Computer in question: G4-450 AGP Sawtooth with OS 10.3
First question: Can I use PC133 SDRAM in my G4?
I'm looking at buying one piece of 512 MB SDRAM PC133. Currently I have two PC100 modules installed (a 128 MB and a 256 MB). Off of one website, I found this. Should I be concerned with it?
Quote:
Whenever PC133 modules are assembled with high density chips, users will have to choose between REGISTERED and NON-REGISTERED options. Registered modules make use of cost effective 4MBX16 TSOPs whereas non-registered modules use the more expensive 16MBX4 TSOPs. Some motherboards will not accept REGISTERED memory modules and users must first download a flash BIOS upgrade from their motherboard manufacturer in order to be able to use the more cost efficient module.
Second question: What's the word on 'AZENRam' and 'Ultra' brand memory?
I'm not sure about the former question, but I do have a comment about the latter.
I think RAM is just RAM. There shouldn't be any notable difference in performance between say, Kingston and AzenRam. In my opinion, most of it is psychological.
AzenRAM and Ultra are the brands sold at Futureshop and Bestbuy. They should be quite reliable since these two huge chain retailers are selling them.
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"Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."
That's like saying tires are just tires. Smoke alarms are just smoke alarms. TVs are just TVs. There can be a huge difference between models and manufacturers.
Some RAM will work fine. Some will not work at all. Some will occasionally sned your machine into kernal panic hell.
Wherever you buy from, make sure they have a solid return policy in case the RAM isn't compatible with your system. Better yet, just go to yoru local Mac dealer, and get it right the first time.
You wouldn 't buy tires for your Porsche from Canadian Tire.
Yup PC133 will work, no problem . Azen is in my experience is a good product. Most Macs will accept all major manufacturers ram and run well. There seems to be a problem with "no name" types of ram mainly because the boards are cheap.
I hate to disagree with you, but there is some PC133 RAM out there that will not work in a PC100 slot. I found that a bit strange myself, but when the manufacturer specifies "cannot be used to replace PC100 RAM", I take his word for it.
I also found that some manufacturers of PC133 RAM specify specifically that it's usable as a replacement for PC100 RAM.
In general, you should be able to use any RAM that meets or exceeds the PAM specification that Apple provides for a specific model. Having said that, I know that people have had problems getting certain RAM to work in certain Macs even though the RAM met all the published specs. There are other electrical and timing parameters related to RAMs that aren't usually specified and some Mac - mostly the newer ones, seem to be very sensitive to those non-specified parameters.
I have 450M G4 sawtooth myself, and I have added RAM from a number of different suppliers making sure the RAM meets the Apple spec in the manual that came with the Mac. Never had any problem with that - but I hear that the AGP Mac is not nearly as "picky" about the RAM as a G5 for instance.
In any case, it's good to buy from someone who has a 'no-hassle' return policy as guytoronto mentioned...but that's really true for everything you buy.
BTW - I have both PC100 and PC133 RAM in my sawtooth.
One key requirement is that the 512 MB RAM has to have 16 physical chips on it -- the cheaper 8-chip PC133's will not work.
AZen and Ultra are names of generic RAM sellers, the names do notgive you any indication whether the individual module will be compatible with your particular model Mac or not.
The whole Registered scenario I don't believe has any bearing. Macs cannot use Registered or ECC RAM. There is of course no BIOS updating on Mac motherboards, because Macs don't have BIOSes. The Apple Firmware Updates that Apple periodically releases are somewhat similar but do not apply in this case.
I have 4 different brands of Ram installed in my dual 450 g4. One of which is AZEN and one is Ultra. No problems at all. I have been using the memory for over a year with no issues.
As "Canada Ram" said, there must be 16 chips on the board (8 per side). This is true for all sizes of memory stick for you G4. If you have a 256 stick with only 8 chips on it then the OS will recognise it as a 128 mb stick.
I have not had any problems with having a mix of pc 100 and pc 133 ram installed togeather. Although the bus speed will default to the slower 100 mhz speed. This should not be a problem though, because your system bus speed is only 100 mhz anyway.
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If you have some spare time, read or glance through this http://www.macintouch.com/badram01.html
lots of discussion about RAM issues.
In the thread they also mention one possible PC133 incompatibility with PC100 slots:
"some of the newest PC-133 modules are not backwards compatible with earlier PC-100 computers, Kingston Value Ram is one of these, and they sent out a note to the ram distributers, who passed it along to resellers (at least we received one such note recently.)"
As "Canada Ram" said, there must be 16 chips on the board (8 per side). This is true for all sizes of memory stick for you G4. If you have a 256 stick with only 8 chips on it then the OS will recognise it as a 128 mb stick.
I have not had any problems with having a mix of pc 100 and pc 133 ram installed together.
Not quite: if the G4 accepts 512 Mb DIMMs, then it will take a 8-chip 256 Mb DIMM. However, if it is a Yikes (PCI Graphics) G4 or a G3 tower, then it will not take a 512 at all and the 256 Mb has to be 16 chip.
The rule is that the max. module size has to be 16 chip, the one 1/2 that size can be 8-chip. Its all about the maximum density of the chip that the controller can read. An 8-chip 256 uses the same chips as a 16 chip 512 -- but an 8-chip 512 would have to have chips that were twice as dense.
The other thing about the PC133-PC100 mix in a 100 MHz bus machine is that the SPDs of the PC133 module must be written to allow operation at both 100 and 133. If it is locked at 133 it will be rejected by the Mac on startup.
The Kingston KVR (ValueRAM) incompatibility is a good point -- companies change the build of their generic chips all the time -- which is why it is not reliable to say about generics: "Kingmax is good" or "Patriot is good" because the module they ship next week may be different in design.
Not quite: if the G4 accepts 512 Mb DIMMs, then it will take a 8-chip 256 Mb DIMM. However, if it is a Yikes (PCI Graphics) G4 or a G3 tower, then it will not take a 512 at all and the 256 Mb has to be 16 chip.
The rule is that the max. module size has to be 16 chip, the one 1/2 that size can be 8-chip. Its all about the maximum density of the chip that the controller can read. An 8-chip 256 uses the same chips as a 16 chip 512 -- but an 8-chip 512 would have to have chips that were twice as dense.
I'm glad you clarified this.
So on a G4 sawtooth, the 512 Mb module has to be 16 chips (can't be 8), but a 256 Mb module could be 8 or 16 chips.
When I get back home I'm ging to check the manual that came with my G4. It talks about the detailed RAM specs including the number of chips per module, but it's not nearly as clear as you made it.
Question about RAM for G4-450 Sawtooth
Linear Mode
