Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Fri, 29 Jun 2007 21:20:38 -0500
From:      "Conrad J. Sabatier" <conrads@cox.net>
To:        freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.org
Subject:   Need help/advice on memory upgrade for HP Pavilion a530n
Message-ID:  <200706300220.l5U2Ki3q032669@serene.no-ip.org>

next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
I just discovered the dmidecode utilities this evening and ran them on
my machine.  Can someone possibly help me understand the output below?

Every online source states that this machine (HP Pavilion a530n) is
limited to a maximum of either 1 or 2 GB of memory (the OEM says 1,
others say 2; which is it already, folks?), using two DIMM sockets (I
currently have 1 GB installed, using two 512 MB modules).

The "Memory Controller Information" below seems to support the claim of
a 1 GB limit.  But then, further down, the "Physical Memory Array"
section lists a 4 GB capacity.

I'm really not very well-versed in memory lingo, and am utterly
confused at the moment.  Am I currently "maxed out" at 1 GB,
or could I safely upgrade to 2 or even 4 GB?

Help!  :-)

Here's the relevant output from dmidecode:

# dmidecode 2.8
SMBIOS 2.3 present.

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 5, 20 bytes
Memory Controller Information
	Error Detecting Method: 64-bit ECC
	Error Correcting Capabilities:
		None
	Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
	Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
	Maximum Memory Module Size: 512 MB
	Maximum Total Memory Size: 1024 MB
	Supported Speeds:
		70 ns
		60 ns
	Supported Memory Types:
		SIMM
		DIMM
		SDRAM
	Memory Module Voltage: 3.3 V
	Associated Memory Slots: 2
		0x0009
		0x000A
	Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities:
		None

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
	Socket Designation: DIMM0
	Bank Connections: 1 0
	Current Speed: Unknown
	Type: DIMM SDRAM
	Installed Size: 512 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 512 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Error Status: OK

Handle 0x000A, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
	Socket Designation: DIMM1
	Bank Connections: 3 2
	Current Speed: Unknown
	Type: DIMM SDRAM
	Installed Size: 512 MB (Single-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 512 MB (Single-bank Connection)
	Error Status: OK

Handle 0x002A, DMI type 16, 15 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 4 GB
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Number Of Devices: 2

Handle 0x002C, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x002A
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 512 MB
	Form Factor: DIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM0
	Bank Locator: BANK0
	Type: SDRAM
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Manufacturer: Manufacturer0
	Serial Number: SerNum0
	Asset Tag: AssetTagNum0
	Part Number: PartNum0

Handle 0x002E, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x002A
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 512 MB
	Form Factor: DIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM1
	Bank Locator: BANK1
	Type: SDRAM
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Manufacturer: Manufacturer1
	Serial Number: SerNum1
	Asset Tag: AssetTagNum1
	Part Number: PartNum1

-- 
Conrad J. Sabatier <conrads@cox.net>




Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?200706300220.l5U2Ki3q032669>