DIMM First Aid v1.0

is available for download from Glenn Anderson's MacTCP.Org in New Zealand. Glenn developed this application to add CL3 instructions to the EEPROM of most RAM disabled by Apple's Firmware Update v4.1.7/4.1.8. He recommends that it is best to get a replacement RAM module or to have it programmed by the factory because many of the RAM modules can run at 8 ns and 125 MHz instead of the 10 ns and 100 MHz that Glenn's application conservatively applies.

-- TGIF, April 6 --

[12:15p]Profiler X from PowerLogix: PowerLogix announced today the public beta release of their new diagnostic utility, Profiler X. Profiler X is an OS X version of the popular Cache Profiler software for OS 9. It allows users of OS X to read the processor speed and cache speed and other details of their machine. Also included in the public beta, is a command line interface for changing L2 cache settings. This code works with all PowerLogix upgrade cards. (Some models of PowerLogix cards set the cache automatically and do not require software.) It also works with all other brands of processor cards, as it supports any PowerPC compatible SRAM and any valid PowerPC cache size. A GUI version of the command line interface of is expected to be released very soon.

[9:30a]DIMM First Aid Worked: We sent Glenn Anderson the DIMMCheck read out from our PowerBook 2000's non-functioning 256 MB SO-DIMM that we originally obtained from MemoryX. It had worked fine until we applied Apple's Firmware update v4.1.8 on 3/23. The problem with the MemoryX RAM is the lack of CL3 instructions in the EEPROM but MemoryX has adopted a "wait for Apple" policy with regard to replacement or repair as we noted yesterday.

Not wanting to sit around with a non-functioning 256 MB RAM chip for who knows how long, we applied Glenn's DIMM First Aid application which he had emailed back to us. Upon rebooting, our PowerBook 2000 recognized the MemoryX module once again. After several hours use we have experienced no problems.

The RAM chip from MemoryX is apparently a very good one, a CL2 222. Based on the information we supplied, Glenn wrote back: "That DIMM is 8ns and would actually be capable of running at 125Mhz in CL3 mode with the firmware update if it had the correct timing info."

Many thanks, Glenn. You've done the Mac community a terrific service.