My new memory sticks don't work.

Tim

I just got a Dell Latitude CPi-A366XT laptop computer. It came with 64 MB of PC100 memory installed in a single 4 chip memory stick. And 1 small chip.

I bought 2 sticks of Kingston 128 MB PC100 SDRAM memory off of eBay. Each Kingston module has 8 chips. And 1 small chip.

First thing I noticed was that the Kingston sticks were taller. There's not enough room in the memory bay to install both sticks. They overlap.

The other problem is that the computer will not work with this memory. I press the power button, it starts its boot up proceedure for about 20-30 seconds, then shuts down.

So obviously this new memory, in addition to being physically the wrong height, has a different architecture internally.

What's up with this?

The label on the 64 MB memory stick says:

Toshiba THLY6480H1FG-80
103913/9945UKC

8M*64, SDRAM
PC100 - 222 - 620
ASSY IN USA

The Kingston label says:

KTM-TP390X/128
128MB MODULE
FRU 05P4794

second label:

9902206 - 006 B00
593917
ASSY IN MALAYSIA

Anyone got 2 sticks of 128 MB SDRAM that will drop into this laptop? I've got 2 new Kingston 128 MB sticks to trade!

muddocktor

Your Dell laptop uses SODIMM modules and not regular SDRAM, Tim. SODIMM are quite a bit shorter and have only 144 pins.

Crucial has memory sticks for your laptop. The 128 MB sticks are $61.99 each.

Newegg also handles SODIMM memory too . They have some that are quite a bit cheaper than Crucial's prices too.

Tim

My Kingston sticks do have 144 pins, but I didn't think about the difference between SDRAM and SODIMM. The Toshiba stick in the laptop now says SDRAM on it, but it's obviously different. As in also being SODIMM.

Are SODIMM modules unusually expensive? I got both of my Kingston sticks for a total of $33 with shipping on an eBay auction.

Are there any other requirements? Like parity / non parity, registered / unbuffered, error checking, etc?

I loked at newegg, and the chips are standing up straight, which would take up too much room, as I just found out the hard way.

pokesquid808

you might also want to make sure your board can support that amount of ram. i know an older hp i was trying to upgrade would let me have more then 512mb of ram installed even after a bios flash. so i would check to make sure first. i think crucial and mushkin have memory module selectors based on the model of the computer just like what muddockter said:) good luck

Tim

According to Dell, this laptop can take 256 MB. They don't say if it can be all in one memory slot or must be split into 2 128 MB sticks.

muddocktor

Crucial's website configurator shows that the max size sticks your laptop can take are 128 MB sticks, 2 of them. If $62 a piece doesn't scare you off, I (and Crucial) can guarrantee that their memory will work in your laptop. By using their configurator, they guarrantee it will work or your money back, including the cost of shipping it back to them.

The link to Crucial in my other post is what they came up with when I ran your Dell through their memory confiurator. Note that it is PC66 memory at their site and not PC100. Maybe the PC66 modules are shorter than those Kingston PC100 modules you bought off ebay.

Tim

I just measured them.

The module in the laptop that works measures 1" tall and 2-5/8" long.

The Kingston modules measure 1-1/4" tall and 2-5/8" long.

So what is the technical designation for these 1 inch by 2-5/8 inch memory sticks? 144 pin. I need 2 128 MB sticks, or 1 256 mb stick, if that is even available in a 256 mb size.

primesuspect

SODIMM is the form factor, SDRAM is the module type.

You need LOW PROFILE SODIMM sticks - that's the size that will fit 2 up in a dell laptop.