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My motherboard has four DIMM slots for RAM (labeled XMM1, XMM2, XMM3, and XMM4). They look identical (one notch near the middle) except 1 & 3 are black plastic, 2 & 4 are white. I have only one DIMM in right now, in slot 1.

I'd assume they're all the same, but my dmiencode output seems to indicate that 1 is DDR2, while the rest are just regular DDR?

dmiencode --type 17 output:

# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.3 present.

Handle 0x0035, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0033
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 1024 MB
    Form Factor: DIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: XMM1
    Bank Locator: Not Specified
    Type: DDR2
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: 400 MHz (2.5 ns)
    Manufacturer: JEDEC ID:C1 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
    Serial Number: 23211205
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number: 64T128020HU5A

Handle 0x0036, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0033
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: Unknown
    Data Width: Unknown
    Size: No Module Installed
    Form Factor: DIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: XMM2
    Bank Locator: Not Specified
    Type: DDR
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: Unknown
    Manufacturer: JEDEC ID:
    Serial Number:  
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number:  

Handle 0x0037, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0033
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: Unknown
    Data Width: Unknown
    Size: No Module Installed
    Form Factor: DIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: XMM3
    Bank Locator: Not Specified
    Type: DDR                                ######## Not DDR2?
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: Unknown
    Manufacturer: JEDEC ID:
    Serial Number:  
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number:  

Handle 0x0038, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0033
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: Unknown
    Data Width: Unknown
    Size: No Module Installed
    Form Factor: DIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: XMM4
    Bank Locator: Not Specified
    Type: DDR
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: Unknown
    Manufacturer: JEDEC ID:
    Serial Number:  
    Asset Tag: Not Specified
    Part Number:

I need to buy new RAM as the current ram is probably wrong (found it lying around). What type of RAM does my motherboard take? Once I figure out what type it is I'm just going to buy the max speed even though I'm sure it's a slower mobo.

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Now you've got DDR2-800 RAM (aka PC6400 DDR2) in there. Why do you say it's probably wrong? – boehj May 11 '11 at 18:38
I just found it in my pile of scrapped parts. It's probably too fast or too slow or some other spec is off, I don't really know how to match ram to a mobo, I just see if it fits and then see if it boots. Buying ram is different, I'm hoping to get the right kind. – brenton May 13 '11 at 7:45

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote accepted

There are two sets of colors in order to help you match them in pairs, if you wish to. Other than that, they are all the same.

The Type: DDR has a valid value as long as memory is installed to a slot. If there is no memory there, then it gives the stock DDR value.

share|improve this answer
Ok, so you're saying they're probably all DDR2? – brenton May 12 '11 at 9:41
Exactly, there are all DDR2 capable. – user4124 May 13 '11 at 12:44

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