User:SVANDUSEN - Revision history

SVANDUSEN at 18:26, 10 September 2010

2010-09-10T18:26:58Z

SVANDUSEN at 19:41, 16 July 2010

2010-07-16T19:41:25Z

SVANDUSEN at 21:22, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T21:22:28Z

SVANDUSEN at 21:20, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T21:20:36Z

SVANDUSEN at 20:42, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T20:42:45Z

SVANDUSEN at 20:34, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T20:34:02Z

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SVANDUSEN at 19:59, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T19:59:44Z

SVANDUSEN at 19:50, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T19:50:51Z

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SVANDUSEN at 19:27, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T19:27:12Z

SVANDUSEN at 19:24, 9 July 2010

2010-07-09T19:24:25Z

@@ Line 111: / Line 111: @@
 ::*Some boards may have a separation between pairs of banks, some do not.
 ::*Some boards may alternate color coded banks or clips; ie. blue-black-blue-black, or pair them; ie. blue-blue-black-black.
-::*In any case, '''Channels are always composed of the pairs bank 0 + bank 2 and bank 1 + bank 3'''.
+::*In any case, '''Channels are always composed of pairs of banks.  Either the banks themselves or the clips will be of matching color'''.
+::*Intel cpu boards will nearly always match banks 0 and 2 as channel 1 or A, and banks 1 and 3 as channel 2 or B.
 :*Load from inboard to outboard.
 :*Load largest capacity inboard to smallest outboard; eg. 1 GB in banks 0 and 2 and 512 MB in banks 1 and 3 or 512 MB in bank 0, 256 MB in bank 1, and 128 MB in bank 2.

@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 *'''Must''' all be of the '''same speed'''.
 *'''May''' be of '''mixed size'''; ie. 256 and 512, etc.
-*'''Should''' be '''balanced by size''' across channels (most test boards are "Dual Channel"); ie. 512 MB in channel 1 and 256 MB in channels 2 (see "Load").
+*'''Should''' be '''balanced by size''' across channels ('''all''' test boards are "Dual Channel"); ie. 512 MB in channel 1 and 256 MB in channel 2 (see "Load").
 *'''Should''' be all of the '''same brand or paired by brand''', if possible, for compatibility and to resolve "latency" issues (particularly with DDR2).
 :'''Balance and brand''' can be worked around if single sticks are all that are available (see "Boot Up").
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 :'''Be aware ---'''
 :*Banks (the slots into which the sticks are inserted) are designated 0, 1, 2, & 3 moving from inboard [closest to the CPU] to outboard [farthest from the CPU]).
-:*Channels consist of two banks.
+:*Channels consist of two banks ('''all''' test boards are dual channel but will operate in single channel mode).
 ::*Banks may be color coded; ie. two black and two blue.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:22, 9 July 2010
Line 300:		Line 300:
	\| '''End of DAY''' \|\|		\| '''End of DAY''' \|\|
	'''POWER OFF ALL TEST BOARDS AT THE SWITCH ON THE POWER SUPPLY WHETHER THE TESTING PROCESS IS COMPLETE OR NOT!'''		'''POWER OFF ALL TEST BOARDS AT THE SWITCH ON THE POWER SUPPLY WHETHER THE TESTING PROCESS IS COMPLETE OR NOT!'''
−	~~'''Bold text'''~~

@@ Line 209: / Line 209: @@
 :*Unfortunately ... it's strictly trial and error from here on.
-:*Power off at the switch on the power supply.*First, make sure that the bluetooth USB dongle is plugged into your testing computer.
+:*Power off at the switch on the power supply.
 :*Remove the suspected stick or sticks, singly or in pairs.
 :*Restart the testing process and monitor MemTest again for failures.
@@ Line 250: / Line 250: @@
 *'''If possible''', remove any old, handwritten labeling to avoid confusion.
-'''2. Label the sticks as follows:'''
+'''2. Label as follows:'''
 *'''SDRAM -''' capacity and speed only. Eg. 256/133.
@@ Line 262: / Line 262: @@
 :*If you have '''both halves''' of such a kit, make a small '''nonstick''' paper strip label, write "Kit of 2" and "xxx MB (or GB) each" on it, wrap it around the kit, and rubber band it together.
-'''3. Route -'''
+'''3. Route as follows -'''
 *'''The two boxes on the table labeled, "Tested RAM SDRAM & DDR" and "Tested RAM DDR2" -'''
@@ Line 287: / Line 287: @@
 ::*1GB/any speed.
-::*512/400 - particularly pairs of quality brands; Hynix, Nanya, Samsung, etc.(leave some in the slots for build).
+::*512/400 - pairs (or more ) of quality brands (Hynix, Nanya, Samsung, etc.).  '''Leave singles in the box for build.'''
 ::'''DDR2 -'''

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 * SODIMMS (Laptop) - '''Take to "Laptop Incoming RAM" bin in Laptop Build.'''
 * SDRAM - '''Set aside to sort by speed and capacity.'''
-* DDR - '''Set aside to sort by speed and capacity.''':* DDR2 - '''Set aside to sort by size speed and capacity.'''
+* DDR - '''Set aside to sort by speed and capacity.'''
 * DDR3 - '''Store in TARDIS until a test board is available.'''
-* Other - There may be '''Printer RAM''' or other types of RAM or small cards that may or may not have a use.  ''Ask instructor.'''
+* Other - There may be '''Printer RAM''' or other types of RAM or small cards that may or may not have a use.  '''Ask instructor.'''
 '''2. Sort for ECC'''
-* Separate out '''all''' ECC RAM from the SDRAM, DDR, and DDR2 that has been retained for further processing - ''take to "ECC Incoming RAM" bin in Server Build.'''
+* Separate out '''all''' ECC RAM from the SDRAM, DDR, and DDR2 that has been retained for further processing - '''take to "ECC Incoming RAM" bin in Server Build.'''
 '''3. Sort by Speed'''
 * SDRAM -
@@ Line 286: / Line 287: @@
 ::*1GB/any speed.
 ::*512/400 - particularly pairs of quality brands; Hynix, Nanya, Samsung, etc.(leave some in the slots for build).
@@ Line 292: / Line 292: @@
 ::*1 or 2 GB/any speed.
 ::*256 or 512/667 or higher.

@@ Line 261: / Line 261: @@
 *'''Check on the progress of the testing process.'''
-::The time necessary to complete the testing process can vary greatly, depending on the capacity and speed of the RAM that has been loaded, the FSB (Front Side Bus) speed of the CPU or other factors specific to the test board.  The time can be less than one hour, with low capacity and/or high speed, or can take an incredibly long time with high capacity and/or low speed (eg. 2 GB of SDRAM at 133 MHz can take nearly 24 hours).  Generally an average load of around 1 GB  of DDR or DDR2 will take between 2.5 and 3.5 hours.
+:The time necessary to complete the testing process can vary greatly, depending on the capacity and speed of the RAM that has been loaded, the FSB (Front Side Bus) speed of the CPU or other factors specific to the test board.  The time can be less than one hour, with low capacity and/or high speed, or can take an incredibly long time with high capacity and/or low speed (eg. 2 GB of SDRAM at 133 MHz can take nearly 24 hours).  Generally an average load of around 1 GB  of DDR or DDR2 will take between 2.5 and 3.5 hours.
-::A complete testing process consists of three passes, labeled 0-2.
+:A complete testing process consists of three passes, labeled 0-2.
-::Each pass consists of eight tests, labeled 1-8.
+:Each pass consists of eight tests, labeled 1-8.
-::MemTest will continue to run indefinitely until is manually discontinued.
+:MemTest will continue to run indefinitely until is manually discontinued.
-::If the pass number is '''3 or greater''', the testing process is complete.
+:If the pass number is '''3 or greater''', the testing process is complete.
 *'''Watch for indications of failure, as indicated above, and correct as necessary.'''
@@ Line 281: / Line 281: @@
 '''1. Unload the test boards -''' .
-:*Power off at the switch on the power supply.
+*Power off at the switch on the power supply.
-:*Remove '''all''' RAM sticks and take them to the table to be labeled.
+*Remove '''all''' RAM sticks and take them to the table to be labeled.
-:*'''If possible''', remove any old, handwritten labeling to avoid confusion.
+*'''If possible''', remove any old, handwritten labeling to avoid confusion.
 '''2. Label the sticks as follows:'''
-:*'''SDRAM -''' capacity and speed only. Eg. 256/133.
+*'''SDRAM -''' capacity and speed only. Eg. 256/133.
-:*'''DDR & DDR2 -''' type '''and''' capacity and speed.  Eg. DDR2 512/667.
+*'''DDR & DDR2 -''' type '''and''' capacity and speed.  Eg. DDR2 512/667.
-::DDR and DDR2 have more subtle visual cues (other than the label) and can be easily confused by after-testing users such as build.  Therefore, it is '''highly advisable''' to make them as distinguishable as possible.
+:DDR and DDR2 have more subtle visual cues (other than the label) and can be easily confused by after-testing users such as build.  Therefore, it is '''highly advisable''' to make them as distinguishable as possible.
-:*'''Kit of 2 -'''
+*'''Kit of 2 -'''
 ::Label each stick with its '''true capacity''' and speed.  Eg. a 1GB kit of 2 - each stick would be labeled as 512 MB with the speed.
-::If you have '''both halves''' of such a kit, make a small '''nonstick''' paper strip label, write "Kit of 2" and "xxx MB (or GB) each" on it, wrap it around the kit, and rubber band it together.
+:If you have '''both halves''' of such a kit, make a small '''nonstick''' paper strip label, write "Kit of 2" and "xxx MB (or GB) each" on it, wrap it around the kit, and rubber band it together.
 '''3. Route -'''
-:*'''The two boxes on the table labeled, "Tested RAM SDRAM & DDR" and "Tested RAM DDR2" -'''
+*'''The two boxes on the table labeled, "Tested RAM SDRAM & DDR" and "Tested RAM DDR2" -'''
-:::Place the vast majority of the labeled RAM in the appropriate slots in these two boxes.
+:Place the vast majority of the labeled RAM in the appropriate slots in these two boxes.
-:::This will be harvested regularly by build and occasionally by the store to fill their needs.
+:This will be harvested regularly by build and occasionally by the store to fill their needs.
-:*'''TARDIS -'''
+*'''TARDIS -'''
-:::The boxes on the table will populate quite rapidly.
+:The boxes on the table will populate quite rapidly.
-:::As they fill (usually once a week or more), empty the slots into the '''appropriate''' static free bags in the '''blue bins''' on the shelf in TARDIS.
+:As they fill (usually once a week or more), empty the slots into the '''appropriate''' static free bags in the '''blue bins''' on the shelf in TARDIS.
-:::As the bags fill, tape them shut and place them in the '''RAM Overstock''' bin on the top shelf.
+:As the bags fill, tape them shut and place them in the '''RAM Overstock''' bin on the top shelf.
-:::Replace the bag with an empty one labeled with type, capacity, speed (in MHz) and PC or PC2 code (PC 2100, PC 2700 ... PC2 4200, PC2 5300 ... etc.)
+:Replace the bag with an empty one labeled with type, capacity, speed (in MHz) and PC or PC2 code (PC 2100, PC 2700 ... PC2 4200, PC2 5300 ... etc.)
-:::These will be harvested by build and the store to meet their needs.
+:These will be harvested by build and the store to meet their needs.
-:*'''Store -'''
+*'''Store -'''
-:::Some tested RAM should be '''taken directly to the store''' (do not put in the outgoing "Store" box on the rack shelf next to the TARDIS door).
+:Some tested RAM should be '''taken directly to the store''' (do not put in the outgoing "Store" box on the rack shelf next to the TARDIS door).
 ::'''SDRAM -''' 1GB/133

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 {|fontsize="8" cellpadding=".5" border=".05" font-weight="bold" cellpadding=".5"
 |-
-|width="15%" align="center"|'''STEPS'''
+|width="10%" align="center"|'''STEPS'''
-|width="85%" align="center"|'''NOTES AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS'''
+|width="90%" align="center"|'''NOTES AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS'''
 |-
 | '''Collect''' || Collect incoming RAM from the collection points.
@@ Line 343: / Line 343: @@
 | '''End of DAY''' ||
 '''POWER OFF ALL TEST BOARDS AT THE SWITCH ON THE POWER SUPPLY WHETHER THE TESTING PROCESS IS COMPLETE OR NOT!'''

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 |-
 |align="left" padding=".5"|RAM is a deceptively simple device to test.  It appears to be simply a matter of gathering, sorting,loading,removing, labeling, and storing; repeated over and over again.  In actuality, there are a multitude of details and issues involved that would take far more space to cover than is alloted here.  This is a very basic overview of the essentials that are necessary to get through the process.  For more information please consult other experienced volunteers, instructors, or research such sources as '''Wikipedia''' or forums on '''Google'''.
-{|fontsize="10" cellpadding=".5" border=".05" font-weight="bold" cellpadding=".5"
+{|fontsize="8" cellpadding=".5" border=".05" font-weight="bold" cellpadding=".5"
 |-
 |width="15%" align="center"|'''STEPS'''
@@ Line 172: / Line 172: @@
 ::'''"Red Screen" -'''
-:::::The most common indicator of failure.
+:::The most common indicator of failure.
 :::The bottom half of the screen turns red, a new set of column headings appears, the section fills with data and '''may''' begin scrolling rapidly.  '''See Remedies.'''