Difference between revisions of "User:SVANDUSEN"
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:*Some manufacturers, especially '''Kingston''' and '''Super Talent''' have a marketing ploy of packaging RAM in pairs totaling a specific capacity, usually 512 MB and 1 or 2 GB. In these cases, each stick has only '''one half''' of the total capacity; eg. a 1GB "Kit of 2" consists of two 512 MB sticks. | :*Some manufacturers, especially '''Kingston''' and '''Super Talent''' have a marketing ploy of packaging RAM in pairs totaling a specific capacity, usually 512 MB and 1 or 2 GB. In these cases, each stick has only '''one half''' of the total capacity; eg. a 1GB "Kit of 2" consists of two 512 MB sticks. | ||
:*This will be indicated somewhere on the label, either as a distinct statement as such or, in the case of '''Kingston''', within the model number; eg. KVR400x64C3A'''K2'''/1G. In this case the "400" indicates the speed, the "1G" indicates '''the total capacity of the kit''', and the "K2" indicates that the stick is part of the kit. The actual capacity of the stick in this example is one half of 1 GB or 512 MB. | :*This will be indicated somewhere on the label, either as a distinct statement as such or, in the case of '''Kingston''', within the model number; eg. KVR400x64C3A'''K2'''/1G. In this case the "400" indicates the speed, the "1G" indicates '''the total capacity of the kit''', and the "K2" indicates that the stick is part of the kit. The actual capacity of the stick in this example is one half of 1 GB or 512 MB. | ||
− | :*Both halves of such kits are not always present when they come into our possession but they are testable | + | :*Both halves of such kits are not always present when they come into our possession but they are testable separately. |
:*When labeling such sticks after testing, treat each one as a separate stick and label it with its '''actual individual capacity''' (see "Labeling and Routing"). | :*When labeling such sticks after testing, treat each one as a separate stick and label it with its '''actual individual capacity''' (see "Labeling and Routing"). | ||
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::::'''Must''' all be of the '''same speed'''. | ::::'''Must''' all be of the '''same speed'''. | ||
::::'''May''' be of '''mixed size'''; ie. 256 and 512, etc. | ::::'''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 | + | ::::'''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 all of the '''same brand or paired by brand''', if possible, for compatibility and to resolve "latency" issues (particularly with DDR2). | ::::'''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"). | :::'''Balance and brand''' can be worked around if single sticks are all that are available (see "Boot Up"). | ||
− | + | '''2. Load''' | |
− | :::* | + | :*Load the RAM into the test boards as follows: |
+ | :::*Banks (the slots into which the sticks are inserted) are generally designated 0, 1, 2, & 3 moving from inboard [closest to the CPU] to outboard [farthest from the CPU]). | ||
+ | :::*Channels consist of two banks. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Pair the Device || | | Pair the Device || |
Revision as of 13:35, 2 July 2010
RAM (Memory) Testing
SVANDUSEN 19:13, 26 May 2010 (UTC)
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.
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