2 Sep
2008
2 Sep
'08
9:35 a.m.
Hi, i have installed extra RAMinto my Amiga 600 before (in the trapdoor) which plugs in
straight. However, plugging the extra RAM i just got for my laptop (Dell C610) requires it
to be inserted into the slot at 45 degrees and then moued parallel (flat) on the pcb until
you hear a click! (thats what it states in the C610 manual) Who's idea was that
and are there any pitfalls i should be aware of? (other than damaging the connectors) -
Andrew B (via mobile)
2 Sep
2 Sep
10:36 a.m.
Andrew Burton <aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk> writes:
Who's idea was that and are there any pitfalls i
should be aware of?
Make sure it's seated properly -- with some designs of socket, it's
possible for the clips to click into place, but the RAM stick not
actually be level in the socket. Laptop RAM sockets tend to be pretty
foolproof, though.
All the A1200 trapdoor RAM/accelerator cards I've got have SIMM slots
of the type you describe, so the approach has been around a while. I
was interested to find a flash SIMM in the Javastation I acquired the
other day too; I hadn't seen it used for anything but DRAM before...
--
Adam Sampson <ats at offog.org> <http://offog.org/>
10:37 a.m.
Andrew Burton wrote:
Hi, i have installed extra RAMinto my Amiga 600 before
(in the
trapdoor) which plugs in straight. However, plugging the extra RAM i
just got for my laptop (Dell C610) requires it to be inserted into
the slot at 45 degrees and then moued parallel (flat) on the pcb
until you hear a click! (thats what it states in the C610 manual)
Who's idea was that and are there any pitfalls i should be aware
of? (other than damaging the connectors) - Andrew B (via mobile)
If this is 168-pin SDRAM, then it's easy to install. Simply put it
so that the gold teeth fit into the connector and then push back
until it clicks and is held in place. I think I have an Adaptec
adapter of some kind that uses exactly those sorts of sockets
to reduce it's profile. (With normal, straight up sockets,
the memory would foul with a card in the next slot).
Actually, I think the PICMG Intel/Alpha systems use those
sockets too.
Going further back, the 72-pin SIMMs were also like that iirc.
Antonio
10:43 a.m.
Andrew Burton wrote:
Hi, i have installed extra RAMinto my Amiga 600 before
(in the trapdoor) which plugs in straight. However, plugging the extra RAM i just got for
my laptop (Dell C610) requires it to be inserted into the slot at 45 degrees and then
moued parallel (flat) on the pcb until you hear a click! (thats what it states in the C610
manual) Who's idea was that and are there any pitfalls i should be aware of?
(other than damaging the connectors) - Andrew B (via mobile)
That's just the way that SIMM/DIMM connectors work. If you look at the
edge of the slot you'll see that there are two fingers, one at either
side, with a sort of a tapered hook at the end. This latches the memory
down flat.
It's mechanically very strong, and rarely presents a problem unless you
damage it in some way (forcing memory in the wrong way, pouring liquids
into it, sandblasting it, drilling holes in it, etc).
Gordon
11:29 a.m.
bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca wrote:
Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
Some years ago a friend turned up asking for help.
He'd purchased a motherboard that needed 168-pin SDRAM
(that's two little slots in the stick and two corresponding
ridges in the connector to give you a hint). He' also
purchased two sticks of 184-pin DDR.
"I've managed to fit one but it doesn't work".
FWIW the memory had survived, the socket had come
off slightly worse. With the amount of force he'd
used, he'd managed to not only to damage the ridges
in the connector but also remove at least one half
of one of the gold contacts.
But other than that I've found DIMM sockets to be very
reliable. I have one motherboard that I've used to
test SDRAM before selling it on, and despite having had
a large number of insertions and removals (all in the
same socket too ...) it's still going strong.
Antonio
It's mechanically very strong, and rarely presents a problem unless
you damage it in some way (forcing memory in the wrong way, pouring
liquids into it, sandblasting it, drilling holes in it, etc).
And just how would you know? 
12:05 p.m.
> It's
mechanically very strong, and rarely
presents a problem unless
> you damage it in some way (forcing memory in
the
wrong way, pouring
> liquids into it, sandblasting it, drilling
holes
in it, etc).
>>
> And just how would you know? Some years ago a friend turned up asking for help.
He'd purchased a motherboard that needed 168-pin SDRAM
(that's two little slots in the stick and two
corresponding
ridges in the connector to give you a hint). He' also
purchased two sticks of 184-pin DDR.
"I've managed to fit one but it doesn't
work".
FWIW the memory had survived, the socket had come
off slightly worse. With the amount of force he'd
used, he'd managed to not only to damage the ridges
in the connector but also remove at least one half
of one of the gold contacts.
Hehe. I have seen older Macintosh computers that have had memory forcefully rammed into
them. You see, most of the higher end, pre-G3 PowerMacs took 168pin, 5v DRAM. The memory
modules and the sockets look almost identical to PC style 3.3v SDRAM. Except one of the
little notches is about 1/8" to one side. Therefore, while the memory looks like it
should fit, it won't, or at least, not until it's REALLY pounded in there, and the
the tab in the socket crunches a notch into the edge of the memory module. I've even
seen some memory that had been filed to fit.
But other than that I've found DIMM sockets to be
very
reliable. I have one motherboard that I've used to
test SDRAM before selling it on, and despite having had
a large number of insertions and removals (all in the
same socket too ...) it's still going strong.
I used to work at an electronics recycler. To quickly test PC SDRAM, we simply plugged it
into a motherboard. I had this one ASUS Pentium III board that I used to test all the RAM
- and on days when we tested memory, I would literally test hundreds of modules at a rip.
Plug one in, hit the power switch, CMOS test passed - note amount of memory it registered,
turn off the board, yank the chip and toss it in the appropriate bin, plug in another,
etc.
That board survived many thousands of inertions/removals. Eventually the tabs on the
sockets would break off, but it didn't much matter, you could still plug and unplug
the memory. The board would continue to work just fine. Occasionally a socket would
require cleaning, which was done by spraying cleaner on a junk memory stick, and jamming
it in the socket repeatedly, then letting the board dry. I can't really remember ever
having to _replace_ the motherboard. It always just worked. Only one socket at a time was
used - alternating whenever one seemed to be getting dirty, but the first socket took most
of the abuse.
These "memory tests" were far from conclusive, and simply served to quickly weed
out the obvious duds and sort by capacity. But, the board survived. Computer hardware is a
lot more robust than most people give it credit for.
-Ian
2 p.m.
Mr Ian Primus wrote:
> "I've managed to fit one but it
doesn't work".
Heh - oops!
Hehe. I have seen older Macintosh computers that have
had memory forcefully
rammed into them.
I seem to remember someone - and I think it was Amstrad - shipped machines
with simms (pre-dimm days!) which were an incredibly tight fit into the
sockets, and the simm contacts weren't gold-plated either. Couple that with a
fair dose of heat and all sorts of interesting things used to happen.
I remember simms which used 'normal' DIL ICs too, rather than surface-mount,
and the manufacturer didn't bother to trim the legs - mechanical fouling was
common in systems which used the angled simm sockets.
I used to work at an electronics recycler. To quickly
test PC SDRAM, we
simply plugged it into a motherboard. I had this one ASUS Pentium III board
that I used to test all the RAM - and on days when we tested memory, I
would literally test hundreds of modules at a rip. Plug one in, hit the
power switch, CMOS test passed - note amount of memory it registered, turn
off the board, yank the chip and toss it in the appropriate bin, plug in
another, etc.
That board survived many thousands of inertions/removals. Eventually the
tabs on the sockets would break off, but it didn't much matter, you could
still plug and unplug the memory.
Yep, been there myself many years ago; I recall we deliberately broke the
metal tabs off the sockets to make it easier to get modules in and out
quickly. We were somewhat cavalier about anti-static precautions...
I can't really remember ever having
to _replace_ the motherboard. It always just worked.
I know back in the days when PCs were still expensive, I had at least one
which had found its way to me as junk - problem turned out to be slightly bent
contacts on one of the memory sockets.
These "memory tests" were far from
conclusive, and simply served to quickly
weed out the obvious duds and sort by capacity.
Yep. I can't remember what we used to do actual memory tests now; it may well
have been Checkit (I know we had a copy, just can't remember if it had a
memory test feature that worked properly!)
cheers
Jules
12:03 p.m.
bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca wrote:
Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
I used to work for IBM EPOS tech support, and spent a bit of time
looking at the corpses brought back by the failed circus engineers.
'Nuff said.
Gordon
It's mechanically very strong, and rarely presents a problem unless
you damage it in some way (forcing memory in the wrong way, pouring
liquids into it, sandblasting it, drilling holes in it, etc).
And just how would you know?
3:10 p.m.
Thanks to everyone for all the tips and info. One last question which I forgot to include
earlier:
There are 2 stickers on both sides of the card covering all 4 RAM chips. Should these be
removed before installing?
I'm thinking yes, as its a potential fire hazard, but the stickers contain the
manufacturers logo (someone I have never heard of) and other info which will probably be
damaged on removal.
Regards,
Andrew B
aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk
3:19 p.m.
Andrew Burton wrote:
Thanks to everyone for all the tips and info. One last
question which
I forgot to include earlier:
There are 2 stickers on both sides of the card covering all 4 RAM
chips. Should these be removed before installing?
I'm thinking yes, as its a potential fire hazard, but the stickers
contain the manufacturers logo (someone I have never heard of) and
other info which will probably be damaged on removal.
You should leave that alone.
Antonio
3 Sep
3 Sep
5:30 a.m.
--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Andrew Burton <aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Thanks to everyone for all the tips and info. One
last
question which I forgot to include earlier:
There are 2 stickers on both sides of the card covering all
4 RAM chips. Should these be removed before installing?
I'm thinking yes, as its a potential fire hazard, but
the stickers contain the manufacturers logo (someone I have
never heard of) and other info which will probably be
damaged on removal.
You mean the stickers on the memory modules, or the stickers on the logic board underneath
the memory sockets? Either way, those stickers are supposed to be there. The ones on the
memory are to identify the module. Also, on many laptops, there are thick plastic stickers
on the logic board under the memory sockets. These protect the board from accidental
damage when careless users fit more memory.
Leave any stickers alone - they're there for a purpose, if only to identify the part.
These things don't get that hot anyway. Far from igniting paper or melting adhesive.
Think "lukewarm coffee".
-Ian
6 Sep
6 Sep
3:09 p.m.
--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Andrew Burton <aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Thanks to everyone for all the tips and info. One
last
question which I forgot to include earlier:
There are 2 stickers on both sides of the card covering all
4 RAM chips. Should these be removed before installing?
I'm thinking yes, as its a potential fire hazard, but
the stickers contain the manufacturers logo (someone I have
never heard of) and other info which will probably be
damaged on removal.
IP> You mean the stickers on the memory modules, or the stickers on the logic board
IP> underneath the memory sockets?
Ian,
I was talking about the stickers on the memory module. I have left them on and have the
256MB of RAM installed and working correctly. I would like to add that it has 8 RAM chips
(4 on either side), not 4 like I stated originally.
Thanks to all for the help.
Regards,
Andrew B
aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk
5951
days inactive
5955
days old
12 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
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aliensrcooluk＠yahoo.co.uk -
arcarlini＠iee.org -
ats＠offog.org -
bfranchuk＠jetnet.ab.ca -
gordonjcp＠gjcp.net -
ian_primus＠yahoo.com -
jules.richardson99＠gmail.com