|
|
Power Mac Apple FAQs
Note: The majority of this information is taken directly from the Developer
Technical Support TECHNOTE: SIMMs to DIMMs: Making Sense Out of Memory
Expansion for the Power Macintosh.
- Why has Apple transitioned memory expansion from 72-pin
SIMMs to 168-pin DIMMs for Power Macintosh computers?
- Why do SIMMs need to be installed in complementary pairs,
when DIMMs can be added on a per module basis?
- How does the PowerPC address memory?
- What is memory interleaving and what advantage does it
provide?
- How is memory interleaving enabled?
- What speed SIMMs and DIMMs are required for Power Macintosh
computers?
- Can faster speed memory modules be used in Power Macintosh
computers and will they increase system performance, for example, 60
nsec instead of 70 nsec modules for a performance increase of 10 - 15
percent?
- Can different speed memory modules be intermixed, for
example, 60 and 70 nsec modules in a Power Macintosh computer that is
specified at 70 nsec?
- What does refresh rate or count refer to (such as, 1K,
2K, or 4K)?
- How do Power Macintosh computers provide continuous
refreshing?
- How are different sized SIMMs and DIMMs -- 16 Mbytes,
32 Mbytes, etc. -- designed with different types of DRAM devices, such
as 4M x 4, 2M x 8, and 1M x 16 parts?
- Do Macintosh computers support composite memory modules?
- Can memory modules with different refresh rates or counts
be intermixed?
- What is EDO memory and do Macintosh computers support
it?
- What is parity memory and do Power Macintosh computers
support it?
- What is ECC memory and do Macintosh computers support
it?
- My manual suggests that when upgrading my cache, I use
Apple-branded cache. I would like to purchase a 512k cache module, but
it does not appear that Apple sells this size. What size should I purchase?
- Why has Apple transitioned
memory expansion from 72-pin SIMMs to 168-pin DIMMs for Power Macintosh
computers?
New Macintosh computers incorporating DIMMs provide a number
of key advantages for an ever-increasing RAM footprint and memory-hungry
applications (such as in multimedia development):
* a wider 64 bit data path
* higher memory capacity
* greater flexibility because systems do not require DIMMs to be installed
in complementary pairs.
- Why do SIMMs need to be installed
in complementary pairs, when DIMMs can be added on a per module basis?
The reason is because of differences in the "width" of the data
bus. On SIMMs, the data bus is 32 bits wide while the data bus on DIMMs
is 64 bits wide.
To span the PowerPC 64 bit data bus, SIMMs need to be installed in complimentary
pairs . DIMMs, with their 64 bit data bus, can be installed individually
in second generation Power Macintosh computers.
The only exception to this are some entry-level Power Macintosh computers,
such as the Power Macintosh 5200/75 LC, which incorporate a PowerPC
603 processor configured with a 32 bit bus. In such computers, SIMMs
are used for memory expansion and not installed in identical pairs.
- How does the PowerPC address memory?
PowerPC microprocessors are 32 bit processors that have 4 Gbytes
of address space. This means that the processor instructions are encoded
in 32 bits, and that they can address or access 4 Gbytes of data. Although
the PowerPC has 4G of address space, only a portion of the 4G is allocated
for main memory (DRAM memory). For example, the total RAM expansion
on entry-level Macs can be as much as 136 Mbytes, while RAM expansion
on Power Mac 9500 can be as much as 1.5G. The remaining portion of the
address space is allocated for system ROM, PCI cards, system control,
etc.
Data is transferred between the PowerPC and main memory via the 64 bit
data bus by memory reads or memory writes.
There are two types of memory transactions: single- and four-beat transfers.
A single-beat memory transaction reads or writes between one to 8 bytes
of data. (Equating 8 bytes to 64 bits and noting that the data bus is
64 bits wide, the PowerPC can read or write eight bytes in a single
memory operation.) A four-beat memory transaction reads or writes a
cache block of 32 bytes to or from memory. Each of the four beats encompasses
8 bytes.
What's important to understand is that the memory bus is 64 bits wide
and up to 8 bytes can be transferred in a single memory operation.
- What is memory interleaving and
what advantage does it provide?
Even though the system data bus is 64 bits wide, the memory
controller in Power Macintosh 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, and
9600 computers can support 128 bit data read and write operations by
interleaving data between corresponding DIMMS.
Memory interleaving provides higher bandwidth (MBytes per second) between
the PowerPC microprocessor and main memory. It also provides a significant
performance boost, increasing the execution speed of memory-intensive
programs. How much faster depends on the program's software architecture
and whether an L2 cache is present.
- How is memory interleaving enabled?
Memory interleaving is a function of the memory controller used in Power
Macintosh 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, and 9600 computers. Memory
interleaving is enabled by the power-up software when it detects two
DIMMs in corresponding expansion slots (such as, A1 and B1, A2 and B2,
and so on) that are the same density, have the same memory bank configuration,
and have the same DRAM addressing modes.
- What speed SIMMs and DIMMs are required
for Power Macintosh computers?
The access time of DRAMs used to expand memory on most Power
Macintosh computers are 80 nsec, 70 nsec, and faster, as we move into
the future. Always be sure to check memory expansion specifications
for your particular computer before making a purchase.
- Can faster speed memory modules
be used in Power Macintosh computers and will they increase system performance,
for example, 60 nsec instead of 70 nsec modules for a performance increase
of 10 - 15 percent?
Faster speed memory modules will most likely work fine in Power
Macintosh computers, for example, 60 nsec instead of 70 nsec modules.
This will not increase CPU performance, however. The PowerPC processor
will not access memory any faster with faster memory module speed, since
Power Macintosh computers do not use memory module speed sense lines.
Note: Apple recommends that for memory expansion that you stay with
the speed specified for the computer. Although faster devices most likely
will work, keep in mind that these are untested configurations.
- Can different speed memory modules
be intermixed, for example, 60 and 70 nsec modules in a Power Macintosh
computer that is specified at 70 nsec?
As long as memory modules speeds are equal to or less than the
Power Macintosh-specified memory speed, installing different speed modules
should have no impact on the Power Macintosh computer's functionality.
- What does refresh rate or count
refer to (such as, 1K, 2K, or 4K)?
The term "4K refresh," for example, refers to the number of
refresh cycles required to refresh all sections of the memory array
and is determined by the number of row addresses. (12 addresses will
address 4096, or 4K, locations. Similarly, 11 addresses will address
2048, or 2K, locations.)
Data stored in DRAM devices is volatile. To maintain data integrity,
DRAM requires a power source and continuous refreshing.
DRAMs are specified at different refresh rates that may or may not be
compatible with a particular PC model. Macintosh computers are compatible
with widely available DRAM devices.
For example, below are three common 16 MBit DRAM devices used to construct
SIMMs or DIMMs.
. Organization Refresh-Addressing Refresh-Addressing
4M x 4 4K - 12/10 2K - 11/11
2M x 8 4K - 12/9 2K - 11/10
1M x 16 4K - 12/8 1K - 10/10
.
This information demonstrates that 4M x 4 devices come in 4K and 2K
refresh rates, with 12/10 and 11/11 addressing, respectively. Addressing
notation refers to a matrix array organization where 4K refresh devices
(12/10) have 12 row addresses and 10 column addresses. Likewise, 2K
refresh devices (11/11) have 11 row addresses and 11 column addresses.
Both modes (12/10 & 11/11) have 22 address lines (number of column plus
row lines) which is required for an address space of 4,194,304 (or 4M)
locations, each of which contains a 4-bit word.
Note: 4M x 4 refers to a DRAM device with an address space of 4M locations,
each containing a data word 4 bits wide. (4M x 4 equals 16 Mbits; DRAM
devices are usually referred to by size [total number of bits].)
- How do Power Macintosh computers
provide continuous refreshing?
The power source and refreshing are provided as long as the
computer is powered on. The Memory Controller in Apple Macintosh and
Power Macintosh computers generate a CAS (Columb Address Strobe) before
RAS (Row Address Strobe) refresh cycle every 15.6 msec. DRAM devices
contain an address refresh counter which is triggered by a CAS before
RAS memory cycle.
A 16 MBit (11/11) device with an 11 row address - referred to as a 2K
refresh part - requires all row address combinations (2048) to be accessed
every 32 msec. A 4K refresh device (12/10) requires 64 msec to refresh
all row addresses. DRAM row addresses are refreshed by the Refresh Address
Counter, which is triggered by a CAS before RAS refresh cycle.
The importance, therefore, lies less in whether or not a Macintosh CPU
supports 1K, 2K, and/or 4K refresh DRAM parts than whether the Macintosh
Memory Controller and DRAM devices have compatible addressing schemes,
and whether the DRAM devices are compatible with CAS before RAS refresh
cycles every 15.6 use.
- How are different sized SIMMs and
DIMMs -- 16 Mbytes, 32 Mbytes, etc. -- designed with different types
of DRAM devices, such as 4M x 4, 2M x 8, and 1M x 16 parts?
Consider three different DIMM modules designed using 4M x 4,
2M x 8, and 1M x 16 devices: DIMM #1, DIMM #2, and DIMM #3.
Remembering that DIMMs and SIMMs have a 64 bit and 32 bit wide data
bus, respectively, the following examples can be applied to SIMM modules
by using half the number of devices to span 32 bits.
DIMM #1
=======
This is a 32 Mbyte DIMM using 4M x 4 devices in a single bank design.
SIMM and DIMM memory modules accommodate one or two memory banks. This
DIMM has the following characteristics:
* a single bank implementation;
* the memory is laid out to span 64 bits, so 4M x 4 devices require
16 parts per bank;
* the addressing is common across all DRAM on the module and is multiplexed
via RAS and CAS singles, as noted by Control;
* the module has a density of 4M x 64 (address space of 4M by 64 bits
wide), or 32 Mbytes.
Note: Macintosh computers will size and determine the addressing mode
(e.g., 4M x 4, 2M x 8, etc.) of memory modules at system startup.
DIMM #2
=======
This is a 16 Mbyte DIMM using 2M x 8 devices in a single bank. You may
be asking yourself: if both 4M x 4 and 2M x 8 parts are considered 16
Mbit devices and both examples are single bank designs, why is DIMM
#1's design 32 Mbytes and DIMM #2's design 16 Mbytes?
Since the data path of a 2M x 8 device is 8 bits wide, rather than 4
bits wide -- as for 4M x 4 parts -- it requires half the number of devices
to span across 64 bits.
Note: DIMM #2 uses 8 devices and DIMM #1 uses 16. DIMM #2 thus has a
module density of 2M x 64, or 16, Mbytes.
DIMM #3
=======
This is a 16 Mbyte DIMM using 1M x 16 devices in a two bank design.
What's important to note for this particular design is the following:
* There are two separate memory banks;
* each bank contains four devices - spanning 64 bits
* both banks have common address and data buses
In this example, there are two 1M x 64 banks, resulting in a module
density of 2M x 64 or 16 Mbytes.
- Do Macintosh computers support
composite memory modules?
No. Apple defines a composite memory module as one that loads
the data bus with more than one DRAM input load per bank. Both SIMM
and DIMM can accommodate a maximum of two memory banks per module.
- Can memory modules with different
refresh rates or counts be intermixed?
For first generation Power Macintosh computers that require SIMMs to
be installed in pairs, the two SIMMs within a pair need to be identical.
Other pairs can have different supported refresh rates.
DIMMs with different supported refresh rates can be intermixed. But
if it's intended to enable memory interleaving, DIMMs with different
refresh rates may or may not have DRAM devices with same addressing
modes.
Note: DRAM devices require the same addressing mode to enable interleaving.
- What is EDO memory and do Macintosh
computers support it?
EDO (Extended Data Out -- sometimes called hyperpage) memory are DRAM
devices that improve access timing by extending its data out timing
while allowing the memory controller to address the next column address.
Although EDO devices will improve timing efficiency to main memory by
approximately 10%, it does not necessarily mean programs will execute
10% faster. Because much of the time the CPU fetches instructions and
data from cached memory, for example, L1 cache within the PowerPC microprocessor
and or L2 cache on the main logic board.
EDO DRAM is a superset of conventional (also called Fast Page Mode)
DRAM. This means that an EDO DRAM can be used in place of a Fast Page
Mode DRAM, although unless the memory controller is designed to utilize
the faster EDO timing, the memory performance will be the same as Fast
Page Mode.
There are three categories of Power Macintosh computers based on their
level of EDO memory support. In some Power Macintosh computers, you
can use EDO memory and get some potential performance boosts. In others,
you can use EDO memory even though you will not derive any benefits
from doing so. Finally, there are some Power Macintosh computers in
which Apple does not recommend using EDO memory because doing so may
damage your computer.
Power Macintosh Computers that Support EDO Memory
The following Power Macintosh computers fully support EDO memory and
may experience increased performance:
- Power Macintosh 4400 series
- Power Macintosh 5500 series
- Power Macintosh 6500 series
- Macintosh Performa 6400/200 with internal Zip drive
Of these computers, ONLY Power Macintosh / Performa 6400 computers support
both FPM and EDO memory.
Only Power Macintosh / Performa 6400 configurations with an internal
Zip drive may experience increased performance when using EDO memory.
Then, all memory installed must be EDO to take advantage of the benefits.
If you mix FPM and EDO RAM, the EDO modules will perform as if they
were FPM (just like all 6400 configurations will behave despite the
type of RAM installed).
For additional information see TIL article 19456: PowerMacintosh: Using
FPM, EDO, SDRAM, & SGRAM
Important: There are two types of EDO memory--5 Volt and 3.3 Volt. The
Power Macintosh 4400 series requires 3.3 Volt EDO memory whereas the
Power Macintosh 5500, 6500, and 6400 computers require 5 Volt EDO. The
two types of EDO memory are NOT interchangeable. Most 5 V and 3.3 V
EDO memory are physically keyed differently to prevent you from using
the wrong type, but even if the DIMM can be installed, verify that you
are installing the correct type.
Additionally, EDO memory can also be used as video memory in the Power
Macintosh 4400 ONLY. However, when using EDO memory as video memory,
the Power Macintosh 4400 uses 5 Volt EDO memory rather than the 3.3
Volt used as DRAM.
Power Macintosh Computers that Can Use EDO memory
Although you will not derive any performance benefits by using EDO DIMMs,
you can use them in the following Power Macintosh computers:
- Power Macintosh 6100 series
- Power Macintosh 7100 series
- Power Macintosh 8100 series
- Power Macintosh 5200 series
- Power Macintosh 5300 series
- Power Macintosh 5400 series
- Power Macintosh 6200 series
- Power Macintosh 6300 series
- Power Macintosh 6400 series
- Power Macintosh 7500 series
- Power Macintosh 7600 series
- Power Macintosh 8500 series
- Power Macintosh 9500 series
- Macintosh Performa 6360 series
- Some Macintosh Performa 6400 series
Power Macintosh Computers that CANNOT use EDO memory
You cannot use EDO DIMMs in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer. Using
EDO memory in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer can cause damage to
the logic board and to the DIMMs. Because of this, Apple does not support
using EDO memory in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer. Any damage incurred
from using EDO memory in the Power Macintosh 7200 computer may not be
covered under Apple Computer's limited hardware warranty.
- What is parity memory and do Power
Macintosh computers support it?
If a computer is designed for parity RAM, the parity bit allows
the memory controller to check for DRAM errors in the form of a parity
error. A parity error cannot correct system errors, but the system can
be designed to alert the user that a memory error has occurred.
Apple's newly-introduced Network Server 500 and 700 products are the
only computers that support parity memory; all other Power Macintosh
Desktop, Tower, and PowerBook computers do not. Parity memory modules
add one parity bit to each byte. Thus, a 64 bit DIMM -- eight bytes
-- expands from 64 bits to 72 bits wide.
- What is ECC memory and do Macintosh
computers support it?
Macintosh computers do not support ECC memory. ECC (Error Correction
Coding) memory has additional check bits for each byte. This entails
the memory controller calculating and writing error control check bits
on each memory write operation, and recalculating and comparing the
check bits on memory read operations, and then if necessary correcting
the bad bits. As opposed to parity, this can automatically correct single
bit RAM errors.
- My manual suggests that when upgrading
my cache, I use Apple-branded cache. I would like to purchase a 512k
cache module, but it does not appear that Apple sells this size. What
size should I purchase?
At this time, 256k is the largest cache module Apple sells for
the 7200/7300/7500/7600/8500/8600 models.
|
|
