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Laptop SDRAM 256x8 config incompatibility?

Discussion in 'Mobile Computing' started by ragejg, Oct 20, 2004.

  1. Oct 20, 2004 #1
    ragejg

    ragejg [H]ard|Gawd

    Messages:
    1,530
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2002
    Umm, okay, I don't usually work on lappies, but a client of mine asked me to work on his, and I reluctantly agreed to work on it.

    Model: N38W2-15

    Pentium III 750, SDRAM...

    It had a paltry 64mb RAM, and I'm working on getting XP installed on it. From newegg I ordered 2 ram sticks, a 128 and a 256, both VData chips...

    It will not boot correctly with the 256 chip in there, which is a double sided chip...

    On the sticker: MSGVD3E4G3430D1A02
    sticker S/N: 436TH (VDEBC2808122)
    256x8
    On the chips:
    Part number: 20437
    VDS8616A4A-75

    The 128 is also double sided:

    On the sticker: MSGVD34F3430A1A02
    sticker S/N: 434TH (VDEBC2608122)
    128x8
    On the chips:
    Part number: 20435
    VDS7616A4A-75

    ... part of me's like "the 256 chip is bad", then another part of me's like "maybe there's a compatibility problem with 256x8 chips, or 256mb double sided?" ... then another part of me's like "BIOS flash?"

    :p:p

    grr... I don't wanna send this back to newegg if it's not bad... soooo, I'm sure some of you have run into this situation before...

    ...any suggestions/pointers/advice?

    Thanks guys. :)
     
    ragejg, Oct 20, 2004
    ragejg, Oct 20, 2004
    #1
  2. Oct 20, 2004 #2
    Asian Fury

    Asian Fury [H]ard|Gawd

    Messages:
    1,035
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2002
    you check crucial.com to see what type and how much memory it takes?
     
    Asian Fury, Oct 20, 2004
    Asian Fury, Oct 20, 2004
    #2
  3. Oct 20, 2004 #3
    tiebird321

    tiebird321 [H]ard|Gawd

    Messages:
    1,063
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    it requires 4bank memory
    the 8 bank will NOT work even with a bios flash
    has to do with the design of the memory controller

    you can get 4bank 256mb chips from alot of places
    including crucial

    though be aware a bunch of the mobo's that came out when the p3-750mobile was released had a max of 128mb per slot

    good luck
     
    tiebird321, Oct 20, 2004
    tiebird321, Oct 20, 2004
    #3
  4. Oct 21, 2004 #4
    ragejg

    ragejg [H]ard|Gawd

    Messages:
    1,530
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2002
    hmm, thanks for the info...

    I'm a little rusty on my ram terminology.... uhh, if it doesn't work with 8 bank memory, then why does the 128x8 chip work just fine?

    Or is that just a 256x8 situation?

    ...ok, so 4 bank memory... uhh, how would I differentiate this when buying some?

    me = laptop n00b... :p
     
    ragejg, Oct 21, 2004
    ragejg, Oct 21, 2004
    #4
  5. Oct 21, 2004 #5
    tiebird321

    tiebird321 [H]ard|Gawd

    Messages:
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    is the 128 single or double sided
    i'm taking a look for the specs on them mem chips
    that will give all answers
     
    tiebird321, Oct 21, 2004
    tiebird321, Oct 21, 2004
    #5
  6. Oct 22, 2004 #6
    MrFoo

    MrFoo Limp Gawd

    Messages:
    129
    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2002
    I have an Inspiron 3800 III 600, it too will not eat 256MBx8chips. It is some kind of mem controller issue. There are 256MBx16chips SODIMMS out there that may work. I could not find that model on Crucial after Googling for its manufacturer. Hope this helps.

    Foo
     
    MrFoo, Oct 22, 2004
    MrFoo, Oct 22, 2004
    #6