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Search results

  1. F

    Broke a pin off my CPU - still works fine?

    are there any N/C pins on these processors?
  2. F

    The weirdest memory problem I've ever seen.

    *if* it's really a compatibility issue - usually it's a good idea to try something completely different. how's that definition of insanity go? :D
  3. F

    Looking for Recs - AMD and good Video

    Not bad...thanks! Any others?
  4. F

    Looking for Recs - AMD and good Video

    About twice a year I look around and see what's available - when I find the right system, I'll finally replace the ancient Fujitsu 735dx...which has never given me any trouble in 12 years except that it's PAINFULLY SLOW. Am looking for a lappy an AMD dual core and a decent video processor...
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    Can ram go bad?

    If packaging or SMT defects are taken into account (they really should be) then it's quite possible that the memory can go bad on it's own. Tin whiskers are a well known failure mode and there's quite a few others. Humidity is another killer. Having said that, we're talking about parts per...
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    Question for the pros

    Not to give too much away...just asking this kind of question obviously does...but my options are running dry. Anyway, does anyone know of a shop that can do functional testing to support failure analysis? Specifically, the ability to decipher the relative contributions of die, package and...
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    Anyone have experience with A-Data memory?

    As I remember from my days working with the A-data parts: A-Data had a 3-5% fail-out-of-box rate and >5% after 30 days. Lotsa infant mortalities mixed in there with all the dead stuff. Their cheap subsidary V-data ran 5-8% and >10% respectively. I hated when that stuff came through - it...
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    What is XDR RAM

    note also that most of the high-bandwidth hardware solutions tend to have an inverse relationship between effective speed and memory depth - in other words the more memory you've got, the slower it runs...
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    SO-DIMM to DIMM adapter

    It's common for the memory module manufacturers to have these custom made to enable testing. I used to have a bunch of them - no more, sorry.
  10. F

    Buy now? Or Wait?

    If you're thinking very short term, yeah, probably better to avoid the crunch when the early adopters of vista realize they can't get away with 512. If you're thinking longer term, I'm reading thru a pretty spiffy market report that seems to indicate that weakness in 1H07 is likely and...
  11. F

    What is DDR2 Memory Termination Voltage?

    Hmmm. Is it reasonable to assume that VTT = Vref? IE: new name for the same thing?
  12. F

    putting arctic silver on MEMORY chips?

    Coupla questions... 1) Are your chips BGA or TSOP packaged? If you can see metal coming out of the sides of them, they're TSOP. TSOP is more likely to be shorted because the wiring is closer to the top of the package bodies. BGA is less likely because the 'wiring' is beneath the chips...
  13. F

    pc133 sodimm question

    It depends... Do you know if the bios in your system supports two-rank SODIMM modules, or only single rank? If it's a single rank only system, do you know how your bios handles SPD data that it doesn't expect?
  14. F

    Is mixing ram bad?

    Sometimes it's fine, sometimes it's not. Usually it's ok at default settings... I've got all braids of ram in my boxes and all are fine at default settings.
  15. F

    will 2GB stick become mainstream?

    Four gig DIMMs were pretty cool two years ago. Now they're really not that impressive. +1 'just a matter of time' EDIT: Eclipse - great update to the sig line... I love it! :D
  16. F

    To spread heat or not to spread heat (heat spreader)

    Very cool. (pun intended) Hadn't thought about it, but I am realizing that we may not have thermally characterized the IFX based modules as we didn't build a lot of them. Hmmm - a year of school seems to have rotted my brain. :D
  17. F

    To spread heat or not to spread heat (heat spreader)

    eclipse: Were the different devices on identical PCBs? You'd probably be surprised at the difference between some board designs WRT thermal conductivity. Some PCB designs (and, to a lesser degree, board fabricators and material sets) really suck thermally and force most of the heat out...
  18. F

    Best tool to diagnose faulty ram?

    +1 to Gatticus There's a lot of things that contribute to memory errors...it's rarely a simple task to determine the full list of the things that drive failures - let alone to quantify the contribution of each.
  19. F

    To spread heat or not to spread heat (heat spreader)

    Pardon the interruption... Incomplete information frequently leads to poor decision making. Memory typically doesn't produce enough thermal load to require significant efforts to remove the heat. As stated, airflow alone is usually plenty. Box temps that get up there reduce the...
  20. F

    help with memory issues

    What were the operating conditions when you ran the original test? Default BIOS settings? If so, you DEFINITELY want to return them...bit errors on two separate chips is a very bad thing at default settings.
  21. F

    Super Talent?

    Having once done a build-quality benchmarking evaluation of a number of DDR-I SO-DIMMs, the 'SuperTalent' parts were about the worst-built parts in the group. They ran okay but were amazingly fragile.
  22. F

    Problem with the ram?

    If the HDD was written by a system that's producing bit errors...it's conceivable that errors were written into the new build. <shrug> The RSTpro hardware card is great, but ~$850. You *may* be able to get a copy of the software version, which works pretty well in some cases. Some of the...
  23. F

    Problem with the ram?

    Maybe software? Couldn't begin to guess where the conflict could be though. Do you have another HDD to play with? A fresh build on a fresh HDD would be my best guess at a solution if that's the case, in the absence of having seen what's going on with my own eyes... If different RAM is...
  24. F

    Samsung RAM?

    oooh-hoo-hoo-hoo. tasty. :D
  25. F

    Samsung RAM?

    Very likely true, dat. I've not spent much time playing with DDR2 - not many server chipsets ran on it when I was working with it frequently, and I'm an AMD fan anyway... :D
  26. F

    Samsung RAM?

    You'll pretty much always find 'Samsung' written on the green module PCB with their OEM sticks. I've seen one case that had 'SSI' - which is the acronym for Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. on a micro-DIMM that didn't have enough real estate for the full word. There are a few scumbags that try to...
  27. F

    Strange RAM problem

    Ph: Can you please define 'New Mobo' a little better? I'm guessing that you now have an Exact Replacement of the original... If so, it's not surprising that you're having the same problem. :D Tiger's got a good point - I went back and re-read what you'd originally written about symptoms...
  28. F

    Strange RAM problem

    Bummer that it worked out like that... <shrug>
  29. F

    College Lappy

    TDG: How does the IBM/Lenovo build quality compare to the Panasonic Toughbooks?
  30. F

    Strange RAM problem

    Yeah... I hate to throw ECS under the bus but, in fairness, their stuff has never really impressed me and their service has always been in the 'you get what you pay for' camp. It's still *possible* that you have bad memory...but IMO unlikely. Since the effect doesn't seem to differentiate...
  31. F

    *n00b Question Alert* Ram not clocking what it should be

    With more sticks, there's a lot of active nodes on the memory bus and timing between each one and the controller can get hosed up pretty easily. Because of this, a lot of systems have the BIOS programmed to drop back speed as the RAM slots fill up...so's to open up the data window for better...
  32. F

    Strange RAM problem

    Five bucks says it's a noisy mobo design or a bad bios, and I'm leaning towards the mobo. From what you've posted, it looks like there's some kind of noise working through the northbridge circuitry and is likely crosstalk that only shows up under specific conditions. One of the least fun...
  33. F

    Memtest Errors!

    I'd say that you've got about a 97% chance of finding the problem in one of the SO-DIMMs. If so, it's either a bad chip, board or solder joint. Not much else can go wrong... Don't be shy about plucking out the easy to get to modules. It *shouldn't* void your warranty.
  34. F

    Memtest Errors!

    It depends...can be many, many things. Don't worry about testing things. If you can isolate one component that's giving you trouble, you'll be much closer to a solution. First question I'd ask is what changed recently? Did you just add memory?
  35. F

    4x512MB vs 2x1GB?

    You're always better off using as few modules as possible, with as few chips per module as possible. Each one of those points can create noise and thus bit errors.
  36. F

    Where do you see the benefits of added RAM?

    Try RAID-0 if you want to boot and bring up apps faster... <shrug>
  37. F

    PNY = crap for 2x 512MB?

    Not at all surprised that PNY sent out a module with a hard solder short between edge connector pads. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy... Used to work for one of their suppliers - they're definitely one of the more difficult companies to deal with. Not that they can't make decent product - they just...
  38. F

    Second and third DIMM slots not responding

    It's conceivable that a solder joint to the #2 mobo memory socket had fractured before the modules were removed and was causing bit errors. Then, it fully failed due to mechanical stress when the modules were removed and now it's dead. Just a guess...
  39. F

    DDR3 for PC

    <propellor-beanie> Not since '98. :D That oughta give away who it was...at least with the hint that they ceased to exist then. </propellor-beanie> True dat. But yeah, I don't remember seeing any OEMs selling DDR1 chips *rated* above 400MHz although that may have changed since I last...
  40. F

    BEST Overclocking RAM!!!

    That question is a lot like asking 'what nation produces women who are the most successful at performing fellatio'. It ain't about who makes it, it's about the specific group of chips you've got in your hand and how they work with your system. You'll have to search for the best match, and...
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