[Novalug] identifying memory

[Jon LaBadie]

On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 10:17:53AM -0500, Theodore Ruegsegger wrote:
> Michael wrote:
> > On a quick Google, I found this page:
> > http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Linux/Q_21870019.html
> >
> > It mentions using ``dmidecode`` to detect what kind of motherboard and
> > RAM you are using.  I tried it on my Thinkpad T61.  It found some
> > strings from the BIOS telling it "Lenovo", "Thinkpad", "T61", etc.  In
> > the memory controller section, it said:
> > ...
> 
> That's the tool I was trying to remember!
...
> 
> ...? Is "168-pin, 3.3V unbuffered
> SDRAM" or "184-pin, 2.5V unbuffered DDR SDRAM" a sufficient spec? I
> can run the bus at 100 or 133 MHz.

Ahh PC-100 or PC-133 memory.  Yes it can be fickle.  As little as
a year ago I tried to upgrade such a system with "generic" sticks,
either purchased or pulled from other systems.  Little success.
Originally was 512MB in 4 sticks and I was trying for the board's
maximum of 1GB.  Got it to 0.75GB (2x256 + 2x128) but no further.

BTW expect to see much higher price per byte for the pc-100/133
memory compared to more current memory pieces.  For example, a
quick check on newegg shows 512MB sticks of pc-133 at $50 but
more recent memory types at $10-$25 per GB.

jl
-- 
Jon H. LaBadie                  jon at jgcomp.com
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