8200 Mixing ecc and non ecc isn't working!

Question

Last week when I booted up my dimension 8200 400mhs 2.00 system I got that 5-2-2-1 beep sound.  I had two 250mg original dell pc800 45 ns (non eccs) in the first two slots and upgraded to two 128 pc800 45 ns non eccs in the second slots.  My computer worked ok for years with this config until last week!  Well I called dell and we figured that one or both of the smaller 128's went bad so I ordered some new 128 and specified NON ecc-  BUT received 2 128 pc800 45 ECC! I installed them along with the 256 non eccs and still got the 5-2-2-1 error sound.  Now my questions is:  shouldn't the non-eccs work with the new eccs, they are identical in other specs: pc 800 40 ns.  The computer does work with the 256 non eccs and the crimms installed and it works with just the two new eccs and the  crimms -BUT IT WON'T WORK WITH all four!!!  Help!  Of course I know to keep them in pairs and the larger ones in the slots near the processor. Thanks Noelstan

B4runo · Answer

Great reference site for all types of D8200 upgrades: http://www.spongebobsupgradesite.com . B4runo Courteous Dell Community Forum members search first, then post.

B4runo · Answer

http://www.crucial.com/kb/KBSearch.asp?SearchTerm=ecc&Category=&go=go

HTH,:smileywink:

B4runo

Courteous Dell Community Forum members search first, then post.

Message Edited by B4runo on 03-21-2005 12:42 AM

noelstan · Answer

Sponge bob doesn't say wheather mixing ecc and non ecc will work!  I am ordering a replacment that is noc ecc in the hope that all four rimms will work!  Can any one out there tell me if they ahve an 8200 with mixed ecc and non ecc and it the machine working???  Thanks!!!

jankerson · Answer

You can't mix ECC and Non ECC memory on the same board, it all has to be one or the other.

denyboy · Answer

Ecc and non-Ecc can be mixed and it will run as non-Ecc memory, however, it is not generally recommended for exactly the problem you are having. Sometimes they just don't play nice together. You should be using non-ecc for your 8200, but it would not suprise me if a rimm of memory is the culprit in your case

Robert Moyer · Answer

I noticed the memory Dell is selling for the 8200 is ecc it doesn't even list the non ecc. I went into 4allmemory and they have the memory for the 8200( 512) sold as 2 sticks of 256  non ecc for only $197.00 and free shipping  Just what you are looking for

rickmktg · Answer

@Robert Moyer wrote:
I noticed the memory Dell is selling for the 8200 is ecc it doesn't even list the non ecc. I went into 4allmemory and they have the memory for the 8200( 512) sold as 2 sticks of 256 non ecc for only $197.00 and free shipping
Just what you are looking for

Or $176 including free shipping from ZipZoomFly.

tonebalone · Answer

I ran non-ECC and ECC mixed on my 8200 for 3 yrs. The system is now my dad's and it still works well.

One thing I have seen in Optiplex systems, and it drove me crazy until I discovered the cause:

Some capacitors on the board leaked out, and there wasn't enough reserve current to run four memory sticks. The sticks would all pass diags 2 at a time. Anyway, I noticed the tops of the capacitors were bulging out (dome-shaped instead of flat.) Take a good look at your motherboard and see if any of the caps fit the description of leaky caps. If so, you might look at a replacement motherboard on eBay.

Good luck.

jankerson · Answer

http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.asp?qid=3692

ECC vs. non-ECC — What do I Have and Can I Mix?

When adding new memory, you need to match what is already in your system. You cannot mix ECC with non-ECC (non-parity) memory.

You can determine if your system has ECC by simply counting the number of black memory chips on each module. ECC (and parity) memory modules have a chip count divisible by three or five. This extra chip detects if the data was correctly read or written by the memory module. If the data wasn't properly written, the extra chip will correct it in many cases (depending on the type of error). Non-ECC (also called non-parity) modules do not have this error-detecting feature. Any chip count not divisible by three or five indicates a non-parity memory module.

Using ECC decreases your computer's performance by about 2 percent. Current technology DRAM is very stable, and memory errors are rare, so unless you have a need for ECC, you are better served with non-parity (non-ECC) memory.

tonebalone · Answer

jankerson: I respect Crucial's expertise in all things memory, except for the 8200. Crucial doesn't even sell RDRAM and never has. Here's another statement on mixing ECC/non-ECC:

http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.memorySearch&model_id=24927

The fact is, and I verified it when I installed ECC in my 8200, is that you can indeed mix the two. The only downside is that the motherboard will operate all the RDRAM as non-ECC

jankerson · Answer

I have a system with RDRAM in it too, and I can't mix it. See Sig So maybe it is some motherboards can use both, but most can't.

jankerson · Answer

Ok, I see what you mean.

Here is a quote from Intel:

RDRAM Memory Configuration
When installing memory, note the following:

The four RIMM sockets are grouped into two banks:
- Bank 0 (labeled on the board as RIMM1 and RIMM2)
- Bank 1 (labeled on the board as RIMM3 and RIMM4)
Bank 0 must be populated first, ensuring that the RDRAM installed in RIMM1 and RIMM2 is identical in speed, size, and density. For example, the minimum system configuration would use two 64 MB RIMM modules of PC800 RDRAM.
If the desired memory configuration has been achieved by populating Bank 0, then Bank 1 should be filled with two Continuity RIMMs.
If memory is to be installed in Bank 1, the RIMM modules installed in RIMM3 and RIMM4 must be identical in size and density to each other and match the speed of the RIMM modules in Bank 0. The RIMM modules do not, however, need to match those in Bank 0 in size and density. For example, if Bank 0 has two 128 MB RIMMs of PC800 RDRAM, Bank 1 would require PC800 RDRAM also; however, any other supported RIMM modules such as 64 MB or 192 MB could be used.
If ECC functionality is required, all installed RIMM modules must be ECC compliant

Message Edited by jankerson on 03-22-2005 12:32 AM

The_Namek · Answer

noelstan,
If in fact you have 45 ns RDRAM in your 8200 that is most likely the problem. The memory needs to be 40 ns or faster for the system to complete POST. Note the Dimension 8200's memory info here.

Message Edited by The_Namek on 03-25-2005 09:52 PM

denyboy · Answer

The 400mhz processors will run with either 45ns 0r the faster 40ns memory. All of the early 8200's shipped with 45ns

The_Namek · Answer

OK, didn't realize he had 400 MHz FSB.

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8200 Mixing ecc and non ecc isn't working!

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