TP600 memory problem

Older ThinkPads.. from the 600, the 7xx, the iSeries, 300, 500, the Transnote and, of course, the 701
Post Reply
Message
Author
Rabstyle
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:29 pm

TP600 memory problem

#1 Post by Rabstyle » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:47 pm

I just got 2 dimms of 128mb PC66 ram today. When I boot up, however, up at the top left it says "228800 kb ok". If I go into the bios it says that 288mb are usable. The two numbers don't match. Once I get into windows I pull up the my computer properties and it says 224 MB of Ram :evil:. It just so happens that the difference between 224 and 256 (the actual amount of ram installed) is 32mb, which is the amount of onboard fixed memory. I have the 2645 45u model TP600. That means I am not restricted to 256mb (so I read) because I have the PII 300mhz model. The max should be 288 like it says in the bios. Any help would be greatly appreciated! :

JHEM
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 5571
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 8:03 am
Location: Medford, NJ USA
Contact:

#2 Post by JHEM » Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:13 pm

Do you have the latest (IBET54WW) BIOS installed? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... SHY-3VRJPK

I have the same basic machine (2645-850 NT) here in the shop and it has 288MB installed with the same memory configuration. I get 294MB on BOOT, 292MB for W2K and 288MB usable.

Regards,

James
James at thinkpads dot com
5.5K+ posts and all I've got to show for it are some feathers.... AND a Bird wearing a Crown

Rabstyle
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:29 pm

#3 Post by Rabstyle » Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:43 pm

yeah, I updated the bios a while back. I says in the bios I have 294???? installed but only 228800 is useable. I am using IBM approved memory. The company said it was PC66, but on the sticker oin the memory it says 100mhz.

JHEM
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 5571
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 8:03 am
Location: Medford, NJ USA
Contact:

#4 Post by JHEM » Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:07 pm

Rabstyle wrote:The company said it was PC66, but on the sticker oin the memory it says 100mhz.
There's the problem!

Can't use PC100 memory running at PC66, it must be PC66 memory.

Welcome to the interesting world of Thinkpad 600 series memory demands.

Regards,

James
James at thinkpads dot com
5.5K+ posts and all I've got to show for it are some feathers.... AND a Bird wearing a Crown

Rabstyle
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:29 pm

#5 Post by Rabstyle » Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:11 am

After I looked at the dimms, I was like oh s*** they sent me PC100 instead of the PC66 that I ordered. I have contacted the company and will hopefully be returning this and getting the right stuff. Thanks for your help

Rob Mayercik
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 262
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:50 am
Location: NJ, U.S.A.

#6 Post by Rob Mayercik » Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:30 pm

JHEM wrote:
Rabstyle wrote:The company said it was PC66, but on the sticker oin the memory it says 100mhz.
There's the problem!

Can't use PC100 memory running at PC66, it must be PC66 memory.

Welcome to the interesting world of Thinkpad 600 series memory demands.

Regards,

James
Hmm... Maybe I've got an oddball, but I think I might be running PC100 in my 2645-45U. I'll have to take a look and see.

Rob

JHEM
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 5571
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 8:03 am
Location: Medford, NJ USA
Contact:

#7 Post by JHEM » Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:48 pm

Rob Mayercik wrote:Hmm... Maybe I've got an oddball, but I think I might be running PC100 in my 2645-45U. I'll have to take a look and see.
With TWO sticks or with one? I went through this years ago upgrading my old 600 (2645-850) and every time I put two 128MB PC100 sticks in it, I wound up with the same problem as Rabstyle, the 32MB on the MB was mapped out.

Once I switched to all PC66, I got the MAX RAM of 288MB and the unit ran just fine for years, still does.

Regards,

James
James at thinkpads dot com
5.5K+ posts and all I've got to show for it are some feathers.... AND a Bird wearing a Crown

Rob Mayercik
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 262
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:50 am
Location: NJ, U.S.A.

#8 Post by Rob Mayercik » Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:55 pm

JHEM wrote:With TWO sticks or with one? I went through this years ago upgrading my old 600 (2645-850) and every time I put two 128MB PC100 sticks in it, I wound up with the same problem as Rabstyle, the 32MB on the MB was mapped out.

Once I switched to all PC66, I got the MAX RAM of 288MB and the unit ran just fine for years, still does.

Regards,

James
Two sticks - I've got the full 288MB max, and it's all visible/available to 98SE. I'm pretty sure that it's PC100, but I'll pull the cover off tonight and check it out. I bought it at a show, and the guy let me put it in and try it before I bought it.

Rob

Rob Mayercik
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 262
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:50 am
Location: NJ, U.S.A.

#9 Post by Rob Mayercik » Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:11 pm

Ok, I pulled the cover off and checked what I have.

It isn't PC100 - it's PC133.

I guess the PC133 works because 133 is (approximately) a multiple of 66?

Anyhow, it does open up another option for PC66 users looking to upgrade.

Rob

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad Legacy Hardware”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests