RAM banks are distinguished by number--which should you use first?

As mentioned in Tip 74, many current motherboards support dual-channel memory architecture in which RAM slots work in pairs. An additional hitch: On motherboards with four memory slots, these pairs are sometimes labeled "memory bank 1 and 2" or "memory bank A and B," with each label indicating one of the pairs. Whatever the case, if you're not using all of the slots, always use the lowest-numbered or -lettered bank first.

Manage your RAM slots for the best performance.

When installing your RAM, it can make a difference which banks you choose to use. Many modern boards support dual-channel memory architecture, which can speed memory transfers if RAM is used in matched pairs and inserted in designated "paired" slots. "Pairable" memory comes as a set of two modules with identical specs; the paired slots, if present, are usually color-coded. If you're using pairable RAM, be sure to put the two modules in the matching-color slots. And if you're shopping for RAM, bear in mind that two sticks of dual-channel memory adding up to a given capacity can provide better performance than a single stick of that capacity.

Make sure your RAM is seated properly.

Before installing RAM, push the levers on either side of the motherboard chip slots you intend to use into the down position. Grasp your RAM only by the edges--never by the contacts along the bottom edge--and match up the notch in the bottom edge with the bar in the slot. (The module will insert only one way.) Press the module evenly into place, using the grooves that bisect the levers as a guide to center it; the levers should rise and lock into the cutaways at either side of the chip. Sometimes, you'll get the "click" feel of a properly seated chip even when only one side is actually locked in, so make sure your RAM is fully seated in the slot and that both levers fully engage the ends of the DIMM.

How To Identify a Specific RAM

With the PC hardware market’s explosive growth over the last 10 years, the variety of RAM modules has expanded tremendously.

Gone are the days when a 30-pin SIMM would work in almost any machine. Today’s support tech must contend with SIMMs, DIMMs, and RIMMs—just to name a few.

Being able to correctly identify a RAM chip and its properties can make your job a lot easier and cut down on your end users’ down time. This article offers a quick overview of many common RAM chips and some tips on how to identify them.

SIMM chips
Single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) come in 30-pin and 72-pin variants. The best way to identify a SIMM chip is by a notch next to the contacts on one side. The 72-pin SIMM has a notch among the contacts in the middle.

Used extensively on older computers, Figure A shows a 30-pin, 3.5-inch SIMM chip (note the tin contacts).

Figure A

The newer 72-pin, 4.25-inch SIMM chip is shown in Figure B (note the gold contacts).

Figure B

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A note about contact metals
Chip contacts are either gold- or tin-plated. I recommend chips with gold contacts because they don’t corrode. Also, never insert tin-plated chips into gold-plated sockets. Different metals will increase the likelihood of corrosion.

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DIMM chips
Dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) have 168 pins and transfer data 64 bits at a time. DIMMs can easily be identified because they:

• Have no bottom-corner notch (like SIMMs have).
• Have semicircular holes on both sides.
• Have two notches among the contacts.
• Are installed perpendicular to the memory socket, unlike 72-pin SIMMs that are installed at a slight angle.

Figure C shows a 168-pin, 5.25-inch DIMM chip.

Figure C

SO-DIMM chips
Small outline dual in-line memory modules (SO-DIMMs) are commonly used in notebook computers. SO-DIMM chips are smaller than standard DIMMs and come in 72-pin and 144-pin varieties.

Figure D shows a 144-pin, 2.66-inch SO-DIMM chip.

Figure D

Figure E shows a 72-pin, 2.35-inch SO-DIMM chip.

Figure E

The best way to identify an SO-DIMM is by the chip’s thinness. The 72-pin chip also has a notch on the side, while the 144-pin chip has a notch among the contacts.

SDRAM and DRAM chips
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) is a generic term for different types of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the most common form of RAM used for personal computers. DRAM chips store each bit of data in a storage cell comprised of a capacitor and a transistor. Because capacitors quickly lose their electric charge, DRAM chips must be recharged every few milliseconds to maintain their data. SDRAM chips use interleaving and burst-mode technologies to synchronize with the clock speed the CPU is optimized for, thus accelerating memory retrieval.

Figure F shows a 168-pin SDRAM chip.

Figure F

SDRAM chips look similar to DIMM chips but have fewer large processor modules.

RIMM and SO-RIMM chips
Developed by Kingston Technology Company in conjunction with Intel and Rambus, Inc., RIMM is the trademarked name for a Direct Rambus in-line memory module. RIMM chips are similar to DIMMs but have 184 pins and transfer data in 16-bit chunks. SO-RIMM chips, which are 160-pin variants, are also available for small form factor devices.

RIMMs are faster than DIMMs but generate more heat. As such, heat spreaders made of aluminum are required to prevent overheating. On RIMM chips, heat spreaders cover most of the chip’s exterior, while SO-RIMM chips have narrower spreaders.

Figure G shows a 184-pin RIMM chip.

Figure G

Figure H shows a 160-pin SO-RIMM chip.

Figure H

You can see the heat spreader forming an upside-down U shape on the chip. These spreaders can be used to identify RIMM or SO-RIMM chips.

Wrapping it up
This article should help you distinguish between many common types of RAM. Remember to look for notches, the number of pins, the chip’s length, and the presence or absence of heat shields when trying to identify a particular chip.