Are there SIMM stackers for 168-pin SDRAM?

jtr1962

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As some of you may have read here, I recently tried to upgrade my PII computer to 1 GB but mistakingly purchased single-sided 256 MB sticks.

The machine has 2 256 MB and 2 128 MB sticks in it currently. I also have 2 128 MB sticks that I removed to make room for the 256 MB ones. It would be nice if I could find a SIMM stacker that lets me combine each pair of 128 MB modules into one 256 MB one. These things existed to convert 30-pin SIMMs to 72-pin ones(in fact, I have a few). Thus far I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. If anything like this exists out there(for a reasonable price, of course), please let me know. If not, I'll just wait until the price of low-density 256 MB sticks drops under $10 and use the spare 128 MB sticks in my planned Linux box.
 

blakerwry

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I 2nd that.. never seen it for a DIMM...

You probably wouldn't want one anyway. Increasing the length of the trace between the mobo and the memory modules on SDRAM is a big no no. Since all memory needs to be accessed in paralell, and at a fairly high rate with little room for error, a DIMM stacker sounds like it would really FUD things up and give you alot of instability.
 

jtr1962

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I figured as much, but it didn't hurt to ask. ;) I imagine it would be technically possible to make, but not at a price that would make sense since the SIMM stacker would cost more than the RAM I'd be using in it. Those probably made more sense in the days when a stick of 4 MB RAM went for $200, not nowadays when you can pick up 256 MB for as little as $10 after rebates, or $20 normal retail.
 

blakerwry

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$200... man.. I would hate to see that... I have a couple pounds of 4mb SIMM's.. now if only I had a time machine.


BTW, how much would you guess a 17" monitor with a max resolution of 1600x1200 @60Hz went for 8 years ago?... cause I got one... my guess is > $1000.

I base this on the fact that our 15" monitor with a max res of 1024x768@60hz cost ~$500 8 years ago.
 

jtr1962

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blakerwry said:
BTW, how much would you guess a 17" monitor with a max resolution of 1600x1200 @60Hz went for 8 years ago?... cause I got one... my guess is > $1000.

I didn't know they even made anything that could do 1600x1200 8 years ago. I would have to guess it cost well over $1000. Nowadays, I've already seen a flat screen 19" monitor for about $200 after rebates. It's amazing how cheap computer parts have gotten.

The $200 4 MB SIMMs price was something I actually saw looking at an old computer parts catalog from c. 1990. Adjusted for inflation that would be something like $350 each today, so imagine populating all 8 SIMM slots in an old 386 M/B at the bargain price of only $2800. :eek: You would be hard pressed to pay that much for a system nowadays, and I think the most expensive 1GB DIMM doesn't run over $300.
 

Mercutio

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You're off by a little bit, blakerwry. I paid about $1350 for a 17" Mag in late 1993. I can probably even dig up the Computer Shopper I ordered it out of.

The second 17" I bought, in the fall of 1995, was only $585 + shipping, but I paid wholesale price from the importer for it.
 

Fushigi

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jtr1962 said:
The $200 4 MB SIMMs price was something I actually saw looking at an old computer parts catalog from c. 1990. Adjusted for inflation that would be something like $350 each today, so imagine populating all 8 SIMM slots in an old 386 M/B at the bargain price of only $2800. :eek: You would be hard pressed to pay that much for a system nowadays, and I think the most expensive 1GB DIMM doesn't run over $300.
The best example of RAM pricing in the micro world was the Apple ][ Language Card. Basically an expansion card to let you go from 48KB to 64KB. IIRC, it was something like $499.

$499 today gets a complete system with monitor & change in your pocket.

- Fushigi
 

Fushigi

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blakerwry said:
that's a little optimistic... I could get a computer for that... but a good quality monitor is not going to fit into that budget.
http://www.bensbargains.net/ktalk/1039125482,56287,.shtml and add a $125 15" CRT from a local PC shop.

Sure, it's tough to walk into a store and get a deal like that, but you can find something like it almost any day online.

Besides, I never said the monitor would be good quality. :D

- Fushigi
 

blakerwry

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I agree, high end NEC monitors are great, but there lower quality stuff is, IMO, not woth the price.

I would like to get a flat screen though... A 16" would be nice but prices are still to high for my budget.
 
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