68kMLA Classic Interface

This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.

Click here to select a new forum.
RAM upgrade for my SE30?
Posted by: ChrisW381 on 2023-07-12 11:13:29
Have a restored and recapped SE30 with 40mins HDD and 8 Meg RAM using all the slots. So I would like to take it up to 128 meg if possible. Best place to get these chips please?
Posted by: Phipli on 2023-07-12 11:18:02
Have a restored and recapped SE30 with 40mins HDD and 8 Meg RAM using all the slots. So I would like to take it up to 128 meg if possible. Best place to get these chips please?
128MB is a huge amount of RAM. For normal use, 20 is plenty, 32 is crazy and 64 is more than you could ever imagine using.

This said, OWC sells 16MB SIMMs with a lifetime warranty I believe.


As long as they're not too tall for the SE/30 - watch putting them in. The clearance isn't great and if it snags you can damage things (with any SIMMs, not just these).

If you don't have something particular in mind, I'd suggest just getting four to start.
Posted by: joshc on 2023-07-12 11:23:33
Also bear in mind that a 128MB memory test in an SE/30 will take about 4-5 minutesโ€ฆ so it makes the boot time very slow indeed. Iโ€™d say go for 32MB or 64MB instead.

But yeah those OWC sticks or MemoryMasters work.
Posted by: ChrisW381 on 2023-07-14 01:10:37
Many thanks all, gone for 32 meg (2x sticks) so just waiting for the shipping from the US
๐Ÿ‘

Chris
Posted by: Phipli on 2023-07-14 01:27:58
Many thanks all, gone for 32 meg (2x sticks) so just waiting for the shipping from the US
๐Ÿ‘

Chris
Sadly this won't work - the RAM is arranged in banks of four SIMMs (each SIMM is 8bits wide, and connected to a 32bit bus).

You have to fill each bank of four slots with four identical SIMMs.

For 32MB you would need four 4MB SIMMs, in both banks for eight 4MB SIMMs total, if you're using 16MB SIMMs, yould be putting 64MB in one bank.

You'd also still likely have four 1MB SIMMs in the other bank. Just because, well, you're not going to leave it empty. Why would you ๐Ÿ™‚
Posted by: ChrisW381 on 2023-07-14 01:32:19
Sadly this won't work - the RAM is arranged in banks of four SIMMs (each SIMM is 8bits wide, and connected to a 32bit bus).

You have to fill each bank of four slots with four identical SIMMs.

For 32MB you would need four 4MB SIMMs, in both banks for eight 4MB SIMMs total, if you're using 16MB SIMMs, yould be putting 64MB in one bank.

You'd also still likely have four 1MB SIMMs in the other bank. Just because, well, you're not going to leave it empty. Why would you ๐Ÿ™‚
Ok thanks well thatโ€™s a bummer, Will have to see what turns up in terms of size of the chips then order again ๐Ÿ™
Posted by: Phipli on 2023-07-14 01:37:53
Ok thanks well thatโ€™s a bummer, Will have to see what turns up in terms of size of the chips then order again ๐Ÿ™
Where did you order them from?
Posted by: ChrisW381 on 2023-07-14 01:40:52
OWC Computing as recommendation
Posted by: Phipli on 2023-07-14 01:49:14
OWC Computing as recommendation
If they haven't dispatched your order, drop them a message and ask can you update your order.

See if you can avoid paying for shipping twice.
Posted by: ChrisW381 on 2023-07-14 01:50:01
Ok will try thanks

Chris
1