Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2001/04/09/apple_runs/

Apple runs with 2-2-2 and 3-2-2

They think the story's all over... It is now

By Lester Haines

Posted in Bootnotes, 9th April 2001 11:52 GMT

Apple bans PC SDRAM for users own good

Tim Kowalsky wants to take us to task on Mac SDRAM:

I was disappointed today to see that you published the above story without first checking to make sure you had your facts straight. You've now added an addendum to the bottom of the story that sort of backpedals on your initial claims, but it doesn't really seem to go far enough. (Admit it - you were just plain wrong and you jumped the gun on the story.)

The firmware upgrade does *not* block 2-2-2 memory chips. The fact that Apple ships machines with 3-2-2 chips does not mean that 2-2-2 cannot be used in the machines. What they have blocked are "iffy" memory chips that don't properly identify themselves or have other problems... chips that will likely cause crashes, etc. if installed in a Mac no matter what kind of operating system it is running. This is not entirely unreasonable. Buying memory chips from the lowest priced seller no matter what isn't a good idea - unfortunately some people will do that and then cry when they later have problems.

Having said that, I personally have two 256 mb DIMMs in my G4. Both of them are 2-2-2 memory. I purchased them from an online retailer (Otherworld) who guarantees that their memory will be 100% Mac compatible. Luckily they are also one of the cheapest around, but without that guarantee I would have gone elsewhere. I installed the firmware upgrade and have had absolutely no problems with the chips being recognized in either OS 9.1 or in OS X. When I run the system profiler they are both recognized correctly.

I think that the addendum is perfectly reasonable. Readers who think otherwise can lobby to have Tony Smith thrown into the Vulture Central stocks for the afternoon.

Your point about cheap components is spot on, though.