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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
The system has 3 slots, and 1 is occupied by a 128MB 9-chip single sided
DIMM, so it has ECC but is apparently unbuffered. I want to bring it up to 512MB, or 640MB if possible. The Dell website has 2 RAM options listed for the GX1 -- 1 ECC registered and 1 non-ECC unbuffered. This seems strange since I thought mobos take either registered or unregistered but not both. So if it can take both then wouldn't they have to match, and if all slots were filled then would it need buffered RAM to reduce loading of the clocks? Another thing is the installed module's labelling. It's PC100-222-620. The middle digits are well documented but the last 3 digits are not. Thanks for any clarification. -- Reply in group, but if emailing add another zero, and remove the last word. |
#2
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
Tom Del Rosso wrote:
The system has 3 slots, and 1 is occupied by a 128MB 9-chip single sided DIMM, so it has ECC but is apparently unbuffered. I want to bring it up to 512MB, or 640MB if possible. The Dell website has 2 RAM options listed for the GX1 -- 1 ECC registered and 1 non-ECC unbuffered. This seems strange since I thought mobos take either registered or unregistered but not both. So if it can take both then wouldn't they have to match, and if all slots were filled then would it need buffered RAM to reduce loading of the clocks? Another thing is the installed module's labelling. It's PC100-222-620. The middle digits are well documented but the last 3 digits are not. Thanks for any clarification. The Dell specs I see don't mention registered, only ECC or not. They do seem to indicate that ECC is required to use 256MB DIMMs, which is odd unless they are buffered. http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...gx1/Memory.htm However, Crucial seems to feel that unbuffered is all that is required. http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...0MHz+processor I'd go with Crucial, since they do guarantee compatibility. |
#3
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
Some motherboard chipsets are capable of handling both ECC registered
and non-ECC unbuffered. The ECC registered stuff is/was used mostly in servers, most of which are now decommissioned, so it is even cheaper than dirt lately. If you are running one of the dumbed down Windows operating systems, 95, 98, or ME, 512MB is the maximum supported. If you are running Linux, NT, 2000, or XP, the board handles 768MB max. I recommend all one type of memory or the other type, else the motheboard might get a bit confused... Ben Myers On Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:45:27 -0400, "Tom Del Rosso" wrote: The system has 3 slots, and 1 is occupied by a 128MB 9-chip single sided DIMM, so it has ECC but is apparently unbuffered. I want to bring it up to 512MB, or 640MB if possible. The Dell website has 2 RAM options listed for the GX1 -- 1 ECC registered and 1 non-ECC unbuffered. This seems strange since I thought mobos take either registered or unregistered but not both. So if it can take both then wouldn't they have to match, and if all slots were filled then would it need buffered RAM to reduce loading of the clocks? Another thing is the installed module's labelling. It's PC100-222-620. The middle digits are well documented but the last 3 digits are not. Thanks for any clarification. |
#4
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
"Ben Myers" wrote in message
Some motherboard chipsets are capable of handling both ECC registered and non-ECC unbuffered. The ECC registered stuff is/was used mostly in servers, most of which are now decommissioned, so it is even cheaper than dirt lately. How come ECC often (apparently always?) coincides with registered? The registered memory reduces the load on the clock lines by regenerating the clock with a built-in PLL, and uses some kind of register pipeline to keep it's signals in sync. The application note at http://www.pericom.com/pdf/applications/AN009.pdf says registered RAM is needed when using many modules, but I don't see what that has to do with ECC. -- Reply in group, but if emailing add another zero, and remove the last word. |
#5
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
"Pen" wrote in message
The Dell specs I see don't mention registered, only ECC or not. They do seem to indicate that ECC is required to use 256MB DIMMs, which is odd unless they are buffered. Why is that odd, 'unless they are buffered'? This is sort of academic now, because you gave me enough to buy one, but I'd like to know why ECC and registered go together. This page lists 2 available upgrade modules, both 256MB, but one ECC/registered, and the other non-ECC/unbuffered. (Not that I would buy from them.) http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/c...8&chassisid=-1 http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...gx1/Memory.htm However, Crucial seems to feel that unbuffered is all that is required. http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...0MHz+processor I'd go with Crucial, since they do guarantee compatibility. -- Reply in group, but if emailing add another zero, and remove the last word. |
#6
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
Hi,
The following is copied from the the Technicnical Specifications manual I still have from an old GX1 (still in service) Memory Architectu 64-bit (non-ECC) or 72-bit (ECC), noninterleaved, "PC100" 100 MHz DIMM sockets: three DIMM capacities: 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-MBSDRAM Standard RAM: 32 MB (GX1) or 128 MB (GX1p) minimum Maximum RAM: 768 MB BIOS address: F0000h It's been a long time since I had hands-on this box but I do remember it is a PII-350, the last of the PIIs befort the PIII 400 Dean "Tom Del Rosso" wrote in message ... The system has 3 slots, and 1 is occupied by a 128MB 9-chip single sided DIMM, so it has ECC but is apparently unbuffered. I want to bring it up to 512MB, or 640MB if possible. The Dell website has 2 RAM options listed for the GX1 -- 1 ECC registered and 1 non-ECC unbuffered. This seems strange since I thought mobos take either registered or unregistered but not both. So if it can take both then wouldn't they have to match, and if all slots were filled then would it need buffered RAM to reduce loading of the clocks? Another thing is the installed module's labelling. It's PC100-222-620. The middle digits are well documented but the last 3 digits are not. Thanks for any clarification. -- Reply in group, but if emailing add another zero, and remove the last word. |
#8
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
"krw" wrote in message
t How come ECC often (apparently always?) coincides with registered? The registered memory reduces the load on the clock lines by regenerating the clock with a built-in PLL, and uses some kind of register pipeline to keep it's signals in sync. The application note at http://www.pericom.com/pdf/applications/AN009.pdf says registered RAM is needed when using many modules, but I don't see what that has to do with ECC. Neither are *required* for home desktop machines. Both are required for servers and most workstations. There is little in the middle. There is no technical reason, just what the market wants; cheap or good. ;-) That makes sense. The same reason SCSI drives are made better. Thanks. -- Reply in group, but if emailing add another zero, and remove the last word. |
#9
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
Yes! My desktop system uses SCSI drives, and nearly all of my earlier ones
have, too. Also a SCSI scanner and a SCSI read-write-all-types-of-flash-cards device. A little noisier than PATA/SATA, and much slower to boot up, but I would not have it any other way... Ben Myers On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:58:35 -0400, "Tom Del Rosso" wrote: "krw" wrote in message et How come ECC often (apparently always?) coincides with registered? The registered memory reduces the load on the clock lines by regenerating the clock with a built-in PLL, and uses some kind of register pipeline to keep it's signals in sync. The application note at http://www.pericom.com/pdf/applications/AN009.pdf says registered RAM is needed when using many modules, but I don't see what that has to do with ECC. Neither are *required* for home desktop machines. Both are required for servers and most workstations. There is little in the middle. There is no technical reason, just what the market wants; cheap or good. ;-) That makes sense. The same reason SCSI drives are made better. Thanks. |
#10
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Dell Optiplex GX1 RAM
In article , lid
says... "krw" wrote in message t How come ECC often (apparently always?) coincides with registered? The registered memory reduces the load on the clock lines by regenerating the clock with a built-in PLL, and uses some kind of register pipeline to keep it's signals in sync. The application note at http://www.pericom.com/pdf/applications/AN009.pdf says registered RAM is needed when using many modules, but I don't see what that has to do with ECC. Neither are *required* for home desktop machines. Both are required for servers and most workstations. There is little in the middle. There is no technical reason, just what the market wants; cheap or good. ;-) That makes sense. The same reason SCSI drives are made better. Thanks. Actually, SCSI drives are not made better. They're often *exactly* the same drive with a SCSI controller board slapped on, in place of the IDE board. -- Keith |
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