[SOLVED] 1RX8 memory stick has 4 chips on both sides instead of 8 on one, why?

ShangWang

Reputable
Mar 26, 2021
617
2
4,885
I recently bought this memory stick believing it would have 8 chips on one side, but just like my other Kingston RAM on my laptop, it has 4 chips on both sides.
Crucial RAM 8GB DDR4 2666 MHz CL19 Laptop Memory CT8G4SFRA266 : Amazon.ca: Electronics

In amazon options there is 8GB and 8GB Single rank. What I believe to be "single rank" is indeed single rank, but there is no such thing as 2RX4 so I don't know why the one with 4 chips on both sides is considered 1RX8 and in the amazon options it's just "8GB"

Would both the one shown in the picture from amazon and the one I actually have both work on my laptop? Are "2RX4" chips mostly manufactured to be more compatible with laptops?
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
 
Solution
single rank doesnt mean how many chips will be on which side
2Rx4 doesnt mean that you will have 4 chips on each side either
rank is data block which is 64bit wide, that x4 or x8 (x16 etc) refers to the number of banks
its an info for memory controller on how to map your ram, this info doesnt says how many chips and where they will be placed

here some small example of 2Rx4 ram module
hp-16-gb-2rx4-pc3-14900r-ddr3-rdimm-712383-081_ie137336.jpg

see 18 chips on single side? but module is 2Rx4
single rank doesnt mean how many chips will be on which side
2Rx4 doesnt mean that you will have 4 chips on each side either
rank is data block which is 64bit wide, that x4 or x8 (x16 etc) refers to the number of banks
its an info for memory controller on how to map your ram, this info doesnt says how many chips and where they will be placed

here some small example of 2Rx4 ram module
hp-16-gb-2rx4-pc3-14900r-ddr3-rdimm-712383-081_ie137336.jpg

see 18 chips on single side? but module is 2Rx4
 
  • Like
Reactions: CountMike
Solution

ShangWang

Reputable
Mar 26, 2021
617
2
4,885
single rank doesnt mean how many chips will be on which side
2Rx4 doesnt mean that you will have 4 chips on each side either
rank is data block which is 64bit wide, that x4 or x8 (x16 etc) refers to the number of banks
its an info for memory controller on how to map your ram, this info doesnt says how many chips and where they will be placed

here some small example of 2Rx4 ram module
hp-16-gb-2rx4-pc3-14900r-ddr3-rdimm-712383-081_ie137336.jpg

see 18 chips on single side? but module is 2Rx4
I see, I don't completely understand how you would calculate how many chips there are on each side, but do you know the difference between 4 chips on both sides versus 8 chips on one side if they're both 1RX8? Would both be compatible for laptops?