How to determine size of memory module

ignotiev

Junior Member
May 23, 2008
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I'm having trouble finding out how many MB an old memory module contains. The data sheet (which can be found here) says that the ram has "1,048,576 Words x 4 Bit Organization." Does this mean that the module is a gigabyte of ram? I find that hard to believe as it is pretty old (at least 10 years).

Thanks.
 

Jest3r

Member
Jan 18, 2008
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Well, let's see here:

I think a word is 16 bits. So...

1,048,576 / 16 = 65536 bits

65536 * 4 = 262144 bits

262144 bits / 8 = 32768 bytes

32kb memory stick? lol, I know I have to be wrong, but I thought I might try without any real research.

 

Idontcare

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: Jest3r
Well, let's see here:

I think a word is 16 bits. So...

1,048,576 / 16 = 65536 bits

65536 * 4 = 262144 bits

262144 bits / 8 = 32768 bytes

32kb memory stick? lol, I know I have to be wrong, but I thought I might try without any real research.

you divided by 16 when you should have multiplied.

At any rate its a 4M chip. (word x bit)
 

daw123

Platinum Member
Aug 30, 2008
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Following on from Idontcare's post:

1,048,576 x 16 = 16,777,216 bits
16,777,216 * 4 = 67,108,864 bits
67,108,864 bits / 8 =8,388,608 bytes

Therefore an 8M chip.
 

Idontcare

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: daw123
Following on from Idontcare's post:

1,048,576 x 16 = 16,777,216 bits
16,777,216 * 4 = 67,108,864 bits
67,108,864 bits / 8 =8,388,608 bytes

Therefore an 8M chip.

Yep, not sure how I ended up with 4M...but it's 8M.

The configuration of IC's is bank x word x bit

The OP posted a single-bank IC...so it's just word x bit.

1,048,576 Words x 4 Bit = 1MW x 4bit

(MW = mega-word)

The short-math is MW x bit x 2 = Mb (megabit)

so 1MW x 4bit x 2 = 8 Mb = 1 MB