PC <-> Mac ram compatibility

[David Smith]

A buddy wants to sell me RAM from his Powerbook G4 laptop for use in my Dell
laptop. Both machines use PC133 memory in a 144 pin SODIMM package; both
use a 256MB stick in 32x64 configuration. Is there a reason Mac memory
should be incompatible with the Dell, or is memory just memory regardless of
what machine it's in?

 

[Perry Noid]

A buddy wants to sell me RAM from his Powerbook G4 laptop for use in my Dell
laptop. Both machines use PC133 memory in a 144 pin SODIMM package; both
use a 256MB stick in 32x64 configuration. Is there a reason Mac memory
should be incompatible with the Dell, or is memory just memory regardless of
what machine it's in?

Whatever happens, be sure to tell us all about what happened, but don't
sue me because I've got excellent lawyers who used to work for Bill
Gates. Full disclaimers in effect (flame shields too).

Be brave, just don't sue me ;OD

 

[Some Guy]

A buddy wants to sell me RAM from his Powerbook G4 laptop for use in my Dell
laptop. Both machines use PC133 memory in a 144 pin SODIMM package; both
use a 256MB stick in 32x64 configuration. Is there a reason Mac memory
should be incompatible with the Dell, or is memory just memory regardless of
what machine it's in?

They use different types of electrons so they are incompatible... in
case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic. Of course they are the same,
it's PC133 memory in a 144 pin SODIMM package.

 

[Nate Edel]

A buddy wants to sell me RAM from his Powerbook G4 laptop for use in my Dell
laptop. Both machines use PC133 memory in a 144 pin SODIMM package; both
use a 256MB stick in 32x64 configuration. Is there a reason Mac memory
should be incompatible with the Dell, or is memory just memory regardless of
what machine it's in?

There are a couple of other variables:
1) Voltage. Probably the same, but worth double-checking.
2) CAS latency -- either 2 or 3 for PC133. Probably doesn't matter, but if
your existing RAM is 2 and the new DIMM is 3, you'll slow your system
down a little.
3) Number of chips/density. Less likely to vary significantly on laptop
SODIMMs than on desktop DIMMs.

I don't think 144-pin SDRAM SODIMMs are available in either ECC or
Registered modules...

 

[George Macdonald]

A buddy wants to sell me RAM from his Powerbook G4 laptop for use in my Dell
laptop. Both machines use PC133 memory in a 144 pin SODIMM package; both
use a 256MB stick in 32x64 configuration. Is there a reason Mac memory
should be incompatible with the Dell, or is memory just memory regardless of
what machine it's in?

Ask for a warranty. It should certainly not damage your system but if
you check at Crucial or any other DIMM mfr you'll see that they often have
different part numbers for different vendors equipment, be it mbrds,
laptops or printers. I've just been through an "interesting" experience
with a DIMM from Crucial for a printer - they had a spec'd part, made with
Samsung chips, which would not work, while the same spec part with Micron
chips worked fine.

It's always possible to find that spec'd parts which fit the bill according
to industry standards, even from reputable mfrs, do not work 100%. If you
try those SODIMMs in your system get a good memory checker, like memtest86
(from www.memtest86.com) and run it for several hours... and note that the
newer evolution of memtest86 from www.memtest.org is still a bit flakey
IME.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??