Can people here advise of a cheap and easy way

[truedelphi]

To test or distinguish a 256 SDram chip from a 512 Chip.

I am just a broker, don't know a lot of techie stuff.

Here's the deal - I am getting a box of 300 refurb desktop memory chips. They will be unlabelled (except for whatever writing the mfgr has put on their cute little bodies)

The ones that are 256 are worth $ 2 to me. The ones that are 512 are worth $ 8 to me. Because of that price difference, I DO NEED TO SORT THEM OUT.

But if I could locate the chip on my old Windows 95 computer, and pull it, then substitute out the unknown chip, my windows computer would probably not work with the 256. So I'd know it was that.

How to find that area of the computer where the memory chip on it is held.?

Or other suggestions that do not include buying test equipment (Unless this turns out to be an ongoing project, it ain't worth it.)

[IDemo]

1. I'm assuming you mean "DIMMs", not "chips"

Computer memory comes packaged on DIMMs, which means 'dual in-line memory module'.
They look like this:


"Chip" would refer to the actual integrated circuit devices themselves, and look like this:


If the DIMMs aren't labeled directly with the memory size, they should at least have visible part numbers on the IC's. You can Google those,
find the data sheet with the memory size, and multiply that by the number of chips on each DIMM. I can't make out the lettering real well
on the above picture, but say the chips are 64M and are only loaded on one side of the circuit board, for a total of 8. You would then have
8 x 64M, or 512M total. Pay no mind to the small chip in the upper corner; it's for other shopkeeping purposes.

You also need to verify you are using a compatible memory type for the motherboard in your PC, or damage can occur. Different types have
different voltage requirements and speeds. If the parts you bought were made anytime in recent years, it's highly unlikely they will even fit
in your Win95 machine. It may be worth having a tech at a local shop take a look at these if you're not real familiar with them.

[truedelphi]

2. Thank you greatly. I was hoping there was a way to simply identify

Which were 256 and which were 512 by looking them over. And your explanation shouldn't be hard to follow once the box is shipped to me.

thanks.

[paparush]

3. Download Ram Probe (FREE)

http://www.ramprobe.com/

Download Ram Probe either as a bootable CD or onto a bootable floppy.

Install the ram in some pc that still works.

Boot off the CD or floppy and it will tell you how much memory is loaded and will test the memory for faults.

So, you could install one stick at a time, run Ram Probe, learn what size the stick is, then label the stick to your liking. Oh, and you'll know if the stick is still good too.

[Duer 157099]

4. Unfortunately, it's not always easy if the RAM isn't labeled

So the safest way is as described above, to Google the chip markings. A real PITA.

The voltage differences are something to consider, as mentioned above.

Also, there are ECC and non-ECC RAM, and motherboards differ in their ability to handle them.

Here's a pic showing where the RAM goes on the motherboard