PDA

View Full Version : RDRAM confusion.

typhoon43
03-08-2006, 10:55 AM
You know, this is the LAST time I offer to help somebody.. :mad:
I'm fixing a PC for someone complaining of slowness and popups. Well I have the popups under control and the slowness isn't from the sypware. It's the Machine:

Dell Dimension 8100, 1.3Gig P4, 128MB PC600 RAMBUS RAM.. Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

This guy is running Windows XP, and it's sitting at the desktop using 122-125 Megs. Page much? :D In any case, I want to get him to 256 Megs and call it a flippin' day. I ran CPU-Z and it shows as running Dual Channel. CPU-Z had DIMM#1 and DIMM#2 available to choose from. Does this mean he has 2 x64MB? I wasn't even aware they made single 64MB chips of Rambus. Honestly, I've been building PC's for over 5 years now, but I avoided the whole Rambus thing when it came out, so I have almost no clue how to proceed. Can I just buy a SINGLE 256MB PC600 RDRAM module, or will I have to pair them?

Thanks gang.
movax
03-08-2006, 11:06 AM
You've gotta pair RDRAM sticks, last I looked. The sweet spot was the 850E + PC1066 RDRAM. Finding 2x256 (2x512 maybe) PC800 would probably be easiest.
(cf)Eclipse
03-08-2006, 11:28 AM
well, it really depends on if it's dual channel rdram or not. if it's single channel, you can buy one stick and use a termination stick... if it's dual, then you need 2x128mb.

also, one wasy way to find out how the ram is configed in the system... pop the side off and look :cool:
typhoon43
03-08-2006, 12:05 PM
well, it really depends on if it's dual channel rdram or not. if it's single channel, you can buy one stick and use a termination stick... if it's dual, then you need 2x128mb.

also, one wasy way to find out how the ram is configed in the system... pop the side off and look :cool:


Well it did say Dual Channel in CPU-Z, and DIMM1 and DIMM2 showed as filled. I popped the side off, but it seems dell used a giant shroud that covers the CPU and the memory. I didn't feel like really digging in last night, but it looks like I need to check it out. Chipset is Intel 850. I don't remember seeing the "E"
(cf)Eclipse
03-08-2006, 12:50 PM
hmmm, i think the 850 is dual channel (which might be obvious at this point :p).. i have an 820 sitting nearby that's single channel RDRAM.
typhoon43
03-08-2006, 01:44 PM
haha just ordered up 2 128MB sticks for 95 bux from the Egg. This guy better pay me back :D Thanks for the help bro!