Did they have 32 meg DIMMs twelve years ago when my new used printer was made?

[mm]

Did they have 32 meg DIMMs twelve years ago when my new-used printer
was made?

Can I just install memory that fits physically, withouth risking
hurting a printer or a computer? or do I have to be careful and only
install what was intended?


I inherited an old HP LaserJet 2100NT printer, in v. good condition,
although I don't think the particular model is very important for this
question. Plus, there is little practical value in the question but I
just like to understand this stuff.

It has a 4 Meg buffer built in, and 3 DIMM slots, one of which slots
was filled with 4 more Megs when it was shipped from the factory, for
a total of 8.

It can handle up to 32 megs more, for a total of 40 megs.

They mention installing 4, 8, or 16 meg DIMMs, and if someone put in
two 16 meg DIMMs, it would total 40 Megs, what they say is the max.

I have some *32* meg DIMMs that fit physcially.

Should I just put one in and try it with NO FEAR of damaging the
printer?

Or, Does the statement in the manual mean it won't work with a 32 meg
DIMM?

OR, that they didn't have 32 megs 12 years ago when the printer was
made?

Thanks.

 

[Paul]

Did they have 32 meg DIMMs twelve years ago when my new-used printer
was made?

Can I just install memory that fits physically, withouth risking
hurting a printer or a computer? or do I have to be careful and only
install what was intended?


I inherited an old HP LaserJet 2100NT printer, in v. good condition,
although I don't think the particular model is very important for this
question. Plus, there is little practical value in the question but I
just like to understand this stuff.

It has a 4 Meg buffer built in, and 3 DIMM slots, one of which slots
was filled with 4 more Megs when it was shipped from the factory, for
a total of 8.

It can handle up to 32 megs more, for a total of 40 megs.

They mention installing 4, 8, or 16 meg DIMMs, and if someone put in
two 16 meg DIMMs, it would total 40 Megs, what they say is the max.

I have some *32* meg DIMMs that fit physcially.

Should I just put one in and try it with NO FEAR of damaging the
printer?

Or, Does the statement in the manual mean it won't work with a 32 meg
DIMM?

OR, that they didn't have 32 megs 12 years ago when the printer was
made?

Thanks.

You'd start with a Google search, to get a rough idea what
kind of memory it is.

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/memory/upgrade.asp?cid=16536

16MB 100PIN EDO DIMM FOR HP OEM C4137A In Stock $ 23.88

Based on the description, there would be EDO (extended data out)
and FPM (fast page mode) memories. Those were two chip types
kicking around at the time. Modules would also come in
3.3V and 5V types, from that era.

The keying on the module, is supposed to prevent illegal
combinations. But I can't remember enough of the details,
to tell you whether the keying scheme, prevented illegal
combinations.

Of the two types, EDO is slightly more dangerous, due to the
extended data out phase. And your printer is apparently
designed to take it. If you somehow inserted FPM memory,
about the worst that would happen, is a corrupted printout.
Naturally, mixing a 5V printer with a 3.3V module, wouldn't
work out too well. The keying should at least prevent
mixing voltages. But I don't remember if EDO and FPM
were handled by keying or not.

Modules like that, don't have a clock signal. Those are
the asynchronous module days, where the edge of RAS and
the edge of CAS, coordinated memory operations. The memory
had timing values, such as "60ns access". You'd select
a memory module "fast enough" for the machine it's going into.
Typical times might be on the order of 50/60/70ns or so.
The above product, doesn't state the access time. With a
printer, it probably isn't cranked that high, and could be
expecting 100ns performance (slow, virtually any module
would work).

Paul

 

[David Empson]

Did they have 32 meg DIMMs twelve years ago when my new-used printer
was made?

Certainly.

Using Macintosh models as a reference (as I have lots of data available
for them):

At the start of 1999, Apple introduced the PowerMac G3 (Blue & White),
which was supplied as standard with two 32 MB PC-100 DIMMs in the base
configuration.

Earlier models using Fast Page Mode DIMMs were typically supplied with
16 MB DIMMs or smaller in the base configuration, but 32 MB were readily
available. Judging from information I can find, Apple had tested models
as far back as 1995 with 64 MB DIMMs, so 32 MB DIMMs of this type were
certainly available when your printer was introduced.

Can I just install memory that fits physically, withouth risking
hurting a printer or a computer? or do I have to be careful and only
install what was intended?

As long as the memory physically fits in the slot and is the correct
variant (e.g. EDO may cause problems in some devices if they don't
expect it), a higher capacity memory module will not damage the device,
but the module might not work in the device (or be limited in capacity).

I inherited an old HP LaserJet 2100NT printer, in v. good condition,
although I don't think the particular model is very important for this
question. Plus, there is little practical value in the question but I
just like to understand this stuff.

It has a 4 Meg buffer built in, and 3 DIMM slots, one of which slots
was filled with 4 more Megs when it was shipped from the factory, for
a total of 8.

It can handle up to 32 megs more, for a total of 40 megs.

They mention installing 4, 8, or 16 meg DIMMs, and if someone put in
two 16 meg DIMMs, it would total 40 Megs, what they say is the max.

In this case, you may find that really is the limit.

32 MByte DIMMs require an extra address pin. If HP didn't actually wire
that pin between the memory controller and DIMM slot, then the extra
capacity will not be available.

The memory controller may be configured to only allow for 40 MB of RAM,
so you may find that a single 32 MB DIMM works to full capacity but the
second slot is then unusable.

On the other hand, HP may have only documented capacities up to 40 MB
and the printer actually supports more RAM as well as larger DIMMs. The
only way to tell would be to search for reports from someone who has
actually tried it, or try it yourself.

I have some *32* meg DIMMs that fit physcially.

Should I just put one in and try it with NO FEAR of damaging the
printer?

Almost certainly yes. Check for EDO vs FPM RAM type, since they are
phsyically compatible. Also check the speed of your DIMMs are at least
as fast as those supplied with the printer. (Paul's earlier post covers
most of this.)

Or, Does the statement in the manual mean it won't work with a 32 meg
DIMM?

Possbily. (It might work, it might be that it can't use more than 16 MB
per slot, or it might be that it can't use more than 32 MB in total of
installed memory.)

OR, that they didn't have 32 megs 12 years ago when the printer was
made?

32 MB DIMMs were available well before that.

Note that it is possible the documentation on memory configuration was
out of date: it may have been written for an earlier model back when 32
MB DIMMs were not available, and the documentation could have been
copied to the manuals for later models without being updated,
particularly for entry level models that are less likely to need lots of
memory installed.

 

[Pen]

LaserJet 2100NT

You really should read this page of HP's re the 2100tn.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...=en_US&prodSeriesId=25469&prodTypeId=18972#A3

Several of your assumptions are incorrect regarding memory
and the DIMM slots. Also note its a tn not nt.

 

[Rob]

You really should read this page of HP's re the 2100tn.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...=en_US&prodSeriesId=25469&prodTypeId=18972#A3

Several of your assumptions are incorrect regarding memory
and the DIMM slots. Also note its a tn not nt.

I have a Laserjet that has memory 96mb I tried to add extra with non
genuine stuff and even though it looked the same the centre slot was
different.


Didn't these DIMM's, used in early printers, had to be of particular
variety, they were very fussy to what was used?

 

[mm]

I have a Laserjet that has memory 96mb I tried to add extra with non
genuine stuff and even though it looked the same the centre slot was
different.


Didn't these DIMM's, used in early printers, had to be of particular
variety, they were very fussy to what was used?

Thanks everyone for the help. It will be a few weeks before I make
room on my work bench and have time to try this stuff out, but I
wanted to plan now. I'm also going to collect all the "obsolete"
memory I have in one place, to do a better job.

 

[Nobody > (Revisited)]

Thanks everyone for the help. It will be a few weeks before I make
room on my work bench and have time to try this stuff out, but I
wanted to plan now. I'm also going to collect all the "obsolete"
memory I have in one place, to do a better job.

Probably your best bet..

My own experience on RAM (in general) has been that there are no real
rules of what works, especially on older equipment and RAM design.

You have a small amount of luck here, 32 mb DIMMS are pretty much
throwaway items for most places. You can probably score a couple of
gallon buckets of them for free by just asking around the local
recycling places and independent 'pooter places, although you may end up
just getting a box/bucket/barrel of assorted unsized RAM modules instead.

 

[mm]

Probably your best bet..

My own experience on RAM (in general) has been that there are no real
rules of what works, especially on older equipment and RAM design.

You have a small amount of luck here, 32 mb DIMMS are pretty much
throwaway items for most places. You can probably score a couple of
gallon buckets of them for free by just asking around the local
recycling places and independent 'pooter places, although you may end up
just getting a box/bucket/barrel of assorted unsized RAM modules instead.

Good idea. Tahnks.