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Dimension 8200 RDRAM Addition Issues - Density Types
Hello,
I recently purchased 2 512MB sticks of PC800-45 RDRAM for my 8200 (400mhz FSB). I've noticed that the RDRAM already installed was PC800-40; however, that should not make a difference as the 45 would run at a 40.
I did notice that the 512s are labeled as 512MB/16 whereas the factory installed sticks are labeled 256MB/8. Upon researching, it just means that the 512s are double-sided whereas the 256 and single (which they are).
Upon installing the additional RAM into slots 3 and 4, I receive a message at boot-up stating that the RDRAM installed into slots 3 and 4 is incompatible and must be PC800 with 40ns or better. Since the new RAM is just that, it leads me to believe that the 16 and 8 (which represent density) may be the culprit.
Has anyone had any problems with running 16 density RDRAM on their machines? I have tried just using the newer RAM instead of the old and the same error message appears.
If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks for your time and assistance!
Message Edited by GingiFu on 07-25-2007 11:33 PM
I recently purchased 2 512MB sticks of PC800-45 RDRAM for my 8200 (400mhz FSB). I've noticed that the RDRAM already installed was PC800-40; however, that should not make a difference as the 45 would run at a 40.
I did notice that the 512s are labeled as 512MB/16 whereas the factory installed sticks are labeled 256MB/8. Upon researching, it just means that the 512s are double-sided whereas the 256 and single (which they are).
Upon installing the additional RAM into slots 3 and 4, I receive a message at boot-up stating that the RDRAM installed into slots 3 and 4 is incompatible and must be PC800 with 40ns or better. Since the new RAM is just that, it leads me to believe that the 16 and 8 (which represent density) may be the culprit.
Has anyone had any problems with running 16 density RDRAM on their machines? I have tried just using the newer RAM instead of the old and the same error message appears.
If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks for your time and assistance!
Message Edited by GingiFu on 07-25-2007 11:33 PM
- Thanks for your help. I just realized how absent-minded I've been and completely overlooked the fact that the 40ns is better than the 45ns (was thinking the higher the number, the better for some reason).
Appreciate your time and assistance, thanks again. russell_314
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Posted July 26th, 2007 17:00
GingiFu wrote:
Thanks for your help. I just realized how absent-minded I've been and completely overlooked the fact that the 40ns is better than the 45ns (was thinking the higher the number, the better for some reason).
Appreciate your time and assistance, thanks again.
DDR2 RAM is better than the 40ns RAMBUS but good luck getting it to fit in the slots... just kidding, don't really try this! :PAs a word of advice... Dells can be picky about memory so make sure to check the return policy of the place you buy from. Comtread, ZipZoomFly, and Crucial are well known by members of this forum and considered good choices. Ebay can be a cheaper alternative but caution should be used since there is no guarantee that what you order is what you'll get.- Unfortunately, I won't be able to return the RAM--that's the price paid with eBay, although it cost me less than half the amount charged on a well-known site.
How large do you believe the performance decrease would be to upgrade the BIOS to run the slower RAM, albeit a GB more of it? Currently, I am running 512 PC800-40 and would be adding 1024 of PC800-45 to it for a total of 1536, I imagine, running at 45.
Thanks.
Message Edited by GingiFu on 07-27-2007 08:04 AM - I tried it both ways and could not notice a difference. Going from 512 mb to 1.5g will give you way more of a performance increase. The only thing I noticed is bootup takes a little longer. I've run this configuration with the memory for over 3 years now with no problems. Put the 45ns memory in the slots closest to the cpu when installing.
- I currently have A05 installed--after doing some research, Dell disabled the ability to run different speeds after A04.
I will flash the BIOS back to A04. Thanks for all your help!
For anyone's future reference, it can still be downloaded here:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R40286&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8200&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=308&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=7&formatcnt=2&libid=1&fileid=46772
Thanks.
Message Edited by GingiFu on 07-27-2007 09:51 PM
russell_314
706 Posts
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Posted July 26th, 2007 07:00
Message Edited by russell_314 on 07-26-2007 03:30 AM