As has already been posted, the cover is a heat spreader that helps cool the
RAM ICs. How much it helps, I don't know. The little rectangular pieces are
surface mount ceramic capacitors, and yes, they are used to suppress
electrical switching noise - helps avoid data errors.

1. You seem to indicate that those capacitors were broken off when you
removed the metal heat sink. The photo show all the caps intact.

2. Why do you conclude that the RAM is bad? The memory tests you ran showed
no problems. What problems are you experiencing?

Peter
-----------------------------------------------
The NoSpin Group
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> -----Original Message-----
> I was not using that as my primary test anyway...
> I stuck in my Microsoft "Windows Memory Diagnostic" Bootable CD.
> (This is a special program available on the MS site.)
> I ran a full memory test. The "11 test" version, and it took
> 20-30 min or so,
> and passed them all...  I have since let that "loop" 42 times
> and it STILL
> passes them all...  (So much for software type tests...)
>
> Now the "bad" part.  To understand this better, you should
> visit the following link.
> It is a simple WEB page (total size: 43K dial-up friendly)
> with two pictures and
> some more info.
>
> http://www.s88555144.onlinehome.us/ram-question/ram2.htm
>
> The blue covers knocked off the little blocks at the top of
> the RAM stick..
> (That picture is of an undamaged stick...)
> Those covers are a VERY bad design.
>
> Someone on another list said they were the de-coupling caps
> for noise suppression,
> and if they are not there, I would have potential data loss
> due to switching noise.
> Make sense to me. They were there for "something".......
> Second opinions?
>
>                                       Rick Glazier

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