Hi,

I want to upgrade the ram on my Ultra 5 (currently running Solaris 9)- I've seen part no. PN 370-3798-01 for sale.

I've checked on Sun's website and it says the above module is a 50ns DIMM and was originally only in Ultra5' s that had 360MHz or faster UltraSparcII cpus and 24bit PGX graphics.

As I have the older 270MHz Ultra5, I assume that the existing 128MB of ram is slower 60ns ram. What I want to know is would there be any issue in using part no. PN 370-3798 to upgrade my machine? Will it simply run at 60ns? Should it be compatible if I was to replace the existing ram in my machine with this ram, if I can't add it to the existing memory?

Cheers,

Steve

P.S. below please find my prtdiag output:

prtdiag -v
System Configuration: Sun Microsystems sun4u Sun Ultra 5/10 UPA/PCI (UltraSPARC-IIi 270MHz)
System clock frequency: 90 MHz
Memory size: 128 Megabytes

========================= CPUs =========================

Run Ecache CPU CPU
Brd CPU Module MHz MB Impl. Mask
--- --- ------- ----- ------ ------ ----
0 0 0 270 0.2 12 1.2


========================= IO Cards =========================

Bus# Freq
Brd Type MHz Slot Name Model
--- ---- ---- ---- -------------------------------- ----------------------
0 PCI-1 33 1 ebus
0 PCI-1 33 1 network-SUNW,hme
0 PCI-1 33 2 SUNW,m64B ATY,GT-B
0 PCI-1 33 3 ide-pci1095,646


No failures found in System
===========================

========================= HW Revisions =========================

ASIC Revisions:
---------------
Cheerio: ebus Rev 1

System PROM revisions:
----------------------
OBP 3.11.5 1997/11/14 10:06 POST 2.2.2 1997/10/15 13:37

I'd have to say if you upgrade, replace the existing RAM to cause any potential conflicts.

Yeah, I'd pretty much come to that conclusion too. I think from what I've read, more than 256MB means removing the floppy drive though as the larger memory modules foul on it?

I'd guess the reply 3 months after my initial post was in aid of the 0 responses campaign?

Cheers,

Steve

Hi there

Having a similar machine (OK, mine is 360 MHZ, but apart from that...), equipped with only 64MB of SDRAM, i'd also like to expand memory. So i called the local Sun representative and asked for prices.

Yup. I was right; as i feared, additional ram-modules for an Ultra 5 were ridiculously expensive. We're talking a factor 5-10 more than 'ordinary' SDRAM.

So. My question is simple: Is it possible to get hold of non-brand-name-RAM for this thing?

Looking at the Sun modules, i notice that the middle notch in the connector is offset to the left side, meaning it'a 5V module. The side notch is centered, meaning it's a 'buffered' memory type. How fast it is, whether it's ECC or not and so on is unknown.

Any comments on the issue would be greatly appreciated

Very late reply - but if anyones still interested check out the FE handbook:

http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_pub...tml#MainMemory

Very nice

So far I know that the memory is

SDRAM
168 pin JEDEC DIMM
5V
Buffered
50 ns
ECC
Works best in quads

- which is not what the local PC-hardware-pusher has in store.

Sigh...

OK then, i'll see if i can find any second-hand-Sun-parts-dealers in my area - Denmark...

Thanks for all your help

There don't appear to be any memory in the remanufactured section of sun cat:

http://uk.sun.com/catalog/index.html...id%3d11630~~~G!06EA55742477!JiIRVvSREpgpGw16sJsx~standard~ws-nocache


You might try Sun authorised auctions on ebay: (can't look from here as ebays barred from my work)

http://members.ebay.com/ws2/eBayISAP...=sun.clearance


Haydn.

Yeah, memory kits for the Ultra5 come up on ebay pretty frequently.

If you see my posts above, what's listed in the sun handbook isn't the full story on the memory that was actually in shipped systems by the looks of it. Much of the more detailed information and system maintenance guides have, unfortunately, been moved into login only areas that you need a valid support contract to access.

Cheers,

Steve

Ebay...

Never tried that. No PayPal-account, no credit card or anything. I rely on cash.

Been looking for 2nd-hand-memory upgrades and found one on

http://www.memoryx.net/mx7038a.html

at 80 american dollars, designed for the Ultra5 and apparently backed by company return/exchange policy. Actually it isn't even 2nd-hand stuff, but new modules.

Now, all i need is to get hold of a friend who owns a suitable credit card.

For comparison, my local sun-rep charges 380 american dollars for the same amoúnt of memory...

I used to be a pre-sales tech for sun... this threads brought back some nice memories =)