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General discussion

Dell RAM sticks different between GX260 and GX280

Nov 18, 2009 9:43PM PST

I have one each of these venerable dinosaurs, and am surprised to find that contra general info, the RAM sticks are not interchangable.
They look the same, then you see that the slot between the connecting pins is in a different position. I need more GX260 RAM, so how does the RAM terminology differ between the two types?

Discussion is locked

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Let's start with this.
Nov 18, 2009 10:58PM PST

While we can discuss how it differs that will not fix the issue or allow such to be interchanged. So the differences are physical, and electrical.

You didn't reveal if the physical or packages were the issue so I'll note that in the electrical areas we have speed, organization and the all important SPD chip. There is a chip in the classic Intel design that manages the memory and those differ in what they support.

To go any deeper than this would have us pulling up Intel memory controller PDFs and more. Hope this sums it up for you.
Bob

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Different physical profile of Dell RAM sticks
Nov 19, 2009 10:36PM PST

Hi Bob,
Many thanks for your fast reply, but my concern is just for the physical difference in the placement of the 'groove' or 'slot' between the pins on the RAM sticks.
As I said, most info points to the RAM between the GX models 260 and 280 being interchangable - but it's obviously not.
I have a digital photo of the two sticks for comparison, but can't find a method of attaching it to this post.
Pete

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Get to the Dell doucmenations.
Nov 19, 2009 11:15PM PST

It's all online. I see one model has DDR and the other might have DDR2 which are physically non-interchangeable.

They do that to stop people from plugging in the wrong varieties.
Bob

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Dell RAM incompatability
Nov 20, 2009 12:23AM PST

Thanks again, Bob.
I thought DDR2 would be backwards compatible. Silly me.
Pete