DDR2 4200 usable within cf18 mk4/5?

Within the FAQ here I note the specs for ram upgrade..

I am upgrading from a mk1 which i maxed the mem out on using a 1gb chip..
Thought i could swap into my "new" mk5, but the mk 4/5 use ddr2 ive found.

Wishing i had bougt a cf19 now at prices im seeing...this federal model is becoming pain in the butt...


Anyway, researching the specs an amazon ad offered 4200 ddr2 2gb for the mk5 cf18 for abot $32....

Max ram for these shows 1.5gb more or less..is this correct? Wil 4200 work instead of 3200?

Will 2gb register although it's gone over (like the mk1 does)?


Specs of 4200 show faster clock speed and other differences, and im learning fast that these little differences can be abig problem and i dontknow enough to choose.

For that matter, will the5300 work which runs at 667mhz as used within the cf19??

Excuse my ignorance, i just dont know enough about this to know what will work in what..wikis dont help.

Here http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Panasonic-Toughbook-CF-18P-DDR2-4200/dp/B009BSR67W


Please advise.
Thank you very much..

 

From someone in the know...


" There is not such thing as DDR2 3200 that I'm aware of (there is DDR PC3200). Your model is compatible with DDR2 PC2-4200 or PC2-5300"

For something seemingly upfront and simple, this is becoming complicated.
Also isthe speed rating...some are 533mhz, and more, intheory faster to me seems better..


Cf19 ram works?
Per the ad seen on amazon, does 2gb work only on P models?

 

Don't know...but Crucial says 5300 speed 1 Gb. My CF-18 N is sitting at 1536 MB.....indicating 512 on the mobo and a 1 Gb stick. I have a CF-18 P here somewhere.....o.k. found it ...it's at 1536 also.

The good thing about ddr2 ram is that it is cheap....er.

CF-19 MK2 is 2048 indicating no onboard ram and two sticks of 1GB.

CF-19RHRAG1M is at 4096. (3253 use-able for 32 bit)

FWIW

Jeff...pizza for dinner...(NOW)

 

The Cosmic Law is: Backward compatible... Yes, Forward compatible.... No.

For example: If your machine was built with DDR PC2100 333Mhz it is often refered to as DDR2100 or PC2100...they are all the same thing.

Forward compatible....PC2100 333Mhz will Not work in a system built with PC2700 400Mhz.

Backward compatible....PC2700 400 Mhz Will work in a system built with PC2100 333Mhz but will only run at the system bus speed of 333Mhz Not 400 Mhz.

So....DDR2 PC5300 666Mhz will be Backward compatible with DDR2 PC3200 & PC4200 but the lower values will Not be Forward compatible with PC5300.

2GB sticks in CF-18's....DDR & DDR2 are Not interchangeable, a system equipped with 512MB on-board will only take an additional 1GB expansion stick, If you've got a Mk5 with 256MB onboard try a 2GB stick....I don't know (without checking) if a Mk5 was built with 256 MB onboard.

Hope that helps.

 

Thank you very much for the replies...

Yes, very helpful and i have a grasp on it now.
I've searched yet didnt come across any clear explanations as yours.

As noted above, they come with 512mb on mobo..

Yes, i am sure a 1gb registers just fine, but my question was whether a 2gb ddr2 as noted within amazon ad will register above and beyond the 1.5gb max the specs say it will.

As example, the mk1 as i recall stated another 512mb chip could only be installed as upgrade, however, ppl began putting in 1gb and it registered beyond what specs said it would registering the full 1gb addition.

If anyone knows pls speak up..
Seems strange the ad would mention only P model...and ive seen this elsewhere advertised online fwiw..


Thanks again and kind regards.

 

There is not that much difference between a Cf-18 & Cf-29....if you read the technical spec on the motherboard chip-set you'll probably find it supports a maximum of 2GB.

When you turn the unit On, it must pass a 'self-test' before booting to the operating system....with 512MB soldered on-board you could install a 1.5GB stick which will pass the 'self-test'....a 2GB stick will fail the 'self-test' which prevents booting.

The two points that I would emphasise are: no one makes a 1.5Gb DDR2, & don't believe everything you read on the internet....including this post.

 

Not strange at all, there are other Toughbook models that they say one thing and we know we can put more in it.

 

I have tried a 2gb stick in a Mk4/5 with 512 onboard and it worked, BUT only showed 1.5gb in the bios. Alex did this as well. There are special configurations of the CF-18 that may not be list, and these could of been ordered with 256 of ram onboard in the Mk4/5. But I haven't seen one. IF there is one that one might work with one like the CF-29's with 256mb ram take the 2gb module.

 

Thanks for the thoughts everyone..

I dont know..something so seemingly simple, and i don' t want to make this a bigger issue than need be..

..BUT of course the what if within me impulse says, well, what if it works...

...and if it doesnt well it will register the 1.5gb and still work...

Ah well..decisions decisions..

 

Oh....I stand corrected on it not booting then.

In which case....there doesn't appear to be any down-side other than the cost of a 2GB stick over the price of 1GB.

 

Well, i decided on the 2gb stick because Im a typical man!

if it doesnt work ill send it back...will report back results for posterity.

EDIT- As a note, within system properties only 504mb of ram is being registered..not 512 ?!

..and another even stranger note, I swear beside it a momet ago it reflected 299mhz..

..opening system properties again, it now shows 598mhz? !


EDIT 2- For future reference for others as this is THE goto forum for Tougbooks and people will ask also..

It seems Bios can take anywhere from 1-2mb and the video can reserve 8mb....so there you go.

EDIT 3- Ok..news to me as well...

Look up clock throttling ... According to your power mgmt settings and whether plugged into power supply, the mhz setting will change.

....and apparently xp is not known for its accuracy.

Excuse me, steep learning curve Ive realized with all of this. Much i nvr knew...too much.

 

Well, I installed DDR2 PC4200 533 MHz and although the bios rejected (only) around 1.5gb ram) during boot up the memory was rejected...

Not backward compatible, and the sites offering this specifically for the Mk5 are WRONG...

this is becoming frustrating...nothing Ive seemed to get here for this WORKS ..sigh..

Going the safe route and getting 1gb..oh well.

 

Mine worked fine but I only installed 1GB....you installed 2GB ..yes

 

What brand memory is it ?

I've never had a problem with Crucial, but I only buy 1GB sticks.