Memory Chip Test Rig

[rubber_jonnie]

Speaking to Exxos the other day about a RAM issue, he suggested I remove one chip from a working bank, and fit a socket so I could test a chip at a time.

Whilst it was a fantastic idea, removing the RAM chips from the socket was a pain and risked breaking pins on the chips, so I wondered how I could speed things up.

Thinking about how I might speed things up and reduce the risk of pin breakage, three words came to me: Zero Insertion Force!!

With that in mind, I ordered a 16 pin DIP ZIF socket, and when it arrived, I set about building a rig that would allow me to plugh the ZIF socket into the socket on the board, and quickly and easily insert and remove RAM chips for testing.

Aside from the ZIF socket, I used a small piece of Veroboard and some header strips, which I usually have lying around spare.

Here are some pics of my creation:

tester1.jpg

tester2.jpg

And here it is installed in the mainboard. Makes removal of RAM chips super easy, and testing is quick, safe and easy :)

tester3.jpg

[exxos]

:dualthumbup: Geek points for you today!

Takes me like 10mins to get one chip into a socket, so a ZIF is a great idea!

[rubber_jonnie]

:dualthumbup: Geek points for you today!

Takes me like 10mins to get one chip into a socket, so a ZIF is a great idea!

Ooooh, more geek points, ace :)