Memory

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Contents

SIMM

Module sizes

Pins Data Bus Width
[bits]
30 8/9
72 32/36

Note: Parity vs Non-parity modules

RAM technologies

DRAM type Description Note
FPM Fast Page Mode
EDO Extended Data Out 5% faster than FPM if supported

SO-DIMM

SO-DIMM=Small Outline DIMM

SO-DIMM is a smaller than DIMM to fit in notebooks etc.

Pins Data Bus Width
[bits]
72 32
144 64
200 72

DIMM

DIMM modules are sold according to clock speed (MHz), bus speed (mega-transfers per second), and transfer rate (megabytes per second).

SDR SDRAM DIMM/SO-DIMM

SDRAM=Synchronous Dynamic RAM.

SDRAM is a variant of DRAM in which the memory speed is synchronized with the clock pulse from the CPU.

This synchronization enables the SDRAM to pipeline read and write requests. Pipelining enables the SDRAM to accept commands at the same time as it is processing other commands.

3.3 V

DIMM Module Chip Type Clock Speed
[MHz]
Bus Speed
[MHz]
Transfer Rate
[MB/s]
PC66 10ns 66 66 533
PC100 8ns 100 100 800
PC133 7.5/7ns 133 133 1,066
Module Pins
DIMM 168 pin
SO-DIMM 144 pin

DDR SDRAM DIMM/SO-DIMM

DDR SDRAM=Double Data Rate SDRAM.

DDR SDRAM is an improvement over regular SDRAM, also known as SDR SDRAM (Single Data Rate SDRAM).

DDR SDRAM doubles the bandwidth of SDR DRAM by transferring data twice per cycle on both edges of the clock signal, implementing burst mode data transfer.

2.5V

DIMM Module Chip Type Clock Speed
[MHz]
Bus Speed
[MHz]
Transfer Rate
[MB/s]
Note
PC1600 DDR200 100 200 1,600 1)
PC2100 DDR266 133 266 2,133 1)
PC2400 DDR300 150 300 2,400
PC2700 DDR333 166 333 2,667 1)
PC3000 DDR366 183 366 2,933
PC3200 DDR400 200 400 3,200 1)
PC3500 DDR433 216 433 3,466
PC3700 DDR466 233 466 3,733
PC4000 DDR500 250 500 4,000
PC4300 DDR533 266 533 4,266

Note: 1) Standardised by JEDEC

Module Pins Power dissipation
DIMM 184 pin 5.4 W
SO-DIMM 200 pin

DDR2 SDRAM DIMM/SO-DIMM

DDR2 SDRAM is the second generation of DDR SDRAM.

DDR2 SDRAM improves on DDR SDRAM by using differential signaling and lower voltages to support significant performance advantages over DDR SDRAM.

Differential signaling requires additional contacts, so the number of contacts on a DDR SDRAM DIMM module was raised from 184 to 240. The voltage of DDR SDRAM DIMM's was lowered from 2.5V to 1.8V. This improves power consumption and heat generation, as well as enabling more dense memory configurations for higher capacities.

1.8V

DIMM Module Chip Type Clock Speed
[MHz]
Bus Speed
[MHz]
Transfer Rate
[MB/s]
Note
PC2-3200 DDR2-400 200 400 3,200 1)
PC2-4200 DDR2-533 266 533 4,266 1)
PC2-5300 DDR2-667 333 667 5,333 1)
PC2-6400 DDR2-800 400 800 6,400 1)
PC2-8500 DDR2-1066 533 1066 8,500

Note: 1) Standardised by JEDEC

Module Pins Width [mm] Height [mm] Power dissipation
DIMM 240 pin 4.4 W
SO-DIMM 200 pin 67.6 30.0
FB-DIMM 10.4 W
Micro-DIMM 214 pin 54.0 30.0

DDR3 SDRAM DIMM/SO-DIMM

Same pinout as DDR3?

1.5V

DIMM Module Chip Type Clock Speed
[MHz]
Bus Speed
[MHz]
Transfer Rate
[MB/s]
Note
PC3-6400 DDR3-800 100 400 6,400
PC3-8500 DDR3-1066 133 533 8,533
PC3-10600 DDR3-1333 166 667 10,667
PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 200 800 12,800
PC3-14900 DDR3-1866 233 933 14,930
Module Pins Width [mm] Height [mm]
DIMM 240 pin
SO-DIMM 200 pin 67.6 30.0
Micro-DIMM 214 pin 54.0 30.0
  • VLP DIMM [Registered / Unregistered]: 8.3mm [H] x 133.35mm [L] [Height x Length]
  • VLP FB-DIMM: 18.29mm [H] x 133.35mm [L] [Height x Length]
  • VLP Mini-DIMM: 18.28mm [H] x 82mm [L] [Height x Length]

VLP DIMMs 184-pin, 240-pin, VLP MiniDIMM; 244-pin

244 pin Mini-RDIMM Form Factor ??


Micro-DIMM

  • Delivers highest memory density of all modules on smallest space
  • 30% DIMM size reduction
  • 35% space on board reduction compared to SO-DIMM
  • JEDEC compliant
  • Mezzanine connector
  • 214pins, FBGA

Memory sizes

  • 256MB
  • 512MB
  • 1GB

Memory speed

  • PC2-3200 (DDR2-400)
  • PC2-4200 (DDR2-533)



168 Contact DIMM's

The earliest DIMM's were of the 168 contact variety. These DIMM's have come in a variety of configurations. It is possible to determine the configuration of the DIMM by examining the placement of notches on the bottom of the DIMM.

DIMM Notch Key One
Position Meaning
1 Reserved
2 Buffered
3 Unbufered


DIMM Notch Key Two
Position Meaning
1 5.0V
2 3.3V
3 Reserved




Corsair FAQ

I've heard of PC1600 and PC2100. What does this mean, and what is the difference? Well, it's kind of like PC100 and PC133. Since it is double datarate, you might expect that DDR would be PC200 and PC266. In fact, the RAM chips themselves are sold as PC200 and PC266. HOWEVER, us module guys did not want you to think that Rambus (at 800 MHz) is four times as fast as PC200 DDR. So, we went with a number that reflects the MODULE bandwidth. Since DDR DIMMs are eight bytes wide, the designation becomes PC200*8 = PC1600 and PC266*8 = PC2100. So, to repeat, PC1600 uses both edges of a 100MHz clock, and PC2100 uses both edges of a 133MHz clock. And now, you're only a little less confused than me!

FAQ

Can I run PC3200 memory in a PC1600 computer?

Yes. Underclocking at PC1600 speed is alright.

Can I run PC1600 memory in a PC3200 computer?

Maybe?

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