FOUND--- DIMM 512mb PC-133 for x22

[jaspen-meyer]

Looking to max out my x22.
If anyone has a stick they're looking to get rid of send me a PM.
Thanks.

[Neil]

PM sent. I just happen to have such a RAM stick here in my desk drawer.

[jaspen-meyer]

From your drawer to my desk. That works out well.

I'll wait to hear whether the ram works before I mark this thread FOUND.

[jaspen-meyer]

Ram arrived but I get a 1-3-3-1 beep sequence when I stick it into my x22.

It's marked FRU: 19K4657.
Anyone know if that's compatible with an x22 and whether there's anything I could try?

I ordered another stick from ebay but would like to get this dimm working if possible.

[RealBlackStuff]

Use an eraser and rub all the RAM contacts on both sides, they are probably tarnished from laying around.
Be careful not to damage any bits that are soldered on those modules!
Clear off all the eraser rests before you put it in.
#
Check this also: X22, X23, X24 can take:
64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB or 512 MB SDRAM card (maximum of 640 MB)
Maybe you went over?

[jaspen-meyer]

Eraser didn't help.

There is 128mb on board. 512 + 128 = 640. Should be right at the maxium.
The odd thing is Linux says System board capacity is 512 MB. I'm certainally over that.

I wonder if my board'll only take 512 mb.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/PC-133 says the 512 mb dimm should work,
"Based on base 128 plus 512MB DIMM in Slot 2".

[RealBlackStuff]

Can you boot with only the on-board RAM?

[jaspen-meyer]

Yeah. Bios says 128mb.

[Neil]

I'm a bit puzzled too. Ran Memtest86+ on this module in my A30p for 5 full passes with no errors before sending it out. Guess it's possible that it was damaged in transit. Sure hope not, but...

[jaspen-meyer]

I think it's the machine can't take that much ram. We'll see, I ordered another which'll be here Monday.

Strangely the x22 HMM doesn't mention the 1-3-3-1 beep code.

[ajkula66]

I think it's the machine can't take that much ram. We'll see, I ordered another which'll be here Monday.

FWIW, I've ran 640MB RAM in numerous X22 (as well as X24) machines back in the day. Something else is the problem here.

[rkawakami]

FWIW, I've ran 640MB RAM in numerous X22 (as well as X24) machines back in the day.

As have I.

[jaspen-meyer]

There is corrosion on the board.
On the dimm there is a date '2003-08-15', directly below the '15' are two corroded spots.
The smaller spot, on the right, is in a hole and appears on both sides of the board.

http://jesseo.com/thinkpads/512mb-pc133-corrosion.jpg (220 KB)

1. As the corrosion is not on the components, it's just on the board and rails, is there any hope of repairing the dimm?

2. How many layers are on these boards - the two faces obviously, but are there additional layers inside the board?

[RealBlackStuff]

Use a fine knife (like Xacto) to carefully scrape off the corrosion, without damaging anything else.

That machine has probably been gathering a fair bit of dust for a while before you got it.
Clean out the RAM slots with canned air.
Then put some isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher) or strong rubbing alcohol on both sides of the RAM module and put it quickly (but carefully) in and out a few times.
Clean the RAM module and let the slots air out for a few minutes.
Then try again.

[jaspen-meyer]

I cleaned off the corrosion with a tooth brush and rubbing alcohol.
Three of the holes on the board still clogged, perhaps with corrosion.
Left to dry and then reinserted. 1-3-3-1.
Tried inserting and removing from slot a few times. 1-3-3-1.

I've tried other dimm's in the slot and they work fine.
Whether that's a proof the slot's 100% I don't know.
fwiw, of the dimm's I've tried only one, a pc-100, gave 1-3-3-1.

I can't tell if any of the traces are rotted all the way through.
Will try to test for continuity.

[RealBlackStuff]

Since it's a PC-133 module, if you have (or know someone with) a T23 or similar, try it in there.
AFAIK X22/T22 and below are limited to PC-100 or even slower.

[ajkula66]

Actually X22 was the first X-series to utilize PC133...so it *should* work just fine with the DIMM in question, which it obviously doesn't...so back to square one...

[rkawakami]

2. How many layers are on these boards - the two faces obviously, but are there additional layers inside the board?

It depends on who designed the board as to how many buried layers there are. Given the standard thickness of 1mm (0.40"), you could probably have at least 6 buried layers laminated together; total of 8 when you count the top and bottom traces.

[jaspen-meyer]

2. How many layers are on these boards - the two faces obviously, but are there additional layers inside the board?

It depends on who designed the board as to how many buried layers there are. Given the standard thickness of 1mm (0.40"), you could probably have at least 6 buried layers laminated together; total of 8 when you count the top and bottom traces.

8 layers, Wow! There go my hopes of repairing the dimm...

[thinkpadcollection]

Sellers on ebay sell pair of 512MB modules all day for little money and is branded too: I got them for T23, two A21m and works fine. Should work well for yours since this is also 16 chips module (low density, PC133, Micron).

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Micron-512mb ... SwgQ9VxZLo

If you insist buying from USA, there is one of sellers in USA with this same thing:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Micron-512-MB-PC ... SwFqJWqmMz

thinkpadcollection

[jaspen-meyer]

Machine is now running with 640 mb. A second 512mb dimm arrived from ebay and it's working great. Now I just need to replace the CCFL, brightness is current just 60 nits, with a strip of LEDs and I can start working on the machine.

[thinkpadcollection]

Excellent, do you don't mind what was this module brand?

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[jaspen-meyer]

It was this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290468330001

Neither the OS nor memtest gives more information.

[Neil]

I believe that to be a Micron logo on the label.

[yankeesamurai]

i got a big pile of 512's ... came out of various units..