Recent content by larrymoencurly

It works fine because the extra chip that holds ECC data will simply be ignored. Really be sure that the memory is unbuffered because sellers don't always give accurate descriptions, so read the markings on the photo and verify the part number from the manufacturer's datasheet. I'm assuming...

And, ironically, a cheap iron is more likely to cause heat damage, despite its lower power output, because it won't melt the solder as quickly. And then there's Chip Quik low-temperature solder, "only" $1 an inch.

I can't get 2 different RAM diagnostics to find bad bits in 24 hours of testing with each, at a computer case temperature of 40 Celcius or with the RAM heatsink or chip packages at 50-60C.

Don't worry about it unless the OEM was dumb enough to use silver-bearing paste, about the only kind that can ever conduct. Paste won't hurt conduction of electrical signals because any film of paste will be pierced when the contacts touch.

Even though the motherboard is perpendicular to the bottom of the case, I wouldn't want it to sit flush because some of the internal copper layers that carry power may come out all the way to the edge and could short to the case. Either keep it raised at least 1/8" from the bottom, or put some...

It's either a shorted CPU, which I really, really doubt, or the voltage regulator (VRM) for the CPU is bad. I'd bet on the latter. Fortunately the MOSFETs on that particular motherboard are in packages where the pins can be reached, meaning they can be tested with a multimeter, and removal...

The only way to find out is by reading the numbers off the chips, but I really doubt many 2666 MHz chips found on modules are faster than CL19.

I don't think that memory is made from real 1600 chips because it's PNY brand, and retail 1600 memory with heatsinks on it rarely is but instead has 1333 chips. One of those rare exceptions I've seen being 1600 Kingston HyperX Fury, and it was factory overclocked to CL9. I've never had...

Somebody was using my power supply in 1999. The only repair was to fix solder joints on the transformer, which may have broken during shipping. All Japanese capacitors, all original.

I'm not confused. I clearly differentiated between the chip brands and the modules made by the chip makers and sold under their brands (except Micron's Crucial), even if they're supplied to Dell, HP, Apple, etc. Buy Hynix chips on a Hynix module or Samsung chips on a Samsung module, and the...

Nanya, Samsung, Micron (not their Crucial or Ballistix brands), or Hynix, and I mean for the whole memory sticks, not just the chips on them. That way you'll get high quality RAM chips that aren't overclocked in the SPD or RAM chips that are factory rejects. Unfortunately those brands of...

I heard about Pornhub* on a public radio weekend program, maybe RadioLab or Freakanomics, where somebody at the University of Chicago got his PhD by analyzing data provided by PornHub. Another of their programs mentioned customized porn videos, including one where a person paid $38,000 to see...

It's fairly easy to rip chips off the circuit board and tear up the copper traces, and reviewers at OCAholics and APHnetowrks managed to do that when they wanted to show readers the chips under the heatsinks. I think the safest thing to do is apply some glue removal solvenI while the heatsink...

Measure all the voltages at its rated power capacity, using both a meter and an oscilloscope, the way Oklahoma Wolf did. Voltage accuracy isn't that good an indicator of quality, provided no voltage goes out of spec (+- 5%, +- 3% is better) from minimum to maximum load.

GIve it to someone who wants to fix it because I suspect it's the circuit that handles the +5V standby