Kinda OT: DEC 3000 Model 300 AXP Memory

From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh_at_aracnet.com>
Date: Tue Jul 8 00:06:00 2003

> I don't think this machine is *quite* 10 years old yet, but it's pretty
> close -- and it's 'different' enough that hopefully I won't get flamed...

I'm not sure, but I think it's just over 10 years old, if not, as you say
it's pretty close.

> I have a DEC 3000 Model 300 AXP which is currently sitting idle -- it has
> Tru64 Unix 5.0 on it currently, and 64Meg of RAM. I was thinking of putting
> Alpha VMS 7.1 instead, for to start learning VMS again (someday... :-O )
> and I recall saying that Alpha VMS is much happier in more than 64M Ram, so
> I was thinking of upgrading it.

You can run it in 64MB, but it isn't fun.

> I do know that it uses 'standard' 72-pin Parity FPM Memory - but what I
> don't know is: how finicky is the machine? Will just any Parity memory
> work, or is it limited to certain manufacturers? I have a supplier that has
> used 32M Parity 72-pin FPM memory for $6/stick -- a decent price
> comparatively - I've seen it at $30+ per stick, which would make a memory
> upgrade cost more than the machine itself...

You're sure that it uses 72-pin? I'm honestly not sure, I know that the
3000/300LX does, but the 3000/x00 (can't remember the exact model) that a
friend has sitting in my Living room till she finds a drive for it, uses
proprietary RAM. Anyway, I've used various 72-pin FPM SIMMs in my Alpha's
and haven't had any problems that I can think of. Which isn't to say that
you won't have problems. The other question is, can it handle 32MB SIMMs,
and how many do you have to add at once?

BTW, 128MB is probably more than enough to just play.

> Should I take the chance and order the memory, or would it be foolhardy to
> do so?

Do you deal with anyone that scraps PC's? I'm using some RAM out of Pentium
Pro's in a couple of my Alpha's.

                        Zane
Received on Tue Jul 08 2003 - 00:06:00 BST