BRAVO TECHNOLOGY CENTER

Memory Upgrades by Sam C. Chan
 
December 23, 2008

There are currently 5 major types (technologies) of computer memory in use: This article is only focusing on the packaging intended for use by desktop computers: DIMM/SIMM/RIMM). Notebook computers use SoDIMM and other variants that are more compact.

When upgrading memory for a system or motherboard, these are the attributes and specifications to consider (sample values provided here in italic)

  • Error Detection Support:   Non-ECC only
  • Memory Technology & Spec:  DDR PC-2700, DDR2 PC2-5300
  • Packaging:   184-pin DIMM, 200-pin SoDIMM, 240-pin  DIMM
  • Buffering:   Unbuffered only
  • Capacity:   2048MB
  • Max Component Density:   512Mb
  • Banking:   2 banks of 1

 

DDR3 (DDR3 SDRAM) 240-pin 1 notch DIMM, and 204-pin SO-DIMM

Specification

Market Name Bus Speed Data Rate
DDR3-800 PC3-6400 400 MHz 6.400 GB/s
DDR3-1066 PC3-8500 533 MHz 8.533 GB/s
DDR3-1333 PC3-10600 667 MHz 10.667 GB/s
DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 800 MHz 12.800 GB/s

DDR2 (DDR2 SDRAM) 240-pin 1 notch DIMM, and 200-pin SO-DIMM

Specification Market Name Bus Speed Data Rate
DDR2-400 PC2-3200 200MHz 3.200GB/s
DDR2-533 PC2-4200 266MHz 4.267GB/s
DDR2-667 PC2-5300 333MHz 5.333GB/s
DDR2-800 PC2-6400 400MHz 6.400GB/s

DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) 184-pin 1 notch DIMM, and 200-pin SO-DIMM

Specification Market Name Bus Speed Data Rate
DDR-200 PC-1600 100MHz 1.600GB/s
DDR-266 PC-2100 133MHz 2.133GB/s
DDR-333 PC-2700 166MHz 2.667GB/s
DDR-400 PC-3200 200MHz 3.200GB/s

SDR (Single Data Rate SDRAM) 168-pin 2 notches DIMM, and 144-pin SO-DIMM

Specification Market Name Bus Speed Data Rate
PC-66 PC-66 66MHz 528MB/s
PC-100 PC-100 100MHz 800MB/s
PC-133 PC-133 133MHz 1.064GB/s

RDRAM (Rambus) 184-pin RIMM

EDO/FPM DRAM (Extended Data-Out/Fast Page Mode DRAM)

  • 60, 70, 80 nS access time

  • 72-pin SIMM

  • 30-pin SIMM

Memory Glossary:

SIMM: Single in-line memory module
DIMM: Dual in-line memory module
SO-DIMM: Small outline dual in-line memory module
DDR: Double Data Rate

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