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memory in ALPHAstation 500/500
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Phillip Helbig---undress to reply
Jan 31, 2013, 3:40:03 PM1/31/13
to
Since my ALPHAstation 500/500 (configured as a satellite) doesn't boot
and someone suggested swapping memory cards (within the box, with each
other), I've opened it up. It has 8 memory slots, all with a card.
They are alternately large and small (in physical size) cards. I assume
these correspond to different amounts of memory, and that identical
cards in every other slot are required. Since the machine has 288 MB,
it is very probably 256+32, i.e. 4*64 and 4*8.
What other machines use the same memory? If the problem is bad memory,
and swapping the cards doesn't help, maybe I can pull some cards out of
another machine. I have an ALPHAstation 255/233 with an
exploded-capacitor motherboard with 64 MB memory, very probably 8*8
(half DEC and half third-party memory, but same memory-size cards).
Would these be usable in the ALPHAstation 500/500.
With PCI cards, disks etc one can usually just hook it up and see if it
works (being careful to avoid mixing HVD SCSI with other types). With
memory, is there any danger in trying something out and seeing if SHOW
MEMORY at the console recognizes it? Or can one damage the cards in
this way? If the console recognizes it, will VMS?
Is there a chart somewhere of which ALPHAs use which memory, or at least
which ALPHAs use the same memory? (For VAX, I have a circular cardboard
wheel-within-wheel thing, like a sky chart, where one can see which VAX
uses what memory.)
and someone suggested swapping memory cards (within the box, with each
other), I've opened it up. It has 8 memory slots, all with a card.
They are alternately large and small (in physical size) cards. I assume
these correspond to different amounts of memory, and that identical
cards in every other slot are required. Since the machine has 288 MB,
it is very probably 256+32, i.e. 4*64 and 4*8.
What other machines use the same memory? If the problem is bad memory,
and swapping the cards doesn't help, maybe I can pull some cards out of
another machine. I have an ALPHAstation 255/233 with an
exploded-capacitor motherboard with 64 MB memory, very probably 8*8
(half DEC and half third-party memory, but same memory-size cards).
Would these be usable in the ALPHAstation 500/500.
With PCI cards, disks etc one can usually just hook it up and see if it
works (being careful to avoid mixing HVD SCSI with other types). With
memory, is there any danger in trying something out and seeing if SHOW
MEMORY at the console recognizes it? Or can one damage the cards in
this way? If the console recognizes it, will VMS?
Is there a chart somewhere of which ALPHAs use which memory, or at least
which ALPHAs use the same memory? (For VAX, I have a circular cardboard
wheel-within-wheel thing, like a sky chart, where one can see which VAX
uses what memory.)
Hans Vlems
Feb 1, 2013, 5:03:23 AM2/1/13
to
On 31 jan, 21:40, hel...@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---
Phillip, what brand are the memory boards?
If there is a third party board in there then visiting that
manufacturer's site for
more details. Micron offers very good quality documentation.
Hans
If there is a third party board in there then visiting that
manufacturer's site for
more details. Micron offers very good quality documentation.
Hans
Phillip Helbig---undress to reply
Feb 1, 2013, 6:19:49 AM2/1/13
to
In article
<e304546a-3296-46d3...@h8g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, Hans
structured site might be of some help.
<e304546a-3296-46d3...@h8g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, Hans
Vlems <hvl...@freenet.de> writes:
> Phillip, what brand are the memory boards?
> If there is a third party board in there then visiting that
> manufacturer's site for
> more details. Micron offers very good quality documentation.
Some are DEC, some something else. Don't remember. Yes, a well
> Phillip, what brand are the memory boards?
> If there is a third party board in there then visiting that
> manufacturer's site for
> more details. Micron offers very good quality documentation.
structured site might be of some help.
Hans Vlems
Feb 2, 2013, 5:26:02 AM2/2/13
to
On 1 feb, 12:19, hel...@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---
undress to reply) wrote:
> In article
> <e304546a-3296-46d3-abb7-a6589a6c8...@h8g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, Hans
DEC also shipped systems with Micron memory. Ans sometimes the Micron
labels are still
on the boards if you're lucky.
The Systems & Options Guide for the AlphaStation 500/500 mentions ECC
memory.
Perhaps it is the same as AlphaServer 1200/Digital Server 5305 memory?
Hans
undress to reply) wrote:
> In article
> <e304546a-3296-46d3-abb7-a6589a6c8...@h8g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, Hans
labels are still
on the boards if you're lucky.
The Systems & Options Guide for the AlphaStation 500/500 mentions ECC
memory.
Perhaps it is the same as AlphaServer 1200/Digital Server 5305 memory?
Hans
Hans Bachner
Feb 3, 2013, 6:55:26 PM2/3/13
to
Phillip Helbig---undress to reply <hel...@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de>
wrote:
<snip>
a look at
<http://h18002.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/SOC/QB0065MW.DOC> - it
lists all Alpha workstation options as of May 1997, including memory
options.
In general, there are tons of old specifications still available.
At the bottom of <http://www.hp.com/go/alphaserver>, in the "Related
information" section, you find some links to "Retired servers /
workstations / VAX systems". On these pages, select the model in
question, and on the product page you will usually find a link to
documents in the SOC archive (SOC = Systems and Options Catalog) with
detailed configuration and part number information. Feed a relevant
partnumber into the web search engine of your choice and you will find
compatible 3rd party modules in many cases.
Good luck,
Hans.
wrote:
<snip>
> Is there a chart somewhere of which ALPHAs use which memory, or at
> least which ALPHAs use the same memory?
Well, I'm not aware of any document which covers *all* Alphas. But have
> least which ALPHAs use the same memory?
a look at
<http://h18002.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/SOC/QB0065MW.DOC> - it
lists all Alpha workstation options as of May 1997, including memory
options.
In general, there are tons of old specifications still available.
At the bottom of <http://www.hp.com/go/alphaserver>, in the "Related
information" section, you find some links to "Retired servers /
workstations / VAX systems". On these pages, select the model in
question, and on the product page you will usually find a link to
documents in the SOC archive (SOC = Systems and Options Catalog) with
detailed configuration and part number information. Feed a relevant
partnumber into the web search engine of your choice and you will find
compatible 3rd party modules in many cases.
Good luck,
Hans.
Michael Kraemer
Feb 4, 2013, 7:21:08 PM2/4/13
to
Phillip Helbig---undress to reply schrieb:
messing around in its innards, it didn't start any more.
I carefully reseated everything, cleaned the RAM slots and sticks,
and everything was fine again.
(snip)
> Is there a chart somewhere of which ALPHAs use which memory, or at least
> which ALPHAs use the same memory? (For VAX, I have a circular cardboard
> wheel-within-wheel thing, like a sky chart, where one can see which VAX
> uses what memory.)
From the golden egg diagram at
http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/workstations/retired/a500series.html
it looks like the 500/500 uses the same kind of RAM as the 500/266,
i.e. DEC MSP01-FA, -FB, FC- etc. The /500 can have 1GB, whereas the /266
maxes out at 512MB. The RAM sticks must be installed in groups of 4
identical pieces.
These special sticks I found extremely hard to locate, it took me
years to find a 4x64MB upgrade for my 500/266. They almost look
like the 168-pin ECC parts in the Sun Ultra5/10 or IBM RS/6000 43P
for example, but alas, the central notch is different, which
is fine since the MSP's run at 5V whereas the younger IBM/Sun parts
use 3.3V, so you can't mistake one for the other. Iirc only the
RS/6000 40P uses similar RAM sticks, but machine and RAM
are even more rare then the MSP01 parts.
As a surrogate, for some time I used IBM 35H9751 parts:
http://www-aix.gsi.de/~kraemer/COLLECTION/RAM/IBM_FRU_35H8751.jpg
which worked, but only half of their size was recognized by the AS.
> Since my ALPHAstation 500/500 (configured as a satellite) doesn't boot
I once had a similar incident with a 500/266: after some
messing around in its innards, it didn't start any more.
I carefully reseated everything, cleaned the RAM slots and sticks,
and everything was fine again.
(snip)
> Is there a chart somewhere of which ALPHAs use which memory, or at least
> which ALPHAs use the same memory? (For VAX, I have a circular cardboard
> wheel-within-wheel thing, like a sky chart, where one can see which VAX
> uses what memory.)
http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/workstations/retired/a500series.html
it looks like the 500/500 uses the same kind of RAM as the 500/266,
i.e. DEC MSP01-FA, -FB, FC- etc. The /500 can have 1GB, whereas the /266
maxes out at 512MB. The RAM sticks must be installed in groups of 4
identical pieces.
These special sticks I found extremely hard to locate, it took me
years to find a 4x64MB upgrade for my 500/266. They almost look
like the 168-pin ECC parts in the Sun Ultra5/10 or IBM RS/6000 43P
for example, but alas, the central notch is different, which
is fine since the MSP's run at 5V whereas the younger IBM/Sun parts
use 3.3V, so you can't mistake one for the other. Iirc only the
RS/6000 40P uses similar RAM sticks, but machine and RAM
are even more rare then the MSP01 parts.
As a surrogate, for some time I used IBM 35H9751 parts:
http://www-aix.gsi.de/~kraemer/COLLECTION/RAM/IBM_FRU_35H8751.jpg
which worked, but only half of their size was recognized by the AS.
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