Darn!!!! My pads are double triggering!!!!!

hy there ... i found this note a while back. i thought maybe you wanna check it http://www.akai-pro.de/produkte/mpc4000 ... a.html#RAM

its on akai germany - writeen in german... and since those ram questions come up quite often and i havent found anythin on akai international i thought i ll translate it. no guarantees on the translation though! ... i leave a copy of the original in the next post ...


in akai samplers (Z4, Z8 und MPC4000) 168 Pin DIMM rams are used. but you can't just use any.

in the 4k there are 2 slots for up to 256 mb SDRAM DIMM ram each (265? i doubt )

important for 256 mb modules (not for 128 ones) is the type and number of "speicherbestückung" ( ... maybe memory equipment - sorry dunno any better.) each DIMM module has SDRAM chips and the size of the module is determined by the number and size of the chip. in akai samplers those chips cant be larger then 128MBIT (128 MegaBIT=16MB). a 256 mb module therfore needs 16 chips a 128 MBIT. (128 MBIT = 16MByte, x 16 = 256 MegaByte). if it only has 8 chips (8 x 256MBIT) the DIMM module gets recognized as 128 mbyte only.

cache latency is important too. only the more expensive CL2 modules are supported. according akai the "taktfrequenz" ( ... "frequency tact"?) of the DIMM module (PC100 oder PC133) is not relevant.

here is the original ...


In Akais Samplern der neusten Generation (Z4, Z8 und MPC4000) kommen 168 Pin DIMM Speichermodule, die im PC-Bereich weit verbreitet sind, zum Einsatz. Jedoch kann man nicht jedes beliebige DIMM Modul benutzen.

Die Z4/8 Sampler und die MPC4000 besitzen zwei Steckplätze für jeweils bis zu 265MB große SDRAM DIMM Module.

Wichtig beim Einsatz von 256MB Modulen (nicht bei 128MB) ist die Art und Anzahl der Speicherbestückung. Jedes DIMM Modul ist mit SDRAM Bausteinen bestückt und die Speichergröße des Moduls wird durch die Anzahl und Größe dieser Bausteine bestimmt. Im Falle der Akai Sampler dürfen diese SDRAM Bausteine nicht größer als 128MBIT (128 MegaBIT=16MB) sein. Ein 265MB (MegaByte) Speichermodul muss dementsprechend mit 16 Bausteinen mit jeweils 128 MBIT bestückt sein (128 MBIT = 16MByte, mal 16 = 256 MegaByte). Ist das DIMM Modul mit nur acht Bausteinen bestückt (8 x 256MBIT), wird das DIMM Modul nur als 128MB Speicher erkannt.

Auch die Latenz des Speichermoduls (Cache Latency) ist wichtig, es werden nur die etwas teureren CL2 Module unterstützt. Die Taktfrequenz des DIMM Moduls (PC100 oder PC133) ist laut Akai nicht relevant.

I really appreciate that helpful info and taking the time to translate it for me. I just came back from Circuit City and looked at the Kingston 256MB DIMM for $119 each (quite expensive given the fact I would need two of them). I'm still shopping around though. I thought about ordering them online but since I need to make sure each board is 168 pins and has 16 chips on it, I'll just stick with computer stores where I might have a better chance of returning them anyway.

Best Buy had a sale on memory so I bought some. It isn't Kingston though. It's PNY. It looks like it has 16 chips on each side, PC100/PC133 DIMM, 168 Pins. I think it meets all of the specfications for the MPC4000. I hope installing this will clear me of all my MPC sample troubles. I'll keep you posted when I see what happens.

Why tell you to buy Kingston and you buy PNY?? WHY!!!

I was shopping for Kingston. I only bought the PNY because it was on sale and the specs met those of the MPC. I just thought I'd try it out and see if it works since I can return it for a refund if it didn't. After installing it, it turns out the PNY didn't work and I do have to return it. So Kingston it is. I'll avoid all other brands.

I guess that's what I get for trying to play it cheap. Money isn't everything I suppose. I also found out it came with 256MB standard, which I didn't know. I wonder if I only need to buy one 256MB board instead of spending $200+ for 2. I think I only need one. Therefore, I'll return the 2 PNYs and get 1 Kingston 256MB PC100/133 DIMM 168 pin board.

I just made an unwise decision as I knew what I should have been looking at and let temptation get in the way. Cheaper isn't always better---or in this case----workable.

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll stick with Kingston.

I just exchanged the PNY memory for the Kingston and installed it. And Bravo!!!!!!!!!!! Everything works. My samples load perfectly and best of all, NO RINGING NOISE!!!!!!! Looks like I'm good to go as far as making beats now.


Thanks for all your help guys. I really appreciate it.