Identifying SDRAM (high density? capacity?)

[stultus]

I'm trying to get an old duallie P3-600 board to work. I know this board will not accept "high-density" ram. The only ram I have right now is a 512 (I think) stick of PC133. It has 16 chips on it, and is labelled:

M208161A
64*64S13MC32*8M133MHz

The actual chips are labelled:

0226 I-I
MT 48LC32M8A2
TG -75 B

Can anyone help identify this? I can't seem to boot with this ram, which means either the RAM is dead/wrong or the motherboard is dead. Just trying to figure where I should go from here.

Thanks!

 

[Blastman]

My 256MB SDRAM module in my Cel-T 1.33 is has 16 chips (8 on each side) and it?s not ?high density?. They make 8 chip single sided 256MB sticks = high density. So, I?m pretty sure a 16 chip double sided 512MB is a high density ram stick. You would need to check your MB manual about support for high density modules. The old MB?s that didn?t support ?high density? chip modules were limited to 256MB per slot ? IIRC.

 

[Blastman]

I also seem to think that the MB?s without ?high density? module support could still use the high density modules -- but would only recognize half the modules, so you would get only 256MB out of a 512MB stick. But I wouldn?t quote me on that one.

 

[stultus]

Well, the Asus P2B just beeps a lot on boot pre-POST, which is supposed to be a ram error or motherboard error. So that's what I'm working with!

 

[Blastman]

Confirmed...

link
All of the 512MB SDRAM modules we sell are built using '32Mbit High-Density DRAM' technology. Your system's motherboard must accept 512MB in each memory slot in order for these modules to work properly. In the event that your motherboard does not accept 'High-Density' SDRAM, you system will either show the memory module as a smaller size (i.e. 256MB or 128MB) or will not read it at all. The best way to know is to consult your system/motherboard documentation or the manufacturer's website.

High Density vs. Low Density SDRAM

We sell 256MB SDRAM in 'High Density' & 'Low Density' configurations. The 'High Density' modules are built using the same technology as the 512MB modules mentioned above... Thus having the same system requirements. Your system's motherboard must accept 512MB in each memory slot in order for 'High Density' modules to work properly. As with the 512MB modules, if your system/motherboard does not support 'High Density' SDRAM these modules will only be read as a smaller size. The 'Low Density' modules are built using 16Mbit DRAM technology, this type of module is generally compatible with a wider range of systems. In any case, you are advised to check your motherboard/system documentation for support information.

 

[stultus]

The P2B manual doesn't even mention 512 meg dimms (guess it's a little old). Wonder if that's the problem in itself.