PC3200 DIMM in T30

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gstett · #1 Post by **gstett** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:02 pm

I have a couple of T30s (Type 2366) and I decided to upgrade the RAM.

The T30 specs call for PC2100 (DDR-266), but I know PC2700 is backward-compatible (and is what IBM, Crucial and others now suggest).
I was also under the impression that PC3200 is backward compatible, so I bought a 512MB module today because it was on sale - but it isn't working well. The computer either freezes during boot, or if it makes it past booting, it freezes later. I've run diagnostics on the memory but they also always freeze at some point.

Either the module I bought is defective, or T30s are finnicky if it's not PC2100/PC2700. So my question is this: have any of you successfully used PC3200 RAM in a T30?

Thanks!

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:16 pm

In most (though not all) cases, PC3200 modules are backward compatible with PC2100 motherboards.

danage · #3 Post by **danage** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:47 am

i'm not sure whether it would even fit, but might your module be PC2- RAM instead of just PC? The 3200-speed is available both as DDR1 and as DDR2. also: might it just be that the module is defective? did you get it new or used?

gstett · #4 Post by **gstett** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:45 pm

danage wrote:i'm not sure whether it would even fit, but might your module be PC2- RAM instead of just PC? The 3200-speed is available both as DDR1 and as DDR2. also: might it just be that the module is defective? did you get it new or used?

Good thought. I checked, though, and it's DDR1 (and states on the package that it's compatible with DDR266). So maybe it's just a defective DIMM. I bought it new, so maybe I'll have it replaced.

I'll keep you updated.

pianowizard · #5 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:53 pm

danage wrote:i'm not sure whether it would even fit, but might your module be PC2- RAM instead of just PC?

A PC2 stick would not even fit.

gstett · #6 Post by **gstett** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:01 am

Just a quick follow-up...

I read some notes elsewhere about certain Dell PCs having trouble with PC3200 RAM but not 2100/2700 (which is why I posted my question).

I had feared this was the case with the T30, but it's not. It seems the DIMM was just defective... even locked up the memory diagnostic program I ran. I exchanged it today and everything is working perfectly again.

pianowizard · #7 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:34 pm

gstett wrote:I exchanged it today and everything is working perfectly again.

Thanks for the update! This is very useful information for T30 users. Would you give us the brand and part number of this PC3200 module?

gstett · #8 Post by **gstett** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:34 pm

Sure. The make is Centon. P/N is 512MBLT3200.
[I picked it up at CompUSA for $30 (after rebate), but it looks like that offer expired 12/16.]

wearetheborg · #9 Post by **wearetheborg** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:33 pm

Thanks, I was wondering about PC3200 compaibilty too !!!

uberT · #10 Post by **uberT** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:32 pm

I am preparing to buy 1G additional memory for my T30. I've been focused on the PC2700 module. Would the 3200 be "better"?

Also, are the modules 184 pin or 200 pin?

Thanks.

danage · #11 Post by **danage** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:31 pm

no. actually for the t30, even pc2100 ram is sufficient. it can't run any faster. but since those are not as commonly available anymore, just go ahead use faster ram. it should work as long as it's ddr1.

uberT · #12 Post by **uberT** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:42 am

OK, thanks.

pianowizard · #13 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:51 pm

danage wrote:no. actually for the t30, even pc2100 ram is sufficient. it can't run any faster.

Indeed. But if the price is the same, I would get faster modules because they would be compatible with faster machines that you might use in the future.

uberT · #14 Post by **uberT** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:08 pm

It seems like there are many PC2700 modules to choose from, not so many PC2100s...

Guys, on another topic (non-IBM), can you ever have too much memory? Is there an upper limit that a machine can handle? We've got an old Gateway SOLO 9300 with WIN98. I suspect the machine has 128MB +32MB (fixed). This machine barely runs nowadays. It looks like I can buy memory very cheap for it. Do I have to be concerned about how much memory I might add? I'm thinking about adding 256K to the 2nd slot.

Thanks.

pianowizard · #15 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:22 pm

uberT wrote:there an upper limit that a machine can handle?

Absolutely! You can go to crucial.com or 18004memory.com to check what a certain machine can handle. For the SOLO 9300, looks like the highest capacity module you can use is 128MB.

uberT · #16 Post by **uberT** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:48 pm

pianowizard wrote:
uberT wrote:there an upper limit that a machine can handle?
Absolutely! You can go to crucial.com or 18004memory.com to check what a certain machine can handle. For the SOLO 9300, looks like the highest capacity module you can use is 128MB.

That 128MB is per slot, correct?

I've been to Crucial but couldn't ID the exact machine. I'll have to check tonight when I get home. Thanks.

pianowizard · #17 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:35 pm

uberT wrote:That 128MB is per slot, correct?

Yes, that's per slot.

PC3200 DIMM in T30

PC3200 DIMM in T30

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