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Nermal

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Dec 7, 2002
21,015
4,593
New Zealand
My B&W G3 has been running on 128 MB, so I just bought two 256 MB modules for it (to bring it up to 640 MB). However, the system is seeing each of the new modules as only 128 MB (for a total of 384 MB). I've reseated them and checked the labels, they're definitely 256 MB modules.

Help! :eek:
 

Quartz Extreme

macrumors regular
Jun 9, 2005
169
35
USA
The Blue and White G3's memory controller only supports memory of a limited density.

It will only read the first half of the higher density chips.

I believe it works roughly like this:

512MB card (Only sees 256MB)
[32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] front
[32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] back

high density 256MB card (Only sees 128MB)
[32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] [32] front
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] back

low density 256MB card (Works)
[16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] front
[16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] back

high density 128MB card (Works)
[16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] [16] front
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] back

low density 128MB card (Works)
[8] [8] [8] [8] [8] [8] [8] [8] front
[8] [8] [8] [8] [8] [8] [8] [8] back

Macsales.com and DealRAM.com would be good places to look for compatible modules.
 

Nermal

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Dec 7, 2002
21,015
4,593
New Zealand
Ugh. I've just emailed the place I bought it from to see whether they can get me double-sided modules. In the meantime it looks like I'll have to find someone to sell this single-sided stuff to.
 
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