[Freeflyer]

I can't find a definitive answer,

the pc133 memory seems to be a lot cheaper

Local circuit city has Centon 256MB PC133 for $30 after rebates, which is a pretty good price.

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.js...&oid=61203

I need some quickly and this is half the price of pc100 memory, but I don't know if it will work ok on my machine.

Cheers,

J.

[rhogue islander]

Pc133 sdram will work at pc100 speeds; no problem there. Whether those particular sticks will work in your machine is another matter.

I think they probably will but the only way to find out is to try them. Inquire about the return policy so you can take them back if they don't work out.

[stuffedmonkey]

Yes - you can run pc133 ram - the faster ram will just clock itself down to pc100 speeds.

[mac freak]

PC133 always worked fine in my DP450 (one revision past yours... still PC100 based). Should be fine

[Freeflyer]

Just checked the centon specs and it says it specifically won't work on pc100 systems. Any reason to doubt that on a sawtooth G4?

J.

[D'Espice]

Originally posted by Freeflyer:
Just checked the centon specs and it says it specifically won't work on pc100 systems. Any reason to doubt that on a sawtooth G4?

J.

SDRAM is backwards compatible which means that PC133 will also run at 100 MHz and of course also at 66 MHz. It's like a car that tops out at 150 mph - you can also drive 50 mph or 100 mph but you won't be able to drive faster than 150 mph.

The only reason why a PC133 SDRAM stick would not work in a PC100 system is that there's no SPD-EEPROM entry for PC100. And since Macs always configure their RAM automatically based on the SPD-EEPROM, these sticks may or may not work.
However sticks that have no PC100 entry are not JEDEC compatible hence should not be allowed to be sold as "SDR-SDRAM". The point being that if you get a brand article (Micron or Infineon or whatever module, just not NoName) it will always run at 100 MHz.

[starman]

Just a note about this:

I bought RAM for my brand new iMac from CC, the Centon RAM. My iMac CHOKED on it. I think I wrote a thread on the iMac board about it.

I was able to bring it back and I told them honestly that it didn't work in my computer.

I went to (I think) Otherworld and got the RAM there. Worked like a charm.

Mike

[Luca Rescigno]

There are issues with Macs not being able to use high density RAM. It might only see half of it, it might see none of it, it could kernel panic, or it could just work. I got a 128 MB high density PC133 module that didn't work in a Pentium III of mine (which was meant to take PC100) but it did work in a dual 500 (which is also meant to take PC100). I'd say watch out with really cheap PC133. Technically it should work, but it might not.

[saru boy]

Can you even get PC100 memory anymore?

I have a stick of Kingston PC133 labeled memory in my PC at work, which shows up as PC100, and runs at PC66. Wacky.

[Freeflyer]

Yes, you can get pc100, it seems to be a pc133 but with the appropriate prom entry to be recognised as pc100.

I bought a new stick of pc100 memory today, and on the back of the pack it stated it was good for pc100 or pc133.

The prom entry seems to be important. Either way, it's working and I'm happy,

J.

[CIA]

Really more important then speed is the high density low density thing. Most PC133 ram is the same price as PC100 or PC66 these days anyway. The problem comes in with High Density stuff. And really it's only a problem with some 256 and all 512MB sticks. Simply put, if it's high density, it won't work in a mac. You can usually tell because high density ram, for example 512MB sticks of high density RAM are super cheap. I'm talking like $35 a stick cheap. You get fooled thinking its a steal, only to have only 256 of it show up, or have it not work at all. Low Density always works, but runs around $75 a stick....
I don't know if this applies to DDR ram as well tho...