Method for optimizing memory modules for user-specific environments
View Patent ↗A method for altering and preferably optimizing the performance of system memory of a computer system. The method includes identifying the motherboard and the memory module of the computer system, and then searching multiple SPD update files associated with multiple motherboards and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of multiple memory modules. From these SPD update files, a compatible SPD update file is identified that is compatible with the motherboard and contains data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of the memory module. Thereafter, a software utility is used to erase pre-existing SPD data stored on the SPD circuit device and then write and verify installation of the data of the compatible SPD update file on the SPD circuit device. New SPD settings for the memory module are then enabled based on the data of the compatible SPD update file.
1. A method for allowing an end-user to alter performance of a system memory of a computer system, the computer system comprising a motherboard and at least one memory module having a Serial Presence Detect (SPD) circuit device that contains data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of the memory module, the method comprising:
Identifying the motherboard and identifying the at least one memory module by accessing and communicating with the SPD circuit device;
searching a plurality of SPD update files associated with a plurality of motherboards and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of a plurality of memory modules;
identifying module-specific SPD update files from the plurality of SPD update files based on the identified at least one memory module;
identifying a compatible SPD update file from the module-specific SPD update files based on the identified motherboard, the compatible SPD update file being associated with the motherboard and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of the at least one memory module;
the end-user using a software utility to erase pre-existing SPD data stored on the SPD circuit device and then write and verify the writing of the data of the compatible SPD update file on the SPD circuit device; and
enabling new SPD settings for the at least one memory module based on the data of the compatible SPD update file.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching and identifying steps are performed over a network of computers.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching and identifying steps are performed online over the Internet.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the software utility and the compatible SPD update file are downloaded from the Internet.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the software utility and the compatible SPD update file are provided on the Internet by a manufacturer of the at least one memory module.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the searching step is performed by first identifying the motherboard among the plurality of motherboards, and then searching through the plurality of SPD update files which are associated with the motherboard.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching step is performed by first identifying the motherboard among the plurality of motherboards, and then searching through the plurality of SPD update files which are associated with the motherboard.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the new SPD settings enhance the performance of the at least one memory module for operation with the motherboard.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the software utility accesses and communicates with the SPD circuit device through a system management bus of the motherboard.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the SPD circuit device is an EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM).
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compatible SPD update file is a binary file.
12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising backing-up the pre-existing data stored on the SPD circuit device prior to installing the data of the compatible SPD update file on the SPD circuit device.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the enabling step comprises rebooting the computer system.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the software utility verifies the installation of the compatible SPD update file by a process that comprises comparing at least one of the address space parameters, frequency, and latency settings of the at least one memory module and the compatible SPD update file.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed following a firmware or BIOS upgrade on the motherboard.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed to ensure proper operation of the at least one memory module on a different motherboard.
17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer system operates with a Windows-based operating system.