6.4K Posts

February 19th, 2010 21:00

I could have sworn that the 850 chipset would work with ECC memory, but Dell says no in the technical data for this model.  Perhaps it has something to do with the way the main board is set up or the BIOS.

The service manual for your Dimension 8200 is here:  http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8200/.  The specs say non-ECC and 40 nsec memory, but if yours uses the 850 chipset rather than the 850E, you are running a 400 MHz FSB and the 45 nsec should work fine.  The proof is your original RAM which indicates that it is 45 nsec.

Apologies for stating the obvious, but don't forget that RDRAM computers cannot operate with any empty memory slots.  They must have either memory or continuity modules installed for proper operation.

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14 Posts

February 20th, 2010 12:00

The original Samsung RAM specs shows it as Non-ECC
The NEC RAM you bought is ECC ... not compatible with
the mobo chipset. Also the Dimension 8200 and other pcs
with RDRAM are very picky. I would use the same Brand
and Speed as whatever is in there that does work.

4 Posts

February 20th, 2010 19:00

The manual is helpful - Thanks.  I tried with 4 sticks of memory and also with just the new memory and the continuity modules installed but neither worked.  Seems like the memory being ECC is the issue.  Trying to return mine for non-ECC.

How can I verify the actual chipset used?

4 Posts

February 20th, 2010 19:00

Thanks - I didn't know the chipset required only Non-ECC memorty.  I thought ECC and Non-ECC could work together (not in the same pair).  I'm trying to get the same brand and non-ECC as you recommend.   Thanks for your help.

6.4K Posts

February 20th, 2010 21:00

There are programs such as cpu-z and PC Wizard that will give info regarding the chips used in the computer, but I don't know that they will be able to tell the difference between two variants of the same model chipset.  I seem to recall posts made a few years ago that indicated the 850E was used in computers made after May, 2002, but I'm not absolutely certain.  The biggest difference between the two is that the 850E will support P4s having a 533 MHz FSB, while the 850 is limited to 400 MHz FSB processors.  The higher FSB speed is the reason that you need 40 nsec memory on machines built with the 850E.

4 Posts

March 5th, 2010 20:00

The original Samsung RAM specs shows it as Non-ECC
The NEC RAM you bought is ECC ... not compatible with
the mobo chipset. Also the Dimension 8200 and other pcs
with RDRAM are very picky. I would use the same Brand
and Speed as whatever is in there that does work.

Thanks for the advice.  I was able to get some RAM to work but not with the original DELL RAM.  I had to install the new RAM only.  I put the new RAM (2 x 512) into the first 2 slots and installed the continuity modules in the second two slots.  The memory that works is Kingston KTD-DM800E/1024. Other info written on the memory was P695361X1; 2.5V; 9930165-003.A00.  I have a Dimension 8200 Series, 1.9Ghz processor and it had 512mB RDRAM from Dell originally.  At least I've doubled the RAM now.

I hope this helps others trying to find RDRAM for older Dimension 8200 machines.

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