SunBlade 150 - 1GB DIMMs ?
I am reading the Memory page in the SUN Systems Handbook:
<a href="http://www.sunshack.org/data/sh/2.1/infoserver.ce ntral/data/syshbk/Devices/Memory/MEM_SunBlade_150.html" target="_blank"> http://www.sunshack.org/data/sh/2.1/infoserver.central/data/ syshbk/Devices/Memory/MEM_SunBlade_150.html</a>
Under "Notes" I read:
4. Each DIMM slot addresses 1GB of memory with >=550MHz UltraSPARC IIi.
Under "UltraSPARC Notes" I read:
6. The 550-700MHz UltraSPARC IIi addresses 1GB per bank.
My question is this, can the SunBlade 150 take 4 x 1 GB DIMMS ?
Thanks in advance.
[681 byte] By [
] at [2007-11-25 23:07:47]
# 1
Hello Jeff,
do already own these modules ?
According to the Sun System Handbook and most companies the upper limit is 2GB (4*512MB).
Searching the net, no company offers these 1Gb modules for the Blade 150. Only one company lists 4GB as the upper limit (they don't offer these 1GB modules too). I assume this is an error.
The memory controller of the Blade 150 might be able to <b>address</b> 1GB banks, but on the other hand won't be able to handle the required chips (memory organization, refresh).
Michael
at 2007-7-5 17:58:44 >
# 2
Thanks Michael for your reply,
I don't own these SDRAM DIMM modules, rather I was thinking of purchasing 3rd party 1GB PC133 ECC SDRAM DIMM modules after reading and not quite understanding what was being said in the SUN System Handbook Memory page I referred to for the SunBlade 150. So before buying one to try it out, I thought I would ask the forum members.
If I understand correctly the SUN System Handbook notes, it is telling me that each DIMM slot is capable of addressing 1GB, however the 650Mhz UltraSparc IIi can only address 1GB per bank and a bank is two slots, hence 2GB max ( 4 x 512MB).
I'd still be interested if anyone actually tried to put 1GB DIMM in a SunBlade 150 or if someone can confirm my understanding as I explain above.
at 2007-7-5 17:58:44 >
# 3
Hello Jeff,
I used the term slot and bank interchangeable. Only a single DIMM is required, therefore each slot is one bank IMHO. Using matched pairs of DIMMs allows (probably) faster access through interleaving.
<i>Under "UltraSPARC Notes" I read:
6. The 550-700MHz UltraSPARC IIi addresses 1GB per bank.</i>
This is only present on the memory page. The required DIMMs are ECC (used in PC servers too), while "normal" DIMMs used in PCs are without ECC.
Michael
at 2007-7-5 17:58:44 >
# 4
<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>maal wrote on Sun, 05 February 2006 11:33</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
The required DIMMs are ECC (used in PC servers too), while "normal" DIMMs used in PCs are without ECC.
Michael
</td></tr></table>
Actually, the difference is not whether or not the memory is ECC... "Normal" PCs use ECC memory as well... The difference is "Registered" memory. Servers use registered memory, workstations usually don't (although some do). Simple ECC DIMMS will not work in a machine that requires registered memory... ECC is rather common while Registered memory is more costly...
at 2007-7-5 17:58:44 >
# 5
If I not remember wrong. There is a jumper on the motherboard to select if the RAM used is registered or not.
It is not possible to mix them.
Also I remember I have read in some supportdocument that the max memory is wrong. The max shold be 4*512 = 2Gb on both Blade 100 & Blade 150.
at 2007-7-5 17:58:44 >
# 6
Hi
I am currently working on getting more memory for Blade 150 workstation. I have checked Sun web site, it seems that PC133 SDRAM with ECC has to be installed in the memory slot. I can't afford to buy Kingston or other brand name memory so I searched Ebay. There seems to be lots of PC133 SDRam with ECC available on Ebay. Some are registered and some are not regitered. My questions are:
1. Should I buy registered or non-registered ECC PC133 SDRam?
2. If I buy non-registered ECC PC133 SDRam, will it work with Blade 150 (currently has Sun orininal 256M memory in one slot)
Thanks
Tony
# 7
First off, this is a very old thread, despite whatever datestamps you may see.
Multiple Sun forum web sites were merged on 30-Mar-06.
This particular thread could have been from as far back as September 2005.
(All threads in the old Hardware Forum, dated before 9/05, were erased.)
Anyhow ...
If I remember correctly, even if the memory controller chipset
may have been able to address 1GB memory modules,
the rest of the motherboard design was not manufactured to do that.
So, unless you get a response from someone that's actually done it,
I suggest you limit yourself to 512MB DIMMs in a SunBlade 100 or a SunBlade 150 desktop system.
If 1GB modules could have worked, Sun would have qualified them
long ago, and would have sold them to its customers.
Sun sold tens of thousands of SB100/SB150 desktops to its customers.
They would have easily sold hundreds of thousands of RAM upgrade kits
if such modules would have worked.
Try an experiment.
Do you happen to have a generic non-registered stick of RAM in a drawer, somewhere?
Temporarily steal it from a PC, perhaps? (even a 128MB module)
If that works for a day or so, then go buy unregistered RAM.
# 8
Hi Rukbat, Thank you for your comment. I will try a un-registered 512M ECC PC133 module on the Blade 150 to see how it goes. If it works, then go and buy them.Tony
# 9
I'd really like to know if you had success with unregistered SDRAM...
Strangely enough, Pricewatch shows 512MB ECC registered SDRAM as cheaper than un-registered...
Can I assume that registered SDRAM will work in machines that work fine with unregistereed SDRAM?
Looking forward to your response....
-Simon
