single/dual sided SDRAM?

[Slickone]

I need to get some RAM for a friends Emachine. This is Crucial's info for the model #. If I don't buy Crucial, and the RAM currenly installed is single sided (Nanya chips PC3200), does it matter if I buy dual sided? I've read posts where people are concerned with that spec, but wikipedia seems to say it doesn't matter.
I was thinking of some Kingston or Corsair value RAM.
Tigerdirect sold this machine with only 256MB (and WinXP). :disgust:

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Slickone
I need to get some RAM for a friends Emachine. This is Crucial's info for the model #. If I don't buy Crucial, and the RAM currenly installed is single sided (Nanya chips PC3200), does it matter if I buy dual sided?

Intel® 845GV chipset

Shouldn't matter unless you are going as large as 1024MB module, which I wouldn't recommend for this older system. The chipset supports it, but motherboards from this era rarely had good BIOS support for modules larger than 512MB. This chipset does not support 4-bit wide DRAM components (e.g. 'high density' 32Mx4...64Mx4).

Are you just going to add-in another 256MB module?

256MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz 184-Pin - $19.00 shipped

 

[Slickone]

Thanks. I was going to add 512MB if the cost wasn't much more, else 256.
So it just needs to be something "x64" ie. 32M64, 64M64...?
Also how about my original question?

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Slickone
So it just needs to be something "x64" ie. 32M64, 64M64...?

All non-ECC PC memory modules are "something x64". This refers to the memory bus width - 64-bits.

I was referring to the DRAM chips used on the module. These should be 16Mx8 (128Mbit), 32Mx8 (256Mbit), or 64Mx8 (512Mbit) for best compatibility.

512MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz 184-Pin - $34.00 shipped

Also how about my original question?

Shouldn't matter, the chipset supports mixed double-sided or single-sided. Intel 845 has single channel memory controller so there is no dual channel mode to worry about.

 

[Slickone]

OK, so then it needs to be "_Mx8" low density and not "_Mx4" high density? Although the page you linked doesn't say anything about "_Mx8" does it?
BTW, just curious, why starmicro? I've never heard of it.

Shouldn't matter, the chipset supports mixed double-sided or single-sided. Intel 845 has single channel memory controller so there is no dual channel mode to worry about.

That doesn't have anything to do with the chip layout though does it? Or were you not implying that?

 

[tcsenter]

OK, so then it needs to be "_Mx8" low density and not "_Mx4" high density?

It doesn't "need" to be, 845 could support (n)Mx16 also, but this is not often supported in the BIOS as well as (n)Mx8. x4 DRAM (a.k.a. high density) isn't supported at all.

Although the page you linked doesn't say anything about "_Mx8" does it? BTW, just curious, why starmicro? I've never heard of it.

Because they had the best price with shipping that I could find on short notice, that memory is compatible with Intel 845 according to Starmicro's configurator, I've purchased several modules from them and never received anything except x8 DRAM. I've also purchased several processors from Starmicro.

That doesn't have anything to do with the chip layout though does it? Or were you not implying that?

I was implying you could mix module densities and geometries, since there is no requirement for symmetric pairs.

 

[Slickone]

Is x16 a lower density than x8 (since x4 is high)?

Intel's page for the 845GV says 266DDR. So why does everything else point to higher (RAM that came in it, Crucial's page above, and Kingston's?

Another thing I noticed is Kingston says 128 or 256 std, Crucial says 512 (guessing Crucial is wrong).

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Is x16 a lower density than x8 (since x4 is high)?

Depends on your definition of density. Its the same density if you define it as capacity (Mbit) per chip, lower if you define it as data bus pins per chip, lower if you are counting chips required to equal one 64-bit DIMM rank, different still if you define it relative to the memory controller's maximum supported address lines.

I don't like to use terms like high or low density for this reason but I do because resellers use it in their marketing.

Intel's page for the 845GV says 266DDR. So why does everything else point to higher...

Intel's product specs state support for DDR 333/266/200/PC133, as do Intel's own 845GV based motherboards, but DDR333 is supported only when the processor bus is 533MHz. PC3200 is backwards compatible to DDR333 ~ DDR200.

Another thing I noticed is Kingston says 128 or 256 std, Crucial says 512 (guessing Crucial is wrong).

What the chipset is capable of and what the BIOS has adequate support for aren't the same things.

The chipset supports 1024MB per DIMM for 2GB max installed RAM using modules built with 512Mbit chips. The BIOS, however, likely was never validated with many 1024MB modules (if any at all), given the age of this board and the latest eMachine's BIOS.

That's why I recommend sticking to a max of 512MB per module.

 

[Slickone]

No offense but you get a little too techincal for me. Some of what you've said is over my head. I refer to density like most other people. I dont know what it means, but just use it meaning if it will work or not (like everyone else does).

I guess I misread the intel page as DDR266 system RAM support, but it's referring to the graphics. All I need to know is what the min. speed I need is, since I found some DDR226 cheap and wondered if it would work. I dont know anything about this persons system.

What the chipset is capable of and what the BIOS has adequate support for aren't the same things.

The chipset supports 1024MB per DIMM for 2GB max installed RAM using modules built with 512Mbit chips. The BIOS, however, likely was never validated with many 1024MB modules (if any at all), given the age of this board and the latest eMachine's BIOS.

That's why I recommend sticking to a max of 512MB per module.

I wasn't implying anything like that (I dont think), or else I dont understand why you said any of that. I was just pointing out something irrelevant, as to how much memory the system came standard with and how the sources differed. Thanks though.

 

[Slickone]

Anyone else ordered from Star Micro? Their Reseller Rating is 4.78 / 10.

 

[tcsenter]

What have you decided on getting? I have several PC2700 and PC3200 256MB and 512MB modules here that I'd be willing to part with for a fair price. Fully tested and guaranteed.

 

[Slickone]

Going by starmicro's prices, they only wanted to pay the $ for the 256MB. I think they need more, with all the AOL junk on it.
Let me know how much you want for 256 and 512. PM if you'd rather.

 

[Slickone]

I still would like to know if this system can use DDR266/PC2100 or not?

 

[tcsenter]

Check your PM.