PC2-6400 notch different than PC2-3200

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Audiofight

Platinum Member
May 24, 2000
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I have a Dell GX280 and it has 2 256MB PC2-3200 dimms installed in it.

I purchased 2 1GB PC2-6400 dimms to upgrade it.

However, when I tried to install the dimm, they wouldn't fit.

I visually compared the two dimms and the notch is off by a 1/4" if that. Maybe 2 pins off when I you hold the dimms one on top of the other.

I have been out of the loop on memory standards for a while now, but I thought all DDR2 memory was supposed to adhere to the same design, pin count and notch placement.

Any ideas?
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
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PC-3200 is a DDR standard, but PC2-6400 is a DDR2 standard.
The Optiplex GX280 does use DDR2 memory.
Could the Optiplex MB have been replaced with an older model at some point?

Of course we will need to see pics of the memory labels on both sets of DIMMs. :sneaky:
 
SunnyD

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
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www.neftastic.com
Blain said:
PC-3200 is a DDR standard, but PC2-6400 is a DDR2 standard.
The Optiplex GX280 does use DDR2 memory.
Could the Optiplex MB have been replaced with an older model at some point?

Of course we will need to see pics of the memory labels on both sets of DIMMs. :sneaky:
Click to expand...

The GX280 comes (came at least) stock from Dell with 2x256MB PC2-3200 (400MHz) DIMMs. Yes... PC2-3200 exists.
 
Golgatha

Golgatha

Lifer
Jul 18, 2003
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You absolutely sure you're inserting the chip in the right direction? DDR2 should all have the same notch spacing and pin count.
 
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imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
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Actually random thought (rare to see this mistake) but you didn't pick up DDR2 ECC or Registered DDR2 DIMM's did you? The notches are different for those compared to vanilla DDR2.
 
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Audiofight

Platinum Member
May 24, 2000
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imagoon

That is what I am thinking....I either got ECC or Registered DIMMs. I couldn't find anything definitive in my 10 minutes of Googling this morning.

To address the other posts, thanks first off:

- yes, it does say GX280 when I boot it up.
- yes, the 2 x 256MB dimms are PC2-3200, DDR2

When I hold up the two dimms, back to back, the notch is only off by about 1/4". If I flip one of the dimms, then it is off by like 2-2 1/2".

Most likely, I picked up some ECC or Registered memory and that is my problem. Not a huge deal, I paid $15 for each 1 GB stick. Hopefully, I can resell it at a similar price and recoup.
 
bamacre

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
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imagoon said:
Actually random thought (rare to see this mistake) but you didn't pick up DDR2 ECC or Registered DDR2 DIMM's did you? The notches are different for those compared to vanilla DDR2.
Click to expand...

Really? Odd because some systems, like the Dell Precision 380/390/T3400 can use both ECC and non-ECC DIMM's (just not at the same time).


Audiofight, what is the model number of your new memory modules?
 
jjmIII

jjmIII

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Mar 13, 2001
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bamacre said:
Really? Odd because some systems, like the Dell Precision 380/390/T3400 can use both ECC and non-ECC DIMM's
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I've NEVER heard of EEC memory having a different keyed slot than its non-ECC brother. I think he has something other than DDR2.
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
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jjmIII said:
I'm with you. I've NEVER heard of EEC memory having a different keyed slot than its non-ECC brother.
Click to expand...
I'm with you.
MBs that support ECC and non-ECC memory are keyed one way.

If you simply post good pictures of the labels on both DIMMs, the mystery will be solved...
Crank that camera down to Macro Mode and Post Those Pics!
 
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Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
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i've got some pc2-3200 ddr2 - it's real. real old! lol.


ecc and non-ecc fit the same slot. my wayback machine doesn't work at 7am so i can't remember why there was different ram. registered? fb-dimm?
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Ok, let's put this part of the thread to rest...
PC2-3200 DOES exist... Click Here!

:colbert: Now if Audiofight would be so kind as to post those pictures I requested, we can end the mystery and stick a fork in this thread.

Blain said:
Of course we will need to see pics of the memory labels on both sets of DIMMs. :sneaky:
Click to expand...
Blain said:
If you simply post good pictures of the labels on both DIMMs, the mystery will be solved...
Crank that camera down to Macro Mode and Post Those Pics!
Click to expand...
 
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bamacre

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
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Yeah, I definitely remember DDR2 400mhz, it was the lowest clocked DDR2, came out around the time Intel had Pentium IV 500/600 series processors.
 
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imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
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bamacre said:
Really? Odd because some systems, like the Dell Precision 380/390/T3400 can use both ECC and non-ECC DIMM's (just not at the same time).


Audiofight, what is the model number of your new memory modules?
Click to expand...


I looked it up and apparently I am remembering SDRAM which did have a different notch depending.
 
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Audiofight

Platinum Member
May 24, 2000
2,891
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Sorry to take so long getting some photos taken.

http://picasaweb.google.com/101826608483721344453/DDR2Memory?authkey=Gv1sRgCO-t4u-NkdW7Kw#

I took a picture of a stick of PC2-3200 ECC I had laying around handy. I didn't tear any memory out of my htpc, which is running standard PC2-3200. But, I did confirm that ECC doesn't make any difference. The ECC stick will seat on the motherboard.

The Samsung stick with the silver heat spreader on it is the problem child. I have 2 sticks like this.

Greg
 
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imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
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Audiofight said:
Sorry to take so long getting some photos taken.

http://picasaweb.google.com/101826608483721344453/DDR2Memory?authkey=Gv1sRgCO-t4u-NkdW7Kw#

I took a picture of a stick of PC2-3200 ECC I had laying around handy. I didn't tear any memory out of my htpc, which is running standard PC2-3200. But, I did confirm that ECC doesn't make any difference. The ECC stick will seat on the motherboard.

The Samsung stick with the silver heat spreader on it is the problem child. I have 2 sticks like this.

Greg
Click to expand...

I am tearing my memory apart (and the web) trying to find the document. Notice how on the left side of the chip, the old chips are not notched but the samsungs are? For the life of me I cannot remember what that notch means yet but it was done to prevent installation in to certain boards. I *think* the 6400F = FB-DIMM (F = Fully Buffered) which not all computers supported and that notch was to prevent an FB-DIMM from mounting in a computer that specifically didn't support it. However computers that supported FB often could still run on unbuffered ram so the notch was made 'one way' on purpose.

Example:

http://www.simmtester.com/page/news/showpubnews.asp?num=113

The bottom chip is FB while the top is not.

When you stack the old and new chip on each other and align the center notch, do the dimms line up except for the 1/8 inch cuts on the left and right?
 
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Bryf50

Golden Member
Nov 11, 2006
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From wikipedia
FB-DIMMS have 240 pins and are the same total length as other DDR DIMMs but differ by having indents on both ends within the slot.
Click to expand...
Looking at the Samsung sticks you can clearly see the indents in the slot. Looks like you got yourself some FB-DIMMS. The good news is that they usually sell for a nice amount more then standard Ram, so maybe you can make a little profit off the deal
 
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