space for another DDR slot... put one there?

[eccerr0r]

I have an NForce2 µATX board with only two DDR slots.

It has a third slot drilled but solder-filled holes...

of course the question is ... if a third slot is added, will it work?

[Uranium-235]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

maybe, maybe not. If the traces are there, perhaps? You can find memory slots in many component places, but no promises. Won't be easy either.

[eccerr0r]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

Yeah there are traces...whether it's complete or not is another question.
Anyone did this before?

Yeah this is quite a feat to add it, would be quite disappointing if it didn't work after all's done and through.

It's an IGP NForce2, too. Could use more RAM. Only have 512M DDR sticks, want >1GB in an Athlon...

[piernov]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

I wouldn't count on it working. In any case good luck cleaning the holes, never managed to do it. I'm still using my desktop board with 3 slots out of 4 since I couldn't get a new one in. (original one was burnt)

[eccerr0r]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

Hoping that a vacuum desolder rework station would assist in hole cleaning but yeah it'd be a waste to find out it didn't work...worse than Topcat's floppy disk connector he did the same thing with. Sigh. I hate hate hate 2-DIMM desktop boards... oh wait this isn't the what pisses you off thread...

[cpt.charlie]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

Likely you will need to add some extra components like the resistors.

[Uranium-235]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

Likely you will need to add some extra components like the resistors.

pretty sure you hit that nail on the head there

[eccerr0r]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

Also have to keep in mind, other than chip selects, most DRAM chips pins are connected in parallel to save wires, so the PCB wiring is most of the work. But yes it's possible there are decoupling capacitors, 0-ohm resistors and *maybe* terminators that need to be added but can't think of any that wouldn't already be there...

Then I was staring at this PCI SATA/PATA card that has a missing PATA port...yet it appears all the components were soldered in for no reason...

[bigbeark]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

I was about to post a similar question, but in my case, the DDR slot is there, but physically damaged.

I'm thinking the easiest way to remove the old one would be to crush it to bits using pliers.
Removing the pins individually would then be simple. You could clean out the holes individually. If you can buy a new DDR slot, installing it should be simple enough.
The working slot on my board abuts the broken one, so I would have to be a bit careful, I guess.

Removing the entire broken DDR slot at one go would be tricky, involving some levering which could cause further damage.

Any ideas?

[cpt.charlie]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

The best option would be a solder bath, but that's an unusual tool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfT3SBcr9a0

If you can remove the plastic socket without damage the board it should be easy to remove the pins and clean the holes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G__Ry0-wXjA

Or maybe a big preheater and a hot air station but this would likely damage nearby plastic components.

[piernov]

Re: space for another DDR slot... put one there?

Reflow all the pins with leaded solder and heat with hot air on the back of the board. Need to gently pull on the slot with pliers, and work your way from one end to the other. It takes some time but I haven't had much trouble doing that.