1 Gb PC3200 does not work on T40 and T42

[Wolfcreek]

Dear all,

I have bought 2 Twinmos 1GB PC3200 memory bars from ebay. I tried them both in a T40 and T42. Both machines give on both memory bars the 'memory error' (2x 3 beeps during post).

I've tried to place them in both memory slots with same result. The specs are:

PC3200 200 Pin DDR SO-DIMM
Capacity Chip Configuration Chip Type
2X1GB 64Mx8(x16) SDRAM

Features
200 edge connector pads
Clock Frequency 400 MHz
SSTL-2 interface 2.6 Voltage +/- 0.2V
Package TSOP

Specifications
Double Data Rate architecture
Bandwidth(max.): 3.2GB/s
JEDEC standard
Serial Presence Detect support
MRS cycle with address key programs
* CAS latency: 3
* Burst length: 2, 4&8
* Burst type: Sequential & Interleave
2 variations of refresh
* Auto refresh
* Self refresh

The picture of them can be found here.

Am I unlucky and both are broken? Or is it a compatibility issue (16 chips instead of 8 or CAS Latency=3)?

Thanks for the help!

Jan

[AIX]

..that's why I didn't take the risk and I bought only PC2700 modules (Kingston Value RAM) for my T41.

As far as I know (and you probably know that, just wanted to point it out) T40 use PC2100 memory and T42 PC2700 memory.

I don't think is a CAS Latency problem.

[Johan]

Jan,

If using the (very useful!) Search function (and searching for "T42 PC3200", and checking "Search for all terms") quite a few threads comes up, incl. [T42] DDR400 running at DDR333 speeds... and PC3200 on T42? abd PC3200 memory in T41p/T42p? and memory for T42p and T42 RAM upgrade lessons and PC3200 Memory No Workee??. Most of these are sort of saying "this ought to work", but there is one very specific thread confirming that PC3200 does work in a T42:

Both 1GB sticks in my T42 are PC3200 and work without any problems whatsoever.

Unfortunately, I have no idea of why you are having the problems you report (except your RAM perhaps being "parity" in stead of "non-parity" or "buffered" in stead of "unbuffered" or "ECC" in stead of "non-ECC" or CL=3 in stead of CL=2.5 - if any of this even matter?) - as I have always used PC2700 in my T42/p's. Specifically, I have always/only used these 1 GB Crucial modules - which I absolutely recommend.

Johan

[Wolfcreek]

Johan,

Thanks for the tips, but I forgot to mention that I scrolled the forum before posting a question. I read several of the posts that you mention, but I can not figure out why my modules do not work.

I had a gateway laptop (solo 2550) which needed low density memory chips (PC100) (16 chips ipv 8 chips). Could it be that IBM laptops also need a certain nr of chips? I have no idea if they are parity or not, ECC or non-ECC etc.

Thanks anyway

Jan

[Johan]

Jan:

If you have access to buying stuff in the USA, you could in principle get Corsair 1 GB PC2700 RAM very cheap at FRY's - check Corsair 1 GB at Fry's - only $24! but user feedback for this brand seems somewhat mixed, as evident from Newegg user-feedback... Anyway, this just mentioned to give you an idea of prices (in the USA, which are typically a bit lower than "over here").

High-quality 1 GB PC2700 Crucial RAM (mentioned in my above post) me be found for $45 when on sale. Check www.ebay.ebay.nl and www.ebay.de and www.ebay.co.uk and perhaps also the German ThinkPad's forum's Marktplatz.

Johan

[Wolfcreek]

Johan,

Thanks for the help and the links. Found on the german thinkpad forum that people also have compatibility problem with some PC3200 memory bars. But can not figure out why those are not working. Does anybody have an understanding why those memory bars do not work.

Anyway, thanks for the help! Somebody needs 1 Gb PC3200 memory bars

Jan

[trailofdead]

pc3200 requires 2.6V, and most laptops only supply 2.5V. that's the answer i got when posting in another forum regarding pc3200 sodimm backward compatability.

[saux]

hi, last week i bought apacer 1gb pc3200 stick for my t40 laptop and it works fine, no problem as jan stated above
here's the link to the website
http://emea.apacer.com/en/products/Note ... O-DIMM.htm#

[sjthinkpader]

... The specs are:

PC3200 200 Pin DDR SO-DIMM
Capacity Chip Configuration Chip Type
2X1GB 64Mx8(x16) SDRAM
...
Package TSOP
...

The picture of them can be found here.
...

These should be non-parity SODIMM since they have 8 instead of 9 chips on each side. But the chip package is not TSOP for sure since there are no legs showing. So the specification is for something else. I have two 1GB PC3200 SODIMM in my R51.

[awolfe63]

pc3200 requires 2.6V, and most laptops only supply 2.5V. that's the answer i got when posting in another forum regarding pc3200 sodimm backward compatability.

Not all pc3200 require 2.6V - searchhere - but I think you are on the right track - I don't think these models support 2.6V SODIMMS.