EXB-M256 or simple laptop RAM

88keis · Post by **88keis** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:34 pm

I think that the EXBM256 is just a normal RAM for laptops.
Someone has try to put a normal Ram bank in the M3 slot?

afr · Post by **afr** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:41 pm

interesting question!

any test?

lcmorley · Post by **lcmorley** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:50 pm

I would have thought that Korg would have thought of that and realised that there was a money making opportunity there, so have probably created a customized version.

Sorry to be cynical.

But if somebody has tested successfully, I would love to know.

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:12 pm

As you can see in the picture, the EXB-M256 is a custom board:
http://www.korg.co.jp/Product/Option/ha ... l#EXB-M256

Matty_Boy · Post by **Matty_Boy** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:26 pm

It's a shame considering Tritons took normal ram.

rfoshaug · Post by **rfoshaug** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:00 am

And there were compatibility issues on the Triton. Some RAM types would work, others would not. Some would work, but create clicks and pops in the samples. And now, getting RAM that fits in the Triton Extreme is quite difficult, as the computer world has moved on to new types of RAM.

So you have to order that specific RAM from that specific dude on eBay, who guarantees that it will be compatible. With the M3, that dude is named Korg, and you can always be certain that the RAM will work.

It is not as flexible as if Korg had used standard computer RAM, but we are guaranteed that it will work.

Matty_Boy · Post by **Matty_Boy** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:07 am

Sure you had to buy the right kind of Ram for Tritons, but I don't think that's an excuse for profiteering. As long as you knew it was 72-pin, non-parity, EDO, 60 ns blah blah blah it would work. That's why forums like this are so useful to get that kind of information. I bought mine really cheap from Ebay and haven't had a single problem.

Monopolies rarley benefit the consumer.

88keis · Post by **88keis** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:07 pm

MartinHines wrote:As you can see in the picture, the EXB-M256 is a custom board:
http://www.korg.co.jp/Product/Option/ha ... l#EXB-M256

it seems like a normal sodimm 144pins

dorremifasol · Post by **dorremifasol** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:50 pm

it seems like a normal sodimm 144pins

Now who wants to try it?

88keis · Post by **88keis** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:13 pm

dorremifasol wrote:
it seems like a normal sodimm 144pins
Now who wants to try it?

you

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:07 pm

88keis wrote: it seems like a normal sodimm 144pins

Here is a BIGGER picture. The printed circuit board definitely states "KORG EXB-M256" and there are numerous printings of "KLM-2703" (the internal Korg part number).

Given Korg wants the fastest loading times possible for EXB-USBPCM expansions, I assume Korg wanted either higher speed RAM, or wanted to avoid the support problems of incompatible RAM.

sani · Post by **sani** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:34 pm

MartinHines wrote: Given Korg wants the fastest loading times possible for EXB-USBPCM expansions, I assume Korg wanted either higher speed RAM, or wanted to avoid the support problems of incompatible RAM.

Dear Martin,

let me correct you: they want our money.
No higher speed Ram and no supporting problems of incompatible ram. Ram either works or not. Our money that is...
...for the smallest ram in the workstation market these days (not counting kurzweil) and the most expensive one.

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:22 pm

sani wrote: Dear Martin,

let me correct you: Ram either works or not.

If RAM doesn't work, it IS incompatible. There have been tons of posts on the various Triton forums about people who THOUGHT they purchased the correct Sample RAM for the Triton series, only to encounter pops, clicks, and static. When they then purchased the correct RAM, these problems went away.

sani wrote: let me correct you: they want our money.

At least in the U.S., Korg USA is only charging $99 for the EXB-M256.

You nor I know the REAL reason why Korg developed a proprietary board.

sani · Post by **sani** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:04 pm

MartinHines wrote: If RAM doesn't work, it IS incompatible. There have been tons of posts on the various Triton forums about people who THOUGHT they purchased the correct Sample RAM for the Triton series, only to encounter pops, clicks, and static. When they then purchased the correct RAM, these problems went away.

So what! When you purchase a computer, you also have to care which ram to buy if you want to upgrade the ram. Is it a problem? Yes and no. I'd rather care for the ram by myself and risking to buy a wrong module (which I can send back) instead of paying those ridiculous prices.

MartinHines wrote:At least in the U.S., Korg USA is only charging $99 for the EXB-M256

Yes. And I'm verry happy for all you in the USA who can sit at home and order the ram online and wait 2-3 days until it arrives.

Now, outside of the USA there is something called "rest of the world" and - believe it or not - some of those people use a M3. In the bigger european countries you can order the ram from your national korg dealer. Did I mention somewhere, that we pay 200 dollars for the same golden egg as you?
Now, if you are from a smaller country somewhere in Europe and there is only a local small korg dealer, you have to order the so-special-korg-for-m3-ram for 200 dollars and wait 2 to 3 months until it arrives.
If you are maybe on a trip for example in germany and want to buy the ram while you are there in some of the bigger cities - WRONG! You cannot because you can only order it online from korg.de.
Great, as a second class customer you are returning to your country and order the ram from your local korg dealer and wait until it arrives.

Why am I telling you all this?
Because: While I was typing this post, my friend - a fantom/motif/kurzweil/anything user - would already buy a 512/1024 Mb for about 20 dollars in any of the local stores arround.

MartinHines wrote: You nor I know the REAL reason why Korg developed a proprietary board.

Yes I know: they want more money from us. If there would be a reason, they would already tell as. But there is nothing to say. It is a "special" ram to make extra profit. And it is a pretty damn small one.

steve m · Post by **steve m** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:36 am

The SAMSUNG RAM chip in the photo is standard 512Mbit SDRAM, 8M x 16bit x 4 Banks Synchronous DRAM. It looks to me like it's mounted on a standard laptop SDRAM circuit board with a Korg Screen-print on it. The termination and buss resistors are even mounted in the same place as many 'standard' SDRAM boards.