rambus memory

[jlynch1]

i recently purchased samsung rambus memory for my dell 8100
p4 1.4ghz. It already had 128 mb of rambus ( 2 x 64 ). I presumed that rambus didnt need to be installed in matching pairs. When i put in the 256 mb stick i bought along with the 128 and a so called "continuity module" in the last remaining slot the computer would not boot instead making a loud beeping sound.

Does this mean that the ram on my board needs to be installed in matching pairs ?

any help appreciated.

 

[gporter]

Do you have 2 & 2 meaning 4 slots total and all slots are occupied by RIMM modules. For instance you can't have 4 slots 3 using RIMM and 1 continuity. You could have 2-128 and 2-256 depending on the max support for the board

 

[jlynch1]

i have 4 slots in total.
max support is 4 x 512
but i thought rimms didnt need to be installed in matching pairs.

 

[cdogg]

Yes, RIMM modules must be installed in matching pairs. This gives the system the ability to use "Dual-Channel" effectively.

 

[jlynch1]

i got the following in an autoresponse e-mail from dell which lead me to believe that rambus didnt need to be installed in matching pairs.

"However, if you remove that RIMM in the future, you will need to insert the continuity module back in the vacated socket. Unlike SIMMs, RIMMs do not need to be installed in matched pairs. This means that you only need one available RIMM socket to upgrade your memory.

 

[cdogg]

Are you sure you read that e-mail correctly? Whenever you install RIMMS, they should be always be installed in matching pairs (equal size, density, and preferably the same name brand). Whenever you purchase memory online, just about every vendor will warn you that you must "install in pairs". You can use continuity modules, but only together. When you have 4 slots, the 1st and 2nd go together, and the same goes for the 3rd and 4th.

If you still aren't sure this is right, read what Intel has to say:

http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentium4/rimmtip.htm

Here are a couple more sites to check:

http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/memnotes.htm

- read the 3rd and 4th paragraphs under RDRAM

http://windows.berkeley.edu/hardware/pcmemory.html

 

[jlynch1]

i see ,
the misleading autoresponse they sent me must have been referring to the pentium 3.I have ordered another 256mb ram. I will now have 640mb ram

from the link above

"Pentium 4 systems with RDRAM use a dual-channel system where two RIMM modules are accessed at the same time, to effectively double the maximum memory bandwidth. Because of this, memory modules must be installed in matched pairs"

"Pentium III systems with RDRAM do not use a dual-channel system, so you can add modules individually."

thanks for help cdogg

 

[cdogg]

no prob...