much of a factor, as long as the CAS latency is
matched. Module composition though?? Bits or Bytes??

I wouldn't be at all surprised is manufacters start telling customers that
the computer they're about to buy has 4096Mbits of RAM in it. Just to make
the numbers bigger.

Hopefully taking the Inspiron 5000 to a guy who bulk sells on eBay and lives
near me who'll plop some sticks in based on cash-in-hand.