> Geoff Adams writes:
>On 11/25/01 1:56 AM, Don Yuniskis at auryn@gci-net.com wrote:
>
>>    The IPC/SS1+/SS2 appear to take "normal" (heh heh heh...
>> what's *that*??) 30 pin SIMMs.  But, the LX/Classic seem to
>> use a "modified" 72 pin SIMM.  Looking through the FAQ
>> confirms this -- 33 bit instead of 32 or 36.  Can someone
>> identify a good (read that as "inexpensive"  :>) source
>> for these?
>
>Actually, you can use 36-bit SIMMs, as well.  I do this in
>my IPXes and used
>to do it in my ELCs, when I ran a couple of those.


Yes, the hardware FAQ claimed this was possible -- just
can't mix and match 33/36...

>In fact, if you turn on the debugging software switch (something like
>'setenv debug-switch? true' at the "ok" PROM prompt), when the machine
>resets, you will see RAM tests done, and then a message saying something
>like "switching to 33 bit parity mode" or "switching to 36 bit parity
mode."

Ah, cool!

>So, if you use 36-bit SIMMs, you'll actually be making use of the extra
>parity bits for additional data integrity protection.
>
>As a friend of mine says, "I'd never run a machine with only one parity
>bit for 32 bits of data."

Well, one can argue that if you *need* parity, you're already
dealing with a flakey system/design!  :>

>Cheers, and enjoy your Sparc hardware!


Thx,
--don