Printer memory

Memory is delivered on a single DIMM, which occupies one of the four slots available. This leaves three DIMM slots that may be used to add memory, fonts, or firmware upgrades.

The memory that comes with the printer is on one of two types of combination Flash/DRAM DIMMs. The HP LaserJet 5100 and HP LaserJet 5100Le printers use a 4 MB Flash/ROM and 16 MB SDRAM version; the HP LaserJet 5100tn and HP LaserJet 5100dtn printers use a 4MB Flash/ROM and 32 MB SDRAM version.

Note

DIMMs and SIMMS are not compatible.

Only one type of DRAM DIMM is supported— SDRAM DIMMs that are 32-bit, 100-pin, 100 MHz (PC100).

 

Read-only memory and random-access memory (RAM)

 

Besides storing microprocessor control programs, the read-only memory (ROM) stores dot

 

patterns of internal character sets (fonts). Early versions of the printer might contain

 

downloadable flash rather than ROM to store the processor code (firmware).

 

The random-access memory (RAM) contains the page and I/O buffers and the font storage area.

 

It stores printing and font information that is received from the host system, and can also serve to

 

temporarily store a full page of print-image data before the data is sent to the print engine (see

 

“Page protect” on page 81). RAM memory capacities for each printer are shown in on page 16.

 

Memory capacity can be increased by adding DIMMs to the formatter PCA. Note that adding

 

memory (DIMMs) might also increase the print speed for complex graphics.

 

 

Note

If the printer encounters difficulty managing available memory, a clearable warning message

 

appears on the control panel.

 

Some printer messages are affected by the auto continue and clearable warning settings from

 

the configuration menu in the printer control panel. If CLEARABLE WARNING=JOB is set on the

 

control panel, warning messages appear on the control panel until the end of the job from which

 

they were generated. If CLEARABLE WARNING=ON is set, warning messages appear on the control

 

panel until [GO] is pressed. If an error occurs that prevents normal printing and AUTO CONTINUE=ON

 

is set, the printer goes offline for 10 seconds before it returns online. If AUTO CONTINUE=OFF is

 

set, the message appears until [GO] is pressed.

 

 

 

Nonvolatile random-access memory

 

The printer uses nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) to store I/O and information

 

about printer configuration. The contents of NVRAM are retained when the printer is turned off or

 

disconnected.

 

Memory Enhancement technology

 

The HP Memory Enhancement technology (MEt) effectively doubles the memory capacity

 

through a variety of font- and data-compression methods.

 

 

Note

MEt is only available in PCL mode; it is not functional in PS mode.

 

 

80 Functional information

Q1860-90918