Rambus compatibility Question

[blazintommyd]

I have a Dell Precision 530 workstation w/ dual Xeon 1.7(s) - socket 603 Foster 98um technology) and the i860 chipset w/FSB 400; and I want to add 1 GB of PC 184 pin 45ns RDram - will any of the following listed in this 1st link that follows, work (which appear to be for Dell Dimension 8200/8100 upgrade http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-PC800-40-1GB-512MB-Rambus/dp/B002MB14IC/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1319712943&sr=1-6

the foregoing is about half the price of the following

http://www.memorystock.com/orderitem.asp?it=PC800-Kit-160&MnfId=&MdlId=28664

which is also comparable to what's available here

http://www.upgrade-solution.com/productlist.cfm

Elucidation regarding this shall be gratefully appreciated

 

[GhislainG]

What modules are currently installed? You can't mix ECC and non-ECC modules in the same system. The chips should also be similar as you probably don't want to mix 40 ns and 45 ns modules.

 

[blazintommyd]

What modules are currently installed? You can't mix ECC and non-ECC modules in the same system. The chips should also be similar as you probably don't want to mix 40 ns and 45 ns modules.

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"1 GB of PC 184 pin 45ns RDram" - however, this is indicated to run at (400) and is also indicated as non ECC - incidentally, I've read elsewhere that it is irrelevant if you mix them, that they allegedly/assertively default to non ECC and that 45 would default to 40

 

[GhislainG]

Some motherboards may allow mixing ECC and non-ECC, but you should make sure that yours supports such a configuration. 45ns can't default to 40ns; if it did, you'd most likely get intermittent memory errors. 40ns defaulting to 45ns wouldn't be an issue.

 

[blazintommyd]

Some motherboards may allow mixing ECC and non-ECC, but you should make sure that yours supports such a configuration. 45ns can't default to 40ns; if it did, you'd most likely get intermittent memory errors. 40ns defaulting to 45ns wouldn't be an issue.

Well I confess to be a dope - but I am capable of reasoning and learning so I guess what you're saying is - 40 ns is faster than 45ns ? This to me is counter- intuitive - e.g., a 3.0 USB device defaults to 2.0 USB if there is no 3.0 connection; but to be honest with you I don't care. Whether they work together was clearly and unequivocally my only real concern augmented by the further comments appearing below. In any case, you're the only person that responded to my question and the moderator keeps sending me emails instructing me to give someone a Gold Cup - so your answer, entirely by default. receives the Gold Cup.

The reason I asked this question is due to the demonstrable fact that people sell Rambus that is purportedly dedicated to a Dell Precision 530 MT Workstation (which I have for purposes of the "injury in fact" doctrine) and this Ram is priced more than twice the price of Ram purportedly dedicated to other Dell models of computers which operate with different chipsets

Either I'm being fraudulently duped by this aforesaid 'consistent distinction' in prices and the aforesaid advertising is misleading or there is truly a difference in the memory now maybe because this is the USA under 30 some years of Conservative rule that this sort of fraud is a custom (even though it's a bad custom) and might be presumed to be free market democracy - which might lead some to think well it's all my fault - may the buyer beware Our precious tax dollars cannot be allowed to go to such things as preventing fraud. So maybe if I see these sorts of consistent distinction in prices - e.g., one indicated to be for one computer and priced more than twice as much as that advertised for another, that I ought to just report it to the Attorney General and not even attempt to seek any sort of "expert" advice.

So regardless of whether I'm a Socialist and Communist sympathizer and whether or not this aforesaid sort of Conservative thinking led me to be this way or it's just the way I am, I wish the absolute worst for unscrupulous sellers willing to cheat people under pretense of democracy as much as anyone that thinks it's cool.

Thank you for your time.

 

[blazintommyd]

Best answer selected by blazintommyd.

 

[GhislainG]

The Dell Precision 530 MT requires ECC memory which is more expensive. Your conclusion is correct; 40ns memory is faster than 45ns memory.