Re: Named PTF's - was CPF324A

Hi Steve,

Check out http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/rd/401/ogorman.html

------------------------------------
This paper presents a review of experiments performed by IBM to investigate
the causes of soft errors in semiconductor memory chips under field test
conditions. The effects of alpha-particles and cosmic rays are separated by
comparing multiple measurements of the soft-error rate (SER) of samples of
memory chips deep underground and at various altitudes above the earth. The
results of case studies on four different memory chips show that cosmic rays
are an important source of the ionizing radiation that causes soft errors.
The results of field testing are used to confirm the accuracy of the
modeling and the accelerated testing of chips.
------------------------------------

When in doubt, use Google -- this popped up on a search for "cosmic rays
memory chips IBM".

Rgds,
Peter Dow
Dow Software Services, Inc.
909 793-9050 voice
909 522-3214 cellular
909 793-4480 fax

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Landess" <steve_landess@hotmail.com>
To: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 3:18 PM
Subject: Re: Named PTF's - was CPF324A


> I know I didn't dream this up....Not being a rocket scientist, I made an
> honest mistake (no offense intended, Joe!)...
>
> It has been a cosmic day!
>
> <grin>
>
> Steve
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "MCPARTLAND, Stan" <stanley.mcpartland@bently.com>
> To: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
> Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 5:11 PM
> Subject: RE: Named PTF's - was CPF324A
>
>
> > > From: Steve Landess
> > >
> > > This may be stuff of urban legend, but I heard about it in the
mid-90's,
> I
> > > believe...
> > >
> > > Apparently some AS/400 customers were having intermittent problems
with
> > > their systems crashing.  After investigation, it was found that if the
> > > system was located above a certain elevation, gamma rays would zap
> memory
> > > bits between refresh cycles, causing the system to go down.
> > >
> > > The  fix was a PTF that caused memory refresh to occur more frequently
> >
> > I recall that PTF.  Used to have the cover letter, but lost it over the
> > years.  The cover letter listed cosmic rays as the cause of the problem.
> It
> > was a hyper PTF that was released in 1989 or 1990.
> >
> > Stan
> > _______________________________________________
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