DIMM - Interleaved or not?

I can't seem to find any technical data to tell me if the two DIMM sockets are used in an interleaved or not interleaved mode. I'm trying to determine if a combination of a boot.ini switch (/maxmem) and possibly registry entry (MEM_TOP_DOWN) could be used, in conjunction with the SpeedStep technology, to effectively disable DIMM slot 2 without physically removing the DIMM from that slot.
The machine has two 2GB DIMMs installed. My goal is to effectively disable the second one.
See also related posts: "Disable second DIMM slot?" (recent) and "Re: T61P Graphic problems - random shut down, BSOD, Crash" (12/23/2007)

AFAIK, one cannot disable a DIMM slot via *any* software-based approach. Not on ThinkPads anyway.
Good luck.
Cheers,
George
In daily use: R60F, R500F, T61, T410
Collecting dust: T60
Enjoying retirement: A31p, T42p,
Non-ThinkPads: Panasonic CF-31 & CF-52, HP 8760W
Starting Thursday, 08/14/2014 I'll be away from the forums until further notice. Please do NOT send private messages since I won't be able to read them. Thank you.

Similar Messages

MS-7252 bank interleave requested, not available

I have the above motherboard K9NGM I recently upgraded the BIOS from 3.1 to the latest distributed via MSI Live update to allow me to install Vista RC1 for testing. Recently I have noticed the following message displayed whilst the system is booting.
"Bank interleave requested, not available" or something similar as it is the last message on screen before it switches into the O/S boot.
I have 2 X Giel 512 Mb DDR2 667 Mhz memory modules installed as in the instructions (one in the green socket and one in the orange socket) can anyone suggest a reason for this message, will it slowing my system down ?

before you flashed your bios does your system stabile? Also try to avoid not to used any of liveupdate utilities especially on bios flashing as it could kill your system without notice and best method to flashed it using the floppy. Maybe you've a bad bios flashing.

Does the iMac with Retina 5K Display have "user accessible" SO-DIMM slots or not?

The Apple Site "http://www.apple.com/imac-with-retina/specs/" for the iMac with Retina 5K Display states for memory that it has "four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible". What does that really mean? Contact with Apple support indicates that the newest iMac is sealed, therefore I MUST order it with all of the memory I need, or I would have to break the seal (tear it apart) to upgrade the memory later to get to the memory slots...there is no access door as there was in earlier iMacs. Is the memory in slots or soldered in? How can that be interpreted as "user accessible"? This seems very misleading, or Apple support has it wrong.
Sorry if this seems like a rant, but it sort of is. Does anyone know the facts on this?

The previous 27 inch iMacs had the same statement. It means that the user can access the memory slots and add or change ram. There is an access panel on the iMac. On 21 inch iMacs there is no door and the ram is not user accessible.

New 27" Imac with no screen dimmer slider and not responding to F1

I hope someone has the answer to this. =) I just purchased the 27" Imac that was an open box buy from Best Buy. When I opened it, it had Yosemite installed on it. I went to adjust the screen brightness (under the preferences pane) and there is no slider! I then tried the F1 & F2 keys.....nothing. All the other function keys work, but not those two. I called Apple and was told I needed to take everything off and reinstall then upgrade to Yosemite. Fine....nothing. I made an appointment to take it into the Genius Bar and they couldn't figure it out either. I took it back to Best Buy and into the Geek Squad (then had to send it somewhere). They told me something I can hardly believe. They said the slider bar and function keys work in Mavericks (which I guess is what it came with) but once you upgrade to Yosemite, the slider and keys become unusable. So does this mean I can't ever upgrade? Does anyone have a fix for this??? Please, please help me. Thanks in advance.

Thank you for your advice.
I will use if the IMac will not we under warranty but since now it is still covered it is Apple's problem to fix it. Anyhow this is now the smallest problem since the Mac is not working at all.
Now the problem is that I'm not in Korea until 20th of July and I will like to make the arrangements that my Imac will be taken for service asap. Unfortunately beside the phone number for service support that was not working before my departure and the e-mail address of one Apple worker (but not from support team) that didn't reply to my last e-mail I have no other contacts.
I don't know where to send a complain or service request.
I still hope that an Apple employee will read my post and will take action or that one member of the forum with the same problems in the past will provide me some hints about the Apple support service.
Until then I try to enjoy my holiday.
Tank you again.

V890 - how to identify specific DIMM from FM message?

I can't figure out what DIMM slot is referenced by the Fault Manager output. It seems to be CPU/Memory module C but I need to know which four DIMMS must be replaced. This server has all four CPU/Memory modules completely populated with 2GB DIMMs.
I consulted the Server Service Manual and the Owner's Guide but I'm not confident I can figure out exactly which four need replacing. The window of opportunity I have at this machine is not very long so I can't simply replace some and see if the memory problem goes away.
I'm guessing the J3201 might be a clue but I can't find the decoding of it.
TIME            EVENT-ID                              MSG-ID         SEVERITY
Jun 08 14:02:48 36f9c319-0080-c778-849a-be3e37ea9d0f SUN4U-8000-2S Major
Fault class : fault.memory.dimm 95%
Affects     : mem:///unum=Slot,C:J3201
                  faulted but still in service
FRU         : mem:///unum=Slot,C:J3201 95%
                  faulty
# prtconf -v
System Configuration: Sun Microsystems sun4u
Memory size: 131072 Megabytes
System Peripherals (Software Nodes):
SUNW,Sun-Fire-V890
# prtdiag -v
System Configuration: Sun Microsystems sun4u Sun Fire V890
System clock frequency: 150 MHz
Memory size: 131072 Megabytes
========================= Memory Configuration ===============================
           Logical Logical Logical
      MC   Bank     Bank     Bank         DIMM    Interleave Interleaved
Brd ID   num      size     Status       Size    Factor      with
A    0     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
A    0     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
A    0     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
A    0     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
B    1     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
B    1     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
B    1     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
B    1     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
A    2     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
A    2     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
A    2     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
A    2     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        0
B    3     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
B    3     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
B    3     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
B    3     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        1
C    4     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
C    4     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
C    4     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
C    4     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
D    5     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
D    5     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
D    5     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
D    5     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
C    6     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
C    6     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
C    6     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
C    6     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        2
D    7     0      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
D    7     1      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
D    7     2      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
D    7     3      4096MB   no_status    2048MB     8-way        3
========================= IO Cards =========================
...

Hi,
To answer your initial question with the official documentation, please download the following manual from docs.sun.com: "Sun Fire V890 Server Diagnostics Guide", P/N: 817-5950-11.
Here is the URL:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-5950-11
In this manual, in chapter 2: "Troubleshooting strategies", section: "DIMM failure", you will find a diagram which shows DIMM locations according to their "Jxxxx" numbers.
Now download the "Sun Fire V890 Server Owner's Guide":
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-3956-12
In chapter 3: "Hardware configuration", section: "About memory modules", you will find the breakdown of the DIMM groups and thus identify the group to which the failed DIMM belongs and the location of the other DIMMs in this group. The whole DIMM group must be replaced.
From there on, you can use the "Sun Fire V890 Server Service Manual":
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-3957-12
to get the DIMM replacement procedure.
Regards.
HL

Can't populate DIMMs properly - Half RAM bandwidth only

Sorry for posting this twice - I did not see a way to delete a post (from a "finished" thread)
Only one CPU can access the RAM at a time, meaning the memory bandwidth is halved:
(rightclick and choose "View Image" for more detail)
I think I know why: I have put the DIMMS in slots NOT supported!
They should be in slots 7&8 and 11&12 instead of 7&8 and 9&10, but the problem is that NONE of the supported DIMM configs WORKS
Any combination from page 2-7 of the Mobo manual results in the system not being able to POST or the system recognizes 2 GB instead of 4 GB and the error log says "Incorrect config - the system has disabled RAM".
This looks like a faulty Mobo to me, or unsupported RAM but it's Corsair - not the worst - and why is 4 GB recognized in the aforementioned (unsupported..) config? (It just results in the 2 CPU's not able to access it simultaneously)
http://www.planetamd64.com/lofiversion/index.php/t472.html says this is a NUMA mobo..
Hm.. Seems I need to fiddle with the population one more time and then return it to the dealer if it still doesn't work.

I found it
Turn Node memory Interleave off, which allows ccNuma to be turned on, which yields double bandwidth in SiSoft Sandra (10 GB/sec

After RAM upgrade to two GB, my MacBook Pro will not start up.

I am installing
http://www.amazon.com/Komputerbay-667MHz-PC2-5300-PC2-5400-SODIMM/dp/B004LT8LS4/ ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t
Komputerbay 2GB 2X 1GB DDR2 667MHz PC2-5300 PC2-5400 DDR2 667 (200 PIN) SODIMM Laptop Memory
I get no beeps/ flashing lights. The white power light stays lit, but nothing else happens.
My MacBook Pro is a Model A1150 15" Glossy 2.0 Ghz
Any ideas?

You have a 1,1 model MacBook Pro? That certainly looks like the correct RAM for the model -> 200-pin PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMMs.
However, not all RAM is alike and Macs are particularly fussy about RAM. If it works with the original RAM, as SteveJobsFan suggests, then I would order from a more Mac-centric company such as Crucial or OWC. They guarantee their RAM to work in Macs - I don't know a thing about Komputerbay (I've heard of them but don't know anyone who has used their RAM in Macs).
Clinton

Not able to boot

I have been working with our school system to recycle the old systems so they aren't just thrown away. I currently have 8 Imac G3 333Mhz with a tray loading cdrom and many more on the way.
In trying to install 9.2.2 I have run into problems.
I am unable to get these to boot to the cd - any cd. I have held down the "c" upon boot and it loads the hard drive. I have done the "Programmers Button" fix with no result. Another sugggestion was to remove the battery, no luck. I even found a post that said to change the amount of ram by removing a dimm, that did not work either.
I believe that they have installed software to keep the kids from making changes, this software must have changed the bios to disable the ability to boot to a cd. It also will not read any cd after it boots. I thought this could be a bad cdrom, so I tested it and the drive and cd reads fine on another machine. Also this is the same result on multiple systems so I doubt it is a hardware failure.
I would like to reinstall the os so these can be put to some use other than parting them out. But how?
G3 333 Mac OS 9.2.x

Hi Xavier
If they are all behaving the same then it would suggest that the drives have been disabled somehow.
I don't know of a way of doing it other than by turning of extensions - but in your case, the CDs are not being read before the extension load so that is not the answer.
Try taking out one of the Hard-drives, formatting it and reinstalling using another Mac and then put it back in and see what happens. From the above para, logic says it shouldn't affect the CD issue (but since when has logic had anything to do with computers?)
You've nothing to lose by trying.

X79+GD65 (8D) Does not Reconize 16GB Quad

Somehow the MB doesn't recognize the full 16 gb.
I can switch the dimms and they all work on dimm 1 and 3. however when they are all plugged in dimm 1-3 and 5-7 it only finds dimm 1-3 not dimm 5-7. And only sees 8GB.
The DDR Phase light is glowing.
Any idea what it can cause.
The latest bios is already running.

All Dimms work, inspected te socket pins for damage. None!
Tried different memory,
I tested:
Corsair Vengeance Low Profile CML16GX3M4A1600C9
Now it's Corsair CMX16GX3M4A1333C9
Yet it still only sees 8GB, Dimm 1 and 3 in bios, memory-z...
Any other idea's?
I still got 6 GB 3x2gb Kingston 1333mhz memory that i am gonna try out.

4 dimms in Neo4 Plat. only runs at DDR333, but Venice should fix that?

Now that I've added 2x256MB to my setup to get 1,5GB for Battlefield 2 and all 4 banks are filled, I can get neither the timings nor the frequency as high as I used to.
Before with 2 banks: 2-2-2-5 1T @ 205MHz
Now with 4 banks: well, all maxed out won't even get me past 193MHz.
The manual says that with 4 dimms it can only run at DDR333, that much I know.
But that was a processor limitation wasn'it? So with my Venice' suped up memory controller it should work, right?

OK let's bust a big misconception. It is a limit that an A64 can run up to 4 banks of RAM at DDR400 and over 4 banks at DDR333.
Sides do not equal banks. You can have a single sided DIMM that is 2 bank and even a Double sided DIMM that is one bank. You have to determine the number of Banks a Dimm has by the makers specs. Looking at how many sides a Dimm has is not always going to get the job done. Yes in some cases and maybe most you could be correct but you have to be sure and the only way to do this is to check with the makers to get their specs.

Screen Dimmer at Top of iPad 3?

On my new iPad, it seems like the screen brightness is a bit dimmer at the top of the screen--just a bit dimmer, the colors not quite as brilliant. It seems most noticeable when there's a completely white screen, such as when reading a book. It's not a HUGE deal, but I'm just curious if it's like this with all the iPads. Maybe the backlight is placed lower so it isn't even?

It's not that noticeable. It took me a couple of weeks of use before I noticed it. It's one of those thing, though, where once I did notice it, I couldn't stop noticing it, ya know?

MSI P35 Paltinum ms 7345 - how to let it running 8 Gb Dimm ram

Hi All,
I have a problem, I have 4 x 2 Gb ram DIMM's Kingston KHX8500 D2/2G 2,3 V , the first couple were already in my hands bought a couple of years ago and the second couple just last week.
The problem is that the Bios counts correctly the total ram memory 8 Gb but my sistem is not able to bootstrap. I have installed OS Win 8.1 pro x64 and the sistem releases messages of various problem concerning kernel or usb system and also the bootstrap in safe mode ( F8) is not working.
Asap I remove 1 x Dimm for example, the one installed in 4th position the Bios correctly counts 6 Gb instead of 8 Gb and the system starts perfectly and runs stably. My Bios version is 1.12
I can think to some specific set-up into the Bios settings or I dont know what I have to do to achieve my system running all 8 Gb
Can someone let me know if there is a solution ?
Waiting for your valuable help, pls accept
my best regards
J.

Hi RemusM,
first thanks for your patience and continuos support: this encouraged me to proceed in testing the situation and I am going to report the following below listed, after the suggestions you wrote in your last post
1) I installed the NEW DIMM's memory kit (couple of 2 x 2 Gb ) those showed in the up side of the attached image in position 1 and 3 and they were running perfectly.
2) I removed those NEW Dimm's and installed in position 2 and 4 and they were NOT working, meant the pc cant bootstrap .
3) I installed the OLD couple of DIMM's (couple o 2 x 2Gb I bought several years ago showed in the down side of the attached image) in position 1 and 3 and they were working properly
4) I removed the OLD DIMM's from position 1 - 3 and re-installed in position 2 - 4 and those were working properly
5) I left my OLD DIMM's in position 2 - 4 and installed the NEW kit in position 1 - 3 so all the positions into the mainboard were used but the pc was NOT able to bootstrap
6) Finally I stopped the pc and removed ONLY the NEW DIMM's from position 1 - 3 and restarted the pc that runs fine !
What I can outline is that the NEW DIMM's are not working in positions 2 - 4 so as per point (5) I left the Old ones that were working properly in postion 2 - 4 and installed the New ones that were working properly before alone in position 1 - 3 again in this position but no way for the pc to bootstrap.
I left for now on a side what concerns the settings 6-6-6-18 and voltage 1,9 because what, I repeat, is surprising me is that the New kit is working fine in position 1 - 3 and NOT in 2 - 4 on the countrary the Old kit runs perfectly in both 1 - 3 and 2 - 4 .
That's it !
Regards
J.

Upgrading CPU board on sunfire V490

Hi All,
im trying to upgrade a sunfire v490 by installing a second CPU board.
I have the 1st board fully populated of 2 GB RAM in 16 slots (total: 32 GB) and the 2nd one containing 1GB RAM in 8 slots (total: 8GB)
However, im getting POST errors when i startup the server with both boards. I tried to swap boards among slots => same results.
Whenever i try to boot with each CPU board alone => no problems were found.
Kindly assist please if any helpful suggestion.
Regards

If all of the below requirements are met, then can you provide the POST output, so we can have a look?
Notes
- The minimum V490 and V890 OS is Solaris 8 2/04, Solaris 9 4/04, or Solaris 10 3/05.
- Sun Fire V490 and V890 OBP >=4.15 Version 6 is required.
- Mixing UltraSPARC III and UltraSPARC IV CPU/Memory boards is not supported.
- The 1350MHz UltraSPARC IV is not supported in the Sun Fire V480 or V880.
- Refer to Configuration Guide 819-1813 for supported mixed speed configurations.
Memory Notes
- Four DIMMs of the same size form a group.
- The minimum memory configuration is sixteen DIMMS.
- Memory errors include CPU number, J number, and Slot location.
- DIMM groups associated with a failed CPU are unavailable for use.
- Interleaving is limited to memory on the same CPU/Memory Board.
- Two-way interleaving occurs in any group when the DIMM size does not match the size used in any other group.
- Four-way interleaving occurs between any two groups when the DIMM sizes are the same.
- Eight-way interleaving occurs when the DIMMs in all four groups are the same size.

Are there any recovery tools for optical media?

I've had a couple of DVD's turned in to coasters recently and I was hoping that Linux could come to my rescue with some awesome 'raw-read' / recovery tools for optical media?
I burnt the discs in Windows 7 using InfraRecorder on a brand new Plextor drive (a 'PX-891SA') and these are my first attempts to burn discs with it so I'm a bit worried it could be a hardware fault!
I started off trying to back up some files to clear some space on my hard-drive, burning them to a dual-layer dvd, but the software kept failing to even start the burn process -- that was until I realised that I needed to run the program "as Administrator" (in Windows). It did then manage to burn the disc (I was using "Session-at-Once" mode) however when it came to the end of the burn process / the start of the 'verify data' phase it threw an error saying the write process had failed! Windows couldn't access the disc / data and (I think) still thought the disk was empty. So I restarted the burning application and used a function to just 'close' the whole disc. This seemed to work because Windows was then able to recognise the disc and read the data, although accessing the disc was slow and sounded 'stutter' ish.
I then tried to write a single layer dvd to finish off the last couple of gig I had to back up, but again the software completed the burn phase only to report a 'fail' error right at the end (I'm assuming) before finalising the disc. Although this time I'd tried to create a multi-session disc by using the '2XXA' (or something) 'Multi-Session' iso9660 format. The result was that Windows couldn't read the disc and still thought it was empty, even after trying a forced 'close disc' operation! -- Linux however could read the disc and see that the data had in fact been burnt to the disc (although I've not yet tried copying it in Linux!).
Finally I needed to burn a load of archives to a couple of discs (totaling ~9GiB) -- starting with a dual-layer dvd first everything seemed to be working fine, the burn process started okay and the write buffer was full etc., until at what I assume was the layer change-over it all came to a grinding halt and threw another 'write operation failed' error, only this time I can't even mount the disk in Linux....see 'dmesg | tail' output below:
[ 5758.353005] ISO 9660 Extensions: Microsoft Joliet Level 3
[ 5758.353015] ISOFS: Interleaved files not (yet) supported.
[ 5758.353016] ISOFS: File unit size != 0 for ISO file (1472).
[ 5758.353019] ISOFS: changing to secondary root
[ 5758.353035] ISOFS: Interleaved files not (yet) supported.
[ 5758.353036] ISOFS: File unit size != 0 for ISO file (1536).
[ 5758.353037] isofs_fill_super: root inode is not a directory. Corrupted media?
Does anyone have any thought or suggestions that might help?
- Is it likely to be a hardware fault? (I bought a Plextor because I thought they were one of the best!)
Maybe even if I could just close the session all would not be lost?
-- Thanks in advance --
>>>> UPDATE >>>>
I tried to use ddrescue....it was fine until it got to the end of the disk and then it sounded like the drive was chewing on a bag of pork scratchings
$ sudo ddrescue -v /dev/sr0 /mnt/odd/ddr.file ~/ddr.log
GNU ddrescue 1.16
About to copy 4029 MBytes from /dev/sr0 to /mnt/odd/ddr.file
Starting positions: infile = 0 B, outfile = 0 B
Copy block size: 128 sectors Initial skip size: 128 sectors
Sector size: 512 Bytes
Press Ctrl-C to interrupt
rescued: 4028 MB, errsize: 983 kB, current rate: 0 B/s
ipos: 4028 MB, errors: 1, average rate: 3310 kB/s
opos: 4028 MB, time since last successful read: 10.8 m
Splitting failed blocks...
Interrupted by user
...it was taking forever and getting nowhere so I just pressed 'ctrl+c'.....here's the log file:
# Rescue Logfile. Created by GNU ddrescue version 1.16
# Command line: ddrescue -v /dev/sr0 /mnt/odd/ddr.file /home/shodan/ddr.log
# current_pos current_status
0xF0213000 /
# pos size status
0x00000000 0xF0208000 +
0xF0208000 0x0000B000 -
0xF0213000 0x0000D000 /
0xF0220000 0x00000400 -
0xF0220400 0x0001FE00 /
0xF0240200 0x00000400 -
0xF0240600 0x0003FE00 /
0xF0280400 0x00000400 -
0xF0280800 0x00077600 /
0xF02F7E00 0x00000200 -
When I tried to mount the output file using $ sudo mount -ro loop /mnt/odd/ddr.file /mnt/vodd I got the same error as with the actual disc (natch)...
mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/loop0,
missing codepage or helper program, or other error
In some cases useful info is found in syslog - try
dmesg | tail or so
Last edited by wwgfd (2012-12-14 13:18:41)

@chris_l -- yeah I was worried that might be the case, still I'm not sure if that explains why it keeps failing the burn process part way through?
I've tried this and that in Linux but without much luck. I'm still quite a noob with a lot of Linux things and this is the first time I'm trying anything to do with optical disks/drives etc. so I'm learning as I go...
The disk that failed in Windows but was 'readable' in Linux did just pass a run through ddrescue -- i.e. it created an output file okay and did not report any errors in the process.
However when I mounted the resulting image and tried to copy the files across the first folder reported an "input/ouput error" (just using gui copy+paste in Thunar file manager)
...the other folders did copy okay though!
It seems as though it's the lead-in / lead-out and disc finalizing process that are the main fail points with the burn operation. I don't know if InfraRecorder is any good or likely to be the problem? Anyway the drive cam with Nero (inc. Linux version) so might give either or both of these a go too, if they don't work either then at least I wont be short of something to rest a mug o' tea on
@ chris_l (again) -- the Plextor drives do have a "Vari-Rec" feature which allows a user to 'tweak' the laser power / output level so I might try this too.
@alphaniner -- thanks I've not seen this package before, I'm guessing it's a bit like cdparanoia but for dvds?!
Thanks for the help!
(pre-post) UPDATE >>> I've just mounted my Windows partition in Linux so I'll have a crack at burning the files using cdrtools before I resort to throwing the dvd drive out of the window and chasing it around the yard with a lump hammer

Thinkpad's and N100's w/ 945PM chipset can't address 3G Ram but Dell Can

Since I am a programmer, I am particularly interested in having the maximum amount of Ram available under 32 bit Windows.
Unfortunately, I have to buy a T61p to enable me to use 4GB.
From a reply to a NoteBook review Forum:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/archive/index.php/t-136639.html
At work, we have both Dell XPS and IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad laptops. We choose the T60 models for their compactness/weight and reliability, while we choose the XPS M1710 and M2010 for their 17 and 20-inch screens and somewhat faster graphics chips. The ThinkPad T60 computers have problems accessing over 3GB RAM, and that is NOT because of the chipset or the OS that we use, but, it is only because of the incompetent designers/engineers at IBM or Lenovo; let me explain:
We have tried to install both 32-bit and 64-bit version of Vista, Windows Server 2003 R2 STD, Win XP and different dists of LINUX on T60, T60p, Z61, Z61p, Z61m, (X60 and T43) and Lenovo 3000 series, but they simply can NOT access memory over 3GB (X60 and T43 can not support that since their chipset seem to have accessing issues over the magic 3GB, but we tried anyway)
We also tried the same thing on Dell XPS M1710 and M2010, and they could access almost the ENTIRE 4 GB installed even with 32-bit version of Windows Vista (BTW, 32-bit Vista can access 16 GB RAM with the right chipset so...). Of course, now you can guess that it was no problem with the 64-bit version of the OS:es we tried.
The Dell XPS M1710 and M2010 use exactly the same chipset found in T60 and Z60 series (Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset). In December 2006, we even opened a T60p (model 2007 8JG) and compared the chipset with the Dell XPS M1710, and well, I suppose that you have already guessed that it was the same chipset in both machines.
Honestly, I hoped that we would find the Mobile Intel 945 GM or GMS chipset in the T60 laptops (those chipsets seem to have this 3GB limit), since we had a BIG argue with the support guys at Lenovo, and they came with totally silly answers why the computers can not access over 3GB RAM. They even asked me what I need 4GB RAM for!! Can you imagine that?! You can ask ANY programmer/developer who works with virtual machines (both VPC and VMWare or even Parallels) and everyone will tell you that you can not have too much RAM!!! And it IS A BIG difference between 3GB and 4GB. However...
Now, we have heard rumors that HP NX94xx also can access 4GB RAM installed, but I can not confirm it myself, since I have not seen it myself.
And now, regarding to your post about mixing 2GB SO-DIMM with 1GB SO-DIMM, I would not recommend it. The 2GB SO-DIMM memory modules are pretty cheap now, and besides, you will lose a lot of speed mixing 2GB with 1GB memory modules. Just try different benchmarking programs and you will see. If you want to see quick results without a lot of installations, try Memtest86+
However, I think that it is very rotten that IBM/Lenovo does not care about their customers and lets a lot of incompetent technicians answer the phone. I have tried to come in contact with higher bosses and engineers, but they are simply unavailable. But it must be a way that we customers can make them hear us.. I only do not know how! :-/
And so, here ends my first (and long) post in here!
From the thinkpad forum, there is another confirmation, but the author is not aware that Dell did a better job with the P chipset:
T60/T61/p memory limitations -- the definitive answer [pics]
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=49703
update 10/25/2007: now includes T60/p information.
T60 and T60p:
the T60 and T60p are based off of the intel socket M processors. no matter how much memory you install in these thinkpads, only 3GB will be addressable regardless of operating system used. this is a physical limitation and there is absolutely no workaround. if you have a T60/p then installing 4GB total system memory is a waste. save your money, stop at 3GB, and put the savings either in the bank or toward a T61/p if you want 4GB.
quoted from official lenovo documentation:
Quote: Maximum memory capacity may require the replacement of standard component with largest supported component available. On ThinkPad systems with an Intel 945GM, 945PM, GM965, or PM965 chipset, even though it is possible to physically install 4GB of memory, the actual amount of memory addressable by an operating system will be limited to 3GB. This limitation does not exist with the Intel GM965 and PM965 with the 64-bit operating systems Windows XP Professional 64-bit and Windows Vista 64-bit Editions.
the key point to take away from this quote: the T60 and T60p are based off of the 945GM and 945PM chipsets and therefore fall under the 3GB physical limitation as stated above. even with 4GB total system memory and a capable OS, you still can't see or use more 3GB no matter what you do.
T61 and T61p:
the T61 and T61p are based off of the intel socket P processors. these systems are capable of using up to 4GB total system memory as long as you use the proper OS. below are the results from the four most popular microsoft OSes tested on my T61p.

i wrote the article over at TPF regarding T60/1/p memory limitations.
while i've read that certain dell models can supposedly access all 4GB, i have yet to see definitive proof backing this up.   from my understanding, dell wrote their BIOSes to report the maximum installed memory but the systems still cannot utilize more than 3GB regardless of what is reported.   dell is the only manufacturer with a 945-based system which claims to use all 4GB so it leads me to think that something fishy is going on.   if the 945 could use more than 3GB then you'd think lenovo, apple, HP, etc. would have been able to pull it off as well.
before buying my T61p i performed weeks of research on the subject of 3GB/4GB limitations in chipsets.   i have yet to find definitive evidence showing that a merom-based system can truly access more than 3GB because of the chipset's lack of memory hoisting capability.   santa rosa seems to be the first mobile chipset supporting memory hoisting (which is necessary for moving memory addresses above the 4GB mark so that all 4GB of physical memory can be addressed by the OS).
the simple solution is to buy a T61p.   while the T60p did have optional IPS displays, the T61/p is better in absolutely every aspect except display quality.   i've had my hands on numerous T60/p systems of friends/family/colleagues and wouldn't trade my T61p for any of them.   my next upgrade won't happen until intel makes a mobile chipset able to address 8GB+ system memory (which santa rosa very well may be able to do but we won't know for sure until 4GB SODIMMs are released for public consumption).
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