X-20 Memory problem

[tjm215]

I purchased a 256mb, PC100 memory stick for my X-20 (33L3070, low density - 16 chips). When installed, the bios configuration and extended memory test show 192mb instead of 320mb. Is the memory bad or could there be another problem?

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

It definitely sounds like that you have a problem with the 256MB module. My suggestion would be to download a copy of memtest86+ and run it on your system. See if it also reports 192MB as the total system memory and let it run for at least three complete cycles through the diagnostics (about an hour for your system I would guess).

There could be a couple of things wrong with the module (bad connection of one of the memory chips to the board, broken/shorted connection of one or more of the edge traces (the "gold fingers") or a mis-configured Serial Presence Detect (SPD). Any one of those things could cause that module to be recognized as only 128MB. If at all possible try another low-density 256MB module in your system and see if that works. This would rule out any problem with your X20.

[tjm215]

Ray,

Thanks for your reply. I'll give memtest86+ a try.

I currently don't have access to another 256 module or thinkpad to help eliminate one or the other. However, for what it's worth, the 64 mb module I have works fine in the machine.