changing PC2-3200R to PC2-3200E?

[EverythingIBM]

Okay, long story short, I bought registered ECC RAM instead of NON-registered ECC RAM a long time ago. This was of course presented with many loud indignant beeps from my computer, and turning off & on crazily as it tried to comprehend on what to do.

Is there a way I can REMOVE the "registered" functions of the memory so it would only be ECC and work in my intellistation?

The reason how I found out it wasn't registered was peering at the RAM sticks tucked at the top to see a "E" at the end of 3200 (of course the ones I bought had R, bah).

And yes, it is quite odd they made PC2-3200 when there was PC-3200; not really much difference in speed if I'm not mistaken, just bigger sticks and more expensive manufacturing techniques to get it double.

[Zalusithix]

Registered RAM is physically different from unbuffered RAM. There's no way that I know of to simply remove the registered aspect. The entire circuitry would have to be changed.

As for the DDR vs DDR2, that's just a matter of the memory controller being phased over to newer technology. Not really that strange.

[EverythingIBM]

Registered RAM is physically different from unbuffered RAM. There's no way that I know of to simply remove the registered aspect. The entire circuitry would have to be changed.

As for the DDR vs DDR2, that's just a matter of the memory controller being phased over to newer technology. Not really that strange.

Well most people don't even know that DDR2 can go down to that slow of a speed; it is strange having the same speed in DDR1 and 2. You'd think they'd make a faster speed?

It actually looks pretty much the same:

[Zalusithix]

When a new generation of a product is introduced, it almost always overlaps with the old generation performance wise to a certain extent. This applies to RAM, processors, video cards, etc. The high end of the previous gen is always better than the low end of the new gen. You're basically comparing performance orientated hardware to value orientated hardware.

And if by "pretty much the same" you mean black ram modules on a green PCB, then sure! The E is lacking the extra buffering module that the R has, which I'd say is a pretty significant difference.

[EverythingIBM]

When a new generation of a product is introduced, it almost always overlaps with the old generation performance wise to a certain extent. This applies to RAM, processors, video cards, etc. The high end of the previous gen is always better than the low end of the new gen. You're basically comparing performance orientated hardware to value orientated hardware.

And if by "pretty much the same" you mean black ram modules on a green PCB, then sure! The E is lacking the extra buffering module that the R has, which I'd say is a pretty significant difference.

That's it!

I can simply rip off the buffering modules! I'll try it later, thanks a lot!

EDIT: they're just two 512MB useless sticks of PC2-3200R.

[Zalusithix]

Pfft, it's obvious that wouldn't work. I recommend ripping the RAM modules off and gluing them on top of the old RAM modules instead! That way you can even use the left over PCBs as book marks!

[EverythingIBM]

Pfft, it's obvious that wouldn't work. I recommend ripping the RAM modules off and gluing them on top of the old RAM modules instead! That way you can even use the left over PCBs as book marks!

Motherboard can only support 1 GB max per slot (4 slots in total). Otherwise I would have hunted for 4 GB sticks.

It probably wouldn't work, but I would still be willing to give it a try.

Does plugging butchered RAM into a computer pose any damaging possibilities? I couldn't live without my desktop.

[Zalusithix]

You know, even when it's said in a joking context, I get a chill go down my spine when I imagine somebody actually doing that.

[EverythingIBM]

You know, even when it's said in a joking context, I get a chill go down my spine when I imagine somebody actually doing that.

It's impossible to stack the 512 Modules onto the 1 GB ones (kind of reminds me of the cray 2 though). However, I was simply clarifying that my motherboard only accepts 1 GB sticks per slot which, I presume you didn't know.

I'm still willing to plugging the soon-to-be butchered modules in my computer, not stacking my RAM as I guess you misread me.

[Zalusithix]

OK, reverting back to serious mode.... If you mean "soon to be butchered" as in you plan on actually removing the buffering module, you will break the electrical circuit by doing so, and thus destroy the stick of ram.

I mean I'm 99% sure you were joking on the whole "lets remove the buffering parts", but that 1% chance I'm wrong is unsettling.

[ch_123]

Reminds me of a story I heard from a guy in a computer store. Some idiot got a €500 graphics card for his ancient computer, found that the system didn't have the appropriate slot, so he broke off parts of the card's connector to make it fit... And then wanted a refund when it didn't work.

Well most people don't even know that DDR2 can go down to that slow of a speed; it is strange having the same speed in DDR1 and 2. You'd think they'd make a faster speed?

Random Anecdote: When DDR came out, the first generation ran at 100MHz whilst the contemporary SDRAM ran at 133MHz. In fact, because DDR was twice as efficient as SDRAM, it was equivalent to a 200MHz SDRAM stick. Fearing that nobody would buy RAM if it only had 75% of the clock speed of it's predecessor, the RAM makers marketed the stuff as 200MHz RAM. To this day, all DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 sticks actually run at half the speed that they are supposed to. I remember on another forum I used to post on, there were multiple occurrences of people asking why when they ran CPU-Z that their RAM was showing up at the half the speed they expected, and thinking that something was hideously wrong, or they had been scammed.

There wasn't a huge difference between DDR and DDR2 for a long time, but I still think that the 400MHz DDR2 would have been faster than the 400MHz DDR.

[EverythingIBM]

Reminds me of a story I heard from a guy in a computer store. Some idiot got a €500 graphics card for his ancient computer, found that the system didn't have the appropriate slot, so he broke off parts of the card's connector to make it fit... And then wanted a refund when it didn't work.

Except A) I'm expecting it obviously not to work, B) I'm not going to ask for a refund, and C) I'm not removing connectors... just modifying the circuitry.

I'm not going to remove pins from a PCI-E x16 so it can fit into an AGP, obviously it won't work. And if you could get it to work by other means, the computer would be too slow anyhow.

As of now, I'm too chicken to hook something like that in my intellistation. I did stuff another hard drive in it, it's an IDE one. Interesting mix I must say.

[Rajagra]

"Registered" just means some of the signals go through buffer circuitry. This makes it more reliable when there are many modules connected to the same bus, but slows it down a little. If registered memory fails where unregistered works, you probably just need to add an extra wait state in the memory configuration.

Having said that, memory is always more reliable when you use identical modules. Same make, same part number, ideally from the same batch. Try to avoid mixing them, even if the specs say they should work.

[Nonmouse]

Except A) I'm expecting it obviously not to work, B) I'm not going to ask for a refund, and C) I'm not removing connectors... just modifying the circuitry.

I'm not going to remove pins from a PCI-E x16 so it can fit into an AGP, obviously it won't work. And if you could get it to work by other means, the computer would be too slow anyhow.

As of now, I'm too chicken to hook something like that in my intellistation. I did stuff another hard drive in it, it's an IDE one. Interesting mix I must say.

There's pretty much a 100% chance it won't work, and a small chance that it might damage your motherboard.  I'd say the risk/benefit ratio is skewed teh wrong way.  Why not sell 'em on fleaBay and buy some non-registered memory that'll work?  You can get at least a few bucks for 'em...

[ch_123]

Registered RAM is an awful lot more valuable than RAM with arbitrary chunks ripped out of it.

[kishy]

Registered RAM is an awful lot more valuable than RAM with arbitrary chunks ripped out of it.

Unless sold as a keychain, where it can be worth as much as $5 rather than as much as -$amountofgastodrivetorecycler

[ch_123]

Or the amount of calories I burn to walk to my college's dumping ground that could have been used for other purposes.

[EverythingIBM]

Well I put the two 512 PC2-3200R sticks up for sale. I doubt anyone will buy them, even for my ridiculously low price.