[KLUG Hardware] Half as much memory as it says.....

[Robert G. Brown]

I've got some memor for evaluation and possible purchase. It is 168 Pin DIMM,
each marked as 256 MB, and labeled as follows:

      P32M648YAC -57AR
      256MB PC133 SDRAM
      0211 N 3 3 1 0 4

Now, I have a couple of 233 Mhz P-II boxes here, and they could use memory on
the order of 256 MB for what I've got in mind for them. I thought that after a 
bit of testing, these DIMMS were just the thing for these boxen, leaving 
plenty of room for exansion while providing more than enough memory for now.

Pity it doesn't work out that way. The BIOS only detects 128MB on each DIMM!
I install two, and I get 256 MB. However, that seems to be quite a waste, to
say the least. A couple of good friends advised I run memtest86 on this 
configuration, so I have, and it all runs flawlessly, hour after hour of
clean testing, but all at 128 MB per DIMM.

The motherboard has an AMI BIOS, and memtest86 tells me it is based on an 
i440x chipset. The box is a Goldstar LG6L, web searches have been unrevealing, 
A couple of people have raised the notion that this board and chipset simply 
can't adress more than 128 MB per DIMM slot. THe possible seller has had even
worse symptoms, perhaps due to older hardware.

I've pretty much exhusted the possibiites here, and may simply give up. I
do plan on bringing one machine and the SIMMS to the meeting on Tuesday, 
in case anyone has bright ideas, or is willing to develop a few during the
meetings. If someone has commnets or answers on this issue here, that's
great, to. I'd like to see these DIMMS find a good home, if neither the 
possible seller or I can use them.

                                                       Regards,
							---> RGB <---