Toshiba Recalls Notebook RAM

TheSync writes "The Register is reporting that Toshiba is recalling notebook RAM blaiming third-party DIMMs. This follows on HP's bad notebook RAM in June. Which raises the question, is there a vast sea of bad DIMMs out there?"

Comments

bad ram a common problem

[cats-paw]

like a lot of slashdot readers I build my own computers.

my #1 problem has always been RAM.

I remember an interview with Larry Augustin of VALinux (remember them ?) when they were still building Linux PC's.

And he said the number one thing they had problems with was RAM.

I've had RAM which could pass all day long on a so-called memory tester, put it into a PC and the thing couldn't even finish POST.

Re:bad ram a common problem

[skt]

There are some good, free memory testing utilities out there like memtest86. They probably still have an ISO image on their website that can be used to create a bootable CD-ROM with the utility configured to start automatically.

Re:bad ram a common problem

[joel48]

I tend to have better luck with memtest86+, especially on newer/odder systems. It was originally (still?) from the same codebase.

For those who don't know, like myself

[IGTeRR0r]

I'm clueless on DIMM, so here's the definition, it's good to know: "Short for dual in-line memory module, a small circuit board that holds memory chips. A single in-line memory module (SIMM) has a 32-bit path to the memory chips whereas a DIMM has 64-bit path. Because the Pentium processor requires a 64-bit path to memory, you need to install SIMMs two at a time. With DIMMs, you can install memory one DIMM at a time." -- GamerCentric.com

Re:For those who don't know, like myself

[danielrose]

FYI, the laptops all have SODIMMS (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules)

Paying a tad more for tier 1 brands works for me

[erick99]

I have stuck with Kingston and Viking over the years and have not had a bad module yet. I have heard that PNY is pretty good but when I worked for resellers we generally had a fair amount of bad PNY memory modules. Kingston can be found on sale and then you can apply coupons and rebates to get their memory down to a pretty good price.

Re:A Vast Sea

[Kehvarl]

If we're lucky, Toshiba will learn from its mistakes and we won't have these problems in the future. From what I've seen, they've got some great notebooks at some decent prices. If it weren't for stories like this (oh, and my lack of disposable income) I'd probably buy one.

They are wonderful notebooks (I'm on my second, but I've convinced enough friends to go with Toshiba that I've tinkered with several different models). The only issue I have with them is the recent decision to go with a touchpad rather than the trackpoint pointer. I know many people like touchpads, but I find I'm more accurate with a trackpoint and wish they had kept those in their satellite model notebooks. On the other hand, this gives me an excuse to buy a gyroscopic mouse

I've had 2 problems with toshiba notebooks, one was when the 3 year old 10-gig fujitsu brand dhard drive died but in the 3 years since then the replacement drive hasn't caused any problems. and the other was when one of the hinges froze up and thus prompted me to go shopping for a new notebook (something I was already considering).

Oh, and as always: feel free to ignore my rambling incoherence.

Re:Paying a tad more for tier 1 brands works for m

[Tony Hoyle]

I bought a batch of corsair to upgrade a couple of machines, as they're supposed to be a 'quality' brand.

Every single one of them failed memtest86 (8 sticks in total).

I sent them back, went out and got some cheap unbranded (what I normally used) which worked perfectly.

So branded memory isn't always better.

Re:As for me

[EvilMagnus]

Heh. Fortunately, they changed that policy. :)

I recently had an excellent experience with Crucial's lifetime warranty - and the RAM wasn't even defective, I just needed a single-bank version instead of the double bank I had. They gladly swapped the DIMM for me - no receipt required, either.

C't test: Cheap RAMs tend to be of lesser quality

[Lonewolf666]

Maybe two years ago, the german C't computer magazine did a major test to determine the quality of RAM available in the end-user market.

They bought lots of different RAM, ranging from no-name discount RAM sticks to "premium brands", then tested them in a number of boards. Further tests were done in cooperation with a company that specializes in testing of semiconductors. Here a special analyzer was used that could test the RAM under well-defined electrical conditions.

The results were disillusioning:
While most of the "premium brand" modules were of reasonable quality (but not perfect), many of the cheap parts were definitely sub-standard.
Sometimes they did simply not meet their specifications, running reliably only at lower clock speeds and higher latencies.
But more frequently, the information in the on-module ROM was wrong and misleading those mainboards that relied on it for setting the timing parameters of the RAM. In these cases, the RAM timings had to be set manually to ensure reliable operation.