Is this what double-sided ram looks like?

J

Joanna

I'm trying to return incompatable PC100 SDRAM ram that I just bought and I
will not get a refund unless I can prove that it was not MY error in buying
the wrong product.
I'm not too savvy about ram etc but what I can say is that the key
difference between the ram sticks I bought and those that were functioning
well on my machine is that my originals had eight
little 'blocks' along one side whereas the new ones only had 4.
I've heard of double-sided ram (or something like that) and I wanted to ask
is this what it looks like? If so, I don't believe the manufacturer stated
this on the product description, which might be my case for getting my money
back. But I want to be sure of this before I make a complaint. The product
descripton was as follows:

Module Size: 128MB
Package: 168-pin DIMM
Feature: SDRAM, PC100
Configuration: 16Meg x 64
DIMM Type: Unbuffered
Error Checking: Non-Parity
Voltage: 3.3V
SDRAM Timings: CL=3

Is there anything in this description that I didn't understand properly
before buying the wrong sticks?

Thanks,

Joanna
 
H

Harry

How do you know this ram is incompatible? Error message? System Error?

Your spec shows it to be PC100 SDRAM. The number of chips shouldnt
normally make any difference.

Harry
 
J

Joanna

I tried to install it 3 times - both the two sticks together, and then each
one on it's own. Each time the Ram check would read to 64 mb instead of
(128) and then just freeze - or show lots of colours flashing on the screen.
My 2 x 64MB ram modules work fine. I don't think it's because my PC can
only have a max of 128 mb as the specs of my PC are as follows:

Memory Max - 256 MB
DIMM Memory Speed - 100 MHz CL3
Memory Type - Non-Parity
Dimm Module Type - Gold Contact
Number of Pins: 168
Max DIMM Capacity: 128 MB
Ram Type: 100 MHz SDRAM
Memory - In Slots: 64 MB
Total Memory Slots: Two

*Note: Primary path is to use the largest DIMM possible [i.e. (one) 128MB
DIMM with (two) 64MB DIMMs used only as backup]
**Note: CL2 Memory may also be used.
***Note: All DIMMs must support Serial Presence Detect (SPD) Revi

Can you see anything in these specs that might indicate why the modules I
bought would not install?
 
N

Norm

Joanna, double sided ram looks exactly like the name implies, there are
chips on both sides of the stick and usually will have 8 per side for a
total of 16. What type of motherboard do you have or who is the
manufacturer of the pc?
 
T

Tweek

For your system, you likely need a PC100, 128MB module with a total of eight
chips on it. It does not matter if it is 8 on one side or four on each side.
I have seen some high density memory (4 chips for 128MB and 8 for 256MB)
that claim they will work in any PC100 compatible machine, but it just is
not true. The Intel BX and the i810e chipsets for example, will only work
with low density modules. In fact, even though the i810e chipset supports
cpu's with a 133mhz bus, the memory still needs to be low density so PC133
only memory will not work.
 

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