|
|
|
|
| Welcome, Guest | Home | Search | Login | Register | |
| Author | Finding more details about type of RAM for Macs (Read 42533 times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ShinobiKenobi
256 MB  Posts: 362 System 7 fan 
|
on: April 07, 2024, 07:08
I've been looking into buying more RAM for my Power Macintosh 7200/75. But when I went onto ebay to search for 70 ns 168 pin DIMMs, I found parameters that the typical sites I referenced for my Mac ignored. The parameters I'm talking about are ECC/non-ECC EDO/non-EDO, as well as clock speed (66, 100, 133). The most info I can find about the 7200's RAM is: 70 ns, 168 pin DIMM modules. Does anyone know these extra pieces of info? Is there a site that lists this info for Macs? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ShinobiKenobi
|
256 MB Posts: 362 System 7 fan
Reply #1 on: April 07, 2024, 08:25
|
I found this site (modern browser needed) which has some good info on Mac memory. I am including some, but not all, of the info here. Fast-Page Mode (FPM), Extended-Data Out (EDO), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), and Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory (SGRAM) are different types of memory used in various Power Macintosh computers. The new G3 Macs use SDRAM (3.3-volt, unbuffered, 64-bit wide, 168-pin, running at more than 100 MHZ, 10-nanosecond cycle time) memory. Also the Macintosh Performa 6400/200 computer that includes an internal Zip drive supports EDO memory. Most Power Macintosh computers support Fast-Paged Mode Memory. The only exceptions are the Power Macintosh 4400, 5500, and 6500 series computers. The following Power Macintosh computers fully support EDO memory and may experience increased performance: – Power Macintosh 4400 series – Power Macintosh 5500 series – Power Macintosh 6500 series – Macintosh Performa 6400/200 with internal Zip drive IMPORTANT: There are two types of EDO memory–5 Volt and 3.3 Volt. The Power Macintosh 4400 series requires 3.3 Volt EDO memory whereas the Power Macintosh 5500, 6500, and 6400 computers require 5 Volt EDO. The two types of EDO memory are NOT interchangeable. Most 5 V and 3.3 V EDO memory are physically keyed differently to prevent you from using the wrong type, but even if the DIMM can be installed, verify that you are installing the correct type. Additionally, EDO memory can also be used as video memory in the Power Macintosh 4400 ONLY. However, when using EDO memory as video memory, the Power Macintosh 4400 uses 5 Volt EDO memory rather than the 3.3 Volt used as DRAM. Power Macintosh Computers that Can Use EDO memory Although you will not derive any performance benefits by using EDO DIMMs, you can use them in the following Power Macintosh computers: – Power Macintosh 6100 series – Power Macintosh 7100 series – Power Macintosh 8100 series – Power Macintosh 5200 series – Power Macintosh 5300 series – Power Macintosh 5400 series – Power Macintosh 6200 series – Power Macintosh 6300 series – Power Macintosh 6400 series – Power Macintosh 7300 series – Power Macintosh 7500 series – Power Macintosh 7600 series – Power Macintosh 8500 series – Power Macintosh 8600 series – Power Macintosh 9500 series – Power Macintosh 9600 series – Macintosh Performa 6360 series – Some Macintosh Performa 6400 series Power Macintosh Computers that CANNOT use EDO memory You cannot use EDO DIMMs in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer. Using EDO memory in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer can cause damage to the logic board and to the DIMMs. Because of this, Apple does not support using EDO memory in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer. Any damage incurred from using EDO memory in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer may not be covered under Apple Computer’s limited hardware warranty. EDO RAM has not been tested, and has not been certified or is supported by Apple in the Workgroup Server 9150/xx series computers. SGRAM is supported in the Power Macintosh 4400, 5500, and 6500 series. SGRAM is supported in these computers for video memory ONLY; you cannot use SGRAM as the primary memory devices on the logic board. The Power Macintosh 4400 series includes 2 MB of EDO memory for video memory, but it supports up to 4 MB of SDRAM or SGRAM. However, the Power Macintosh 5500 and 6500 series computers include 2 MB of SGRAM, which is NOT expandable. *** So I found out the Power Macintosh 7200 series uses non-EDO, non-SDRAM, but does use 168-pin 70 ns (or faster) DRAM DIMM modules. I still haven't found whether it takes ECC or non-ECC RAM. But I think usually servers use ECC RAM while home computers don't.
|
Bolkonskij
|
Administrator 1024 MB  Posts: 2023
Reply #2 on: April 07, 2024, 08:39
|
Interesting! Thanks for sharing that info with us.
|
ShinobiKenobi
|
256 MB Posts: 362 System 7 fan
Reply #3 on: April 07, 2024, 09:00
|
You're welcome. I have no idea why sites like https://everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac/specs/powermac_7200_75.html (modern browser needed) only list the bare minimum of RAM details (168 pin, 70 ns).
Last Edit: April 07, 2024, 09:04 by ShinobiKenobi
|
Bolkonskij
|
Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #4 on: April 07, 2024, 11:33
|
Because that's what most people usually only care about. I did so too in the past. :-)
|
wove
|
1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #5 on: April 07, 2024, 14:39
|
ECC memory is error correcting. A quick down and dirty way to see if memory is ECC memory is to count the number of chips on one side of the memory module (DIMM/SIMM) if the number is odd, it is probably ECC if it is an even number it is non ECC. ECC holds a byte in nine bits, with the ninth bit for error correcting. The larger rectangle chips on a memory module generally hold one bit, so if you need nine bits in ECC it requires an odd number of memory chips. This of course is more a rule of thumb than a substitute for the specs on the sticker. It is also most reliable when looking through ram from the 80s and 90s. It can be useful when digging in a bin of assorted items whose labels are not present or not easy to read.
|
Neal_SE30
|
256 MB Posts: 401 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #6 on: April 07, 2024, 17:24
|
I ordered my se/30 ram from here https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/apple-performa-600/memory
|
ShinobiKenobi
|
256 MB Posts: 362 System 7 fan
Reply #7 on: April 08, 2024, 00:25
|
Thanks for that site Neal. Thanks for the cool tip about the number of chips wove.
|
ShinobiKenobi
|
256 MB Posts: 362 System 7 fan
Reply #8 on: April 09, 2024, 06:52
|
My computer series doesn't seem to be an option on that site, Neal. Under Legacy, it lists Performas and Quadras, and then skips over pre-G3 Power Macs. I know some Performas are Power Macs, but my Power Macintosh 7200/75 isn't a Performa. No results came up when I did a search for that series, either 
|
cballero
|
1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #9 on: April 09, 2024, 16:03
|
You're right  I managed to locate then archive a mirror of an AppleCare Tech Info Library article on PowerMac RAM relating to your Mac model and others: http://web.archive.org/web/20240409135501if_/https://til-2001.mirror.kb1max.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n19456/index.htmlI also found the following spec sheet on the 7200: http://web.archive.org/web/20240320205907if_/https://support.apple.com/en-us/112085 As you pointed out, most Macs, including the 7200 series, can use Fast-Page RAM modules, and in the case of the 7200, only, not Extended-Data Out (EDO) RAM, and can unofficially use 128 MB FPM modules, whose performance doesn't improve by interleaving (installing the modules in pairs) it officially uses 64 MB RAM and smaller modules. The larger modules are expensive, so it's best to get the most accurate info on these! I also went ahead and dug further on your ECC question, and as far as the RAM that needs to be used in all Macs, including the PM 7200, it all has to be non-ECC (the ECC RAM is incompatible) I got this info from this OEM PC World link, on their 16th answer: (if you're surfing on an older or slower Mac or web browser, the second link will load faster and better) http://web.archive.org/web/20230531223537if_/https://www.oempcworld.com/support/PowerMac_Apple_FAQs.html#16 http://web.archive.org/web/20230531223537id_/https://www.oempcworld.com/support/PowerMac_Apple_FAQs.html Lastly, I was able to locate some FPM modules at MicroMac along with the PowerMac models it can be installed on: (7200 and 8200-series, modern link) https://www.micromac.com/products/memory_dimm_168pin_fpm.html Hopefully, this helps! 
Last Edit: April 10, 2024, 05:16 by cballero
|
ShinobiKenobi
|
256 MB Posts: 362 System 7 fan
Reply #10 on: April 09, 2024, 22:24
|
Awesome! Thanks so much for your help cballero!  It looks like the site I quoted from got its info from that Apple care page you found.
|
MTT
|
256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #11 on: April 10, 2024, 02:03
|
I always consult my GURU first, when it comes to unknown RAM or VRAM requirements of classic Macs.  GURU states "Using EDO memory in this series of computers can cause damage to the logic board and to the DIMMs". So, I would avoid EDO for this model. GURU can be downloaded from the MG.
|
cballero
|
1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #12 on: April 10, 2024, 05:21
|
You always have the most awesome resources, MTT!!! And yes ShinobiKenobi, the AppleCare TIL site was referenced someplace but it was completely off the map, so I dug-up an old mirror of it online and just made that link Classic Mac-friendly thanks to the awesome Internet Archive!
|
ShinobiKenobi
|
256 MB Posts: 362 System 7 fan
Reply #13 on: April 10, 2024, 11:05
|
@MTT Thanks, that's an awesome utility! Thanks again Cballero
|
|
Pages: [1]
|
| ||||||||||||||
|
© 2021 System7Today.com. |
