RAM Options for a Pentium Pro

ElGato

Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Hi.

I have an IBM 365 PC, that has a single Pentium Pro 180.
(Although with a VRM it can be a dual processor)
Anyway, the booklet states that I need an EDO 168 pin DRAM
that uses 3.3 volts. Each time I check the pricing on this RAM it is enormously expensive (Over $200 and up) so I'm wondering if any other type of ram will work.
Like SDRAM or something I haven't heard of. I would of course need to hear from someone that has tried it and made it work.

Huge thatnks in advance.
EG
 

TheCorm

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2000
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EDO Ram makes it sound like a simm but you say it's 168pinn & 3.3volts, that's a dimm module.

Surely you can get 64MB of PC100 spec memory pretty cheap over there, you should be able to run that at 66mhz (is that the FSB of the Pentium Pro?)

Corm
 

(Chanse)

Senior member
Oct 11, 1999
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I'm not sure so don't get mad at me, but i dindt think any P Pro chipset will have reasonable priced memory out. I have a dual P Pro2000 hanging out since i refuse to pay the putrageous prices for old EDO costing more than DDR
 

ElGato

Member
Dec 6, 2000
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You see TheCorm when Pentium Pro came out it was designed as a server processor which is why it used the 168 pin DIMM layout
rather than then 72 pin layout. And if memory serves me correct the bus speed on Pentium Pro motherboards is 33Mhz.

(Chanse) I'm in the exact same boat as you are. So who knows maybe someone out there somewhere has tried something that worked. :)
You never know.

Thank you.
EG
 

ElGato

Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Thanks for the offer Crab cake, but 16M is just too small. It will also require a fourth 16M stick. And after all that trouble I will only have 64M of RAM.

Frankly I'm at a point of scrapping the whole project and going with a new board. Just wanted to use the SMP features of this. But it looks to be more trouble than it's worth.

EG
 

RoadRuner

Banned
Oct 4, 2000
765
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The same junk ibm used in their 300 line of pc's and newer p-133 gateway 2000 boxes.. You can't use sdram :(

sucks. i have a few boxes at work missing ram, but its a pain to get, check fleabay..

btw, i think some mac power clones used the same memory, just make sure the 3.3V is correct..

(and thats the reason why the mem is inflated, stupid mac peepz paying high bucks for it!!)
 

AndyHui

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member<br>AT FAQ M
Oct 9, 1999
13,141
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Only EDO and B-EDO (Burst EDO) can be used with the 440FX/440KX chipsets for the Pentium Pro. SDRAM is NOT supported.

The bus speed is 66MHz for the 166 and 200, 60MHz for the 150 and 180. There are no motherboards with any higher bus speeds....even the ones from ASUS.

PPros are not multiplier locked; increase the FSB on the 180 and you should be able to get to 200, but will not do 233 very well.
 

ericb

Senior member
Nov 11, 1999
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I thought you could install DIMMs one at a time...do they have to be in pairs?
 

AndyHui

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member<br>AT FAQ M
Oct 9, 1999
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DIMMs do not have to be in pairs, even if they are EDO.