It's not just 36-bit, it's FPM memory. I don't know what the difference is, but
I know it's not compatible. (I believe the SparcLX also uses FPM memory, and
I've tried 32-bit SIMMS in it with no luck.)



Edwin Foo wrote:

> Actually, I was wondering - is this requirement for 36-bit memory a hard and
> fast one? I admit I'm no Alpha expert, but I have tons of 32-bit SIMMs lying
> around that I'd rather use instead of going out and buying $600 worth of
> memory for a $200 motherboard/CPU. :-)
>
> -Edwin
>
> >       * You'll need 4 or 8 pieces of 36-bit 72-pin SIMM memory.
> >         All SIMMs must be the same.  Performance will be better
> >         with 8 SIMMs (probably a bit better than the 164LX boards
> >         on code that doesn't fit in cache) because the machine will
> >         run with a 256-bit memory bus.  Appropriate memory is
> > available
> >         from The Chip Merchant, among plenty of other places:
> >         http://www.thechipmerchant.com/pricelist.html#SIMMs
> >         Chip Merchant part numbers 10310 and 10350 will
> > almost certainly
> >         work, the #10355 64MB parts will probably work but the boards
> >         are reputedly somewhat picky about which 64MB SIMMs they'll
> >         work with, so caveat emptor.
>
> -----
> Edwin Foo - Compaq Cambridge Research Laboratory
> <efoo@crl.dec.com> [O] (617) 551-7612 [F] (617) 551-7650