eMachine T5010 add RAM, require matched pair?

[Mike S]

I'm trying to add RAM to a friend's T5010 and I'm not sure whether I
have to add two matched sticks or if I can just use one stick. Does
anyone know whether that model allows odd numbers of sticks (it has 4
slots) or if it requires matched pairs in sets of two?

 

[Pen]

I'm trying to add RAM to a friend's T5010 and I'm not sure
whether I have to add two matched sticks or if I can just
use one stick. Does anyone know whether that model allows
odd numbers of sticks (it has 4 slots) or if it requires
matched pairs in sets of two?

Crucial says you can add just one stick, but you will loose
some speed.

 

[Paul]

I'm trying to add RAM to a friend's T5010 and I'm not sure whether I
have to add two matched sticks or if I can just use one stick. Does
anyone know whether that model allows odd numbers of sticks (it has 4
slots) or if it requires matched pairs in sets of two?

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=T5010

"Although the memory can be installed one module at a time,
the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules."

"Maximum Memory: 4GB
Slots: 4
Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*

*******

The chipset is 915GV (which is capable of DDR or DDR2, but is set up
for DDR on your system). You can use an application like CPU-Z from
cpuid.com to verify that fact for yourself.

Useful docs to review the available tech in this case are:

30167003 - 915 memory guide
30146705 - 915 datasheet (page 224, 225)

ftp://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/applnots/30167003.pdf
ftp://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/30146705.pdf

You should compare and contrast the docs, as they're poorly written
in this section, and seem to contradict one another. It appears
to me, the chipset doesn't support "Intel Flex Memory", but instead
uses virtual single channel when the memory quantities don't match.
When the memory quantities on each channel match (which can be done
with three sticks), then it operates in symmetric mode (so-called
dual channel). These then, are examples of dual channel mode
configs, where the best speed results.

| | is as | |
256MB 512MB fast as 256MB 256MB
| | ---> | |
256MB 0 MB 256MB 256MB

So if your friend owns 2x512, buying 2x512MB more or 1x1GB more
would work good.

The board might even support 2GB 16 chip DIMMs, if you believe the datasheet.

"By using 1-Gb technology, the largest memory capacity is 8 GB

32M rows/bank * 4 banks/device * 8 columns * 8 devices/rank * 4 ranks/channel *
2 channel * 1b/(row*column) * 1G/1024M * 1B/8b = 8 GB.

Though it is possible to put 8 GB in system by stuffing both channels
this way, the (G)MCH is still limited to 4 GB of addressable space due
to the number of address pins on the FSB."

So for example, what they're proposing, is this would work. That
is, if you insisted on a three stick config, and still wanted
the 5% better performance it might give. The chipset can address
4GB max, but 2GB DIMMs might work. But the price of a 2GB
DIMM (if you could find one) will probably rule out this solution,
with PC3200. A couple 1GB PC3200 DDR DIMMs would be cheaper.

| |
1GB 2GB
| |
1GB 0

If you're an Ebay shopper, and have a serious interest in something
you see there, pop back with any questions you've got. At the 512MB point,
there aren't really any questions to ask in this case (as long
as its a UDIMM or unbuffered DIMM, it'll work). If you're
buying a 1GB DIMM, there are some things to check.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Mike S]

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=T5010

"Although the memory can be installed one module at a time,
the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules."

"Maximum Memory: 4GB
Slots: 4
Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*

*******

The chipset is 915GV (which is capable of DDR or DDR2, but is set up
for DDR on your system). You can use an application like CPU-Z from
cpuid.com to verify that fact for yourself.

Useful docs to review the available tech in this case are:

30167003 - 915 memory guide
30146705 - 915 datasheet (page 224, 225)

ftp://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/applnots/30167003.pdf
ftp://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/30146705.pdf

You should compare and contrast the docs, as they're poorly written
in this section, and seem to contradict one another. It appears
to me, the chipset doesn't support "Intel Flex Memory", but instead
uses virtual single channel when the memory quantities don't match.
When the memory quantities on each channel match (which can be done
with three sticks), then it operates in symmetric mode (so-called
dual channel). These then, are examples of dual channel mode
configs, where the best speed results.

| | is as | |
256MB 512MB fast as 256MB 256MB
| | ---> | |
256MB 0 MB 256MB 256MB

So if your friend owns 2x512, buying 2x512MB more or 1x1GB more
would work good.

The board might even support 2GB 16 chip DIMMs, if you believe the
datasheet.

"By using 1-Gb technology, the largest memory capacity is 8 GB

32M rows/bank * 4 banks/device * 8 columns * 8 devices/rank * 4
ranks/channel *
2 channel * 1b/(row*column) * 1G/1024M * 1B/8b = 8 GB.

Though it is possible to put 8 GB in system by stuffing both channels
this way, the (G)MCH is still limited to 4 GB of addressable space due
to the number of address pins on the FSB."

So for example, what they're proposing, is this would work. That
is, if you insisted on a three stick config, and still wanted
the 5% better performance it might give. The chipset can address
4GB max, but 2GB DIMMs might work. But the price of a 2GB
DIMM (if you could find one) will probably rule out this solution,
with PC3200. A couple 1GB PC3200 DDR DIMMs would be cheaper.

| |
1GB 2GB
| |
1GB 0

If you're an Ebay shopper, and have a serious interest in something
you see there, pop back with any questions you've got. At the 512MB point,
there aren't really any questions to ask in this case (as long
as its a UDIMM or unbuffered DIMM, it'll work). If you're
buying a 1GB DIMM, there are some things to check.

HTH,
Paul

Thanks very much Paul.

The crucial site mentioned, "Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200 with a
maximum of 1GB per slot.* "

The machine runs XP Pro, the owner works online from home requiring her
to load a page into a browser that contains a lot of data. The machine
has 512MB and the hard drive is running a lot of the time. When I told
her that more memory would improve performance she was very interested,
but she doesn't have a lot of money, so I'm going to recommend she add
two 1 GB sticks, or if she can't afford that add only one. I found this
on amazon, does this look like it will work to you?

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-240-p...1TRY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1325137623&sr=8-9

I didn't realize crucial.com was such a useful website.

Thanks again for the detailed, thorough reply.
Mike

 

[Paul]

Thanks very much Paul.

The crucial site mentioned, "Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200 with a
maximum of 1GB per slot.* "

The machine runs XP Pro, the owner works online from home requiring her
to load a page into a browser that contains a lot of data. The machine
has 512MB and the hard drive is running a lot of the time. When I told
her that more memory would improve performance she was very interested,
but she doesn't have a lot of money, so I'm going to recommend she add
two 1 GB sticks, or if she can't afford that add only one. I found this
on amazon, does this look like it will work to you?

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-240-p...1TRY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1325137623&sr=8-9


I didn't realize crucial.com was such a useful website.

Thanks again for the detailed, thorough reply.
Mike

You're looking for PC3200 RAM. That's the DDR standard.

The Amazon item is DDR2, which is a newer standard.

You can use the Newegg site, for the customer reviews. If
the memory has any bad tendencies, they show up in the review.
This would be an average stick, at $27 per gigabyte. The 512MB sticks
are around $17.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231036

Try to stick with a branded RAM if you can. I've bought generic
RAM locally here, only to have it fail after 1.5 to 2 years or so.
Any RAM can fail, but the generic is pretty consistent. I bought
a set of eight sticks, and three of those have failed, which is
pretty bad. I had another set of four generics, where all of them
failed (just outside the warranty period). Now, I stick with
branded RAM. I've even had a stick of Crucial fail, so even
the branded stuff isn't perfect. But my track record on
branded RAMs, is way better than the generic stuff.

Also, now that I think about it, my track record on older
RAM (stuff pre-dating DDR), was better than the RAM now.
I don't think I had any failures on EDO and FPM RAM. But back
then, to fill a computer with RAM, cost around $600. For that
kind of money today, you can buy a whole computer.

Paul

 

[Mike S]

You're looking for PC3200 RAM. That's the DDR standard.

The Amazon item is DDR2, which is a newer standard.

You can use the Newegg site, for the customer reviews. If
the memory has any bad tendencies, they show up in the review.
This would be an average stick, at $27 per gigabyte. The 512MB sticks
are around $17.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231036

Try to stick with a branded RAM if you can. I've bought generic
RAM locally here, only to have it fail after 1.5 to 2 years or so.
Any RAM can fail, but the generic is pretty consistent. I bought
a set of eight sticks, and three of those have failed, which is
pretty bad. I had another set of four generics, where all of them
failed (just outside the warranty period). Now, I stick with
branded RAM. I've even had a stick of Crucial fail, so even
the branded stuff isn't perfect. But my track record on
branded RAMs, is way better than the generic stuff.

Also, now that I think about it, my track record on older
RAM (stuff pre-dating DDR), was better than the RAM now.
I don't think I had any failures on EDO and FPM RAM. But back
then, to fill a computer with RAM, cost around $600. For that
kind of money today, you can buy a whole computer.

Paul

Thanks again Paul,

I will recommend the RAM you suggest, I really appreciate all of your
work getting me up to speed on this. I know almost nothing about RAM, so
this has been really valuable for me. Thanks.

Best Regards,
Mike

 

[Mike S]

You're looking for PC3200 RAM. That's the DDR standard.
The Amazon item is DDR2, which is a newer standard.
You can use the Newegg site, for the customer reviews. If
the memory has any bad tendencies, they show up in the review.
This would be an average stick, at $27 per gigabyte. The 512MB sticks
are around $17.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231036
Try to stick with a branded RAM if you can. I've bought generic
RAM locally here, only to have it fail after 1.5 to 2 years or so.
Any RAM can fail, but the generic is pretty consistent. I bought
a set of eight sticks, and three of those have failed, which is
pretty bad. I had another set of four generics, where all of them
failed (just outside the warranty period). Now, I stick with
branded RAM. I've even had a stick of Crucial fail, so even
the branded stuff isn't perfect. But my track record on
branded RAMs, is way better than the generic stuff.
Also, now that I think about it, my track record on older
RAM (stuff pre-dating DDR), was better than the RAM now.
I don't think I had any failures on EDO and FPM RAM. But back
then, to fill a computer with RAM, cost around $600. For that
kind of money today, you can buy a whole computer.
Paul

Paul,

The computer owner bought 2GB of matched, name brand RAM and she
couldn't be happier with the machine. She sends her thanks, she said she
works more hours now because it isn't frustrating to use the computer
any more.

Thanks Again,
Mike

 

[Paul]

Paul,

The computer owner bought 2GB of matched, name brand RAM and she
couldn't be happier with the machine. She sends her thanks, she said she
works more hours now because it isn't frustrating to use the computer
any more.

Thanks Again,
Mike

I think she's purchased at a good time, because my recollection is,
the last time I bought that stuff, I paid twice that much
Normally, the price doesn't move on the old RAM.

Paul