Double-Sided Memory and the 8KDA3J/8KDA3+?

[LocutusX]

Just wanted something quickly cleared up... my current memory config is 2 x 512mb OCZ PC3200 "Performance" Rev. 2.

If I was to get one of the forementioned Epox boards (or the MSI nF3 board, or the Asus one, etc.) what problems will I have? I ask because I'm quite sure that my memory is "double sided". SiSoft Sandra reports my memory as occupying 4 banks, at 256mb each. The term "bank" is synonymous with "side", no?

Will I have to to underclock my memory? That would kinda suck. ;(


Oh, and I'll probably get the CG-stepping A64 3000+ Newcastle.

 

[LocutusX]

bumpity-bump-bump!

If ANYONE has had issues with 2 x double-sided memory modules on ANY of the A64 motherboards... please say something! thanx

 

[LocutusX]

Bump *and* one more question...

It looks like both these Epox mobos are using two-phase power circuits instead of the "industry standard" three-phase.

Is that really the case? (Someone with an Epox, please check!)

(Note that the Soltek and Chaintech NF3 offerings seem to use 4-phase power regulation circuits!)

 

[Kenazo]

I have had a problem w/ 3x512 double sided memory in an nf3-150 shuttle (But this was when A64 was quite new). It ran it at pc1600 speeds, which sucked majorly. I ended up just taking a stick out and run w/ 2x512, and then it ran at the proper speed. You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[JBT]

I am running my Gig of double sided memory at 245 so no I don't think you will have to under clock the ram haha

 

[LocutusX]

1 module or 2 modules (DIMMs)?

2 x 512mb?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: LocutusX
1 module or 2 modules (DIMMs)?

2 x 512mb?

2x512 works fine, it's the 3rd stick that causes grief. I run 2x512 in my AN50R and it's fine, but Kenazo has had experience with 3 and it's a bad thing....

 

[LocutusX]

interesting you should mention that 2 x 512 is fine. the epox manual says that 2 x DS is not fine!

(and since most 512 is DS...)

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: LocutusX
interesting you should mention that 2 x 512 is fine. the epox manual says that 2 x DS is not fine!

(and since most 512 is DS...)

Look@JBT's sig

 

[LocutusX]

so why do they (epox) have to be such wieners and not admit to supporting 2 x DS? :/

 

[JBT]

Yes I noticed the Manual says that but I 've seen plenty of others with a GB and I run a GB and it runs great.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I am writing from a system I just built last night, with an Epox 8KDA3J, 3000+ Newcastle, and 2x512 MB Corsair 2.5CL Value Select (which is double-sided). Works fine.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: LocutusX
so why do they (epox) have to be such wieners and not admit to supporting 2 x DS? :/

Simply because the PC3200 specification allows one DIMM only, single- or double sided. Anything above that is YMMV territory.

Besides, all that doesn't even depend on what chipset the boards use. AMD64 architecture has the RAM controller(s) inside the CPUs, remember?

 

[LocutusX]

Peter, I've noticed that DIMMs which work fine on one A64 mobo, end up not working on another (or working at a lower speed).
Clearly, the motherboard is having an effect of some sort on RAM compatibility.
I understand your point about JEDEC's PC3200 spec. But for whatever reason, Asus and MSI see fit to indicate "official" compatibility for 2 double-sided DIMMs, as per the chart in their respective manuals.

 

[cowdog]

FWIW, I am running 2 x 512 OCZ PC3500EB in my 8kda3j. I have run the memory as high as 225 and HTT as high as 280. I imagine I can get more out of this setup and will explore that when I have a little more free time. I am currently usin DIMM slots 1 and 3. I too read the manual and was confused, but it has worked out fine for me.

I do think that A64s and socket 754 boards are finicky with memory. The OCZ EB memory, however, seems to work quite well.

 

[Steve]

That's one unbuffered DIMM per channel. Though people have been able to get more going, it's just not an official standard. Registered DIMMs allow more per channel.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: LocutusX
Peter, I've noticed that DIMMs which work fine on one A64 mobo, end up not working on another (or working at a lower speed).
Clearly, the motherboard is having an effect of some sort on RAM compatibility.
I understand your point about JEDEC's PC3200 spec. But for whatever reason, Asus and MSI see fit to indicate "official" compatibility for 2 double-sided DIMMs, as per the chart in their respective manuals.

The _motherboard_, particularly the quality of its layout and attention to signal integrity issues, obviously does have an influence. If a manufacturer feels like theirs does better than the JEDEC specified standard, they're free to write their BIOS to allow more.

sm8000 is also correct in that the electrical limits of course are per channel. The registers and clock PLL on a "Registered" DIMM electrically isolate the RAM chips on the DIMM from the mainboard's RAM bus. This makes a regDIMM present only one address line load, while an unbuffered DIMM is 4, 8, or 16 loads.

There's a point why server and workstation grade gear has RegDIMMs mandatory, y'know.

 

[BuckNaked]

I just received the 8KDA3J and still waiting for my processor to get here... I am going to pull my 2x512 sticks of Corsair PC3200LL out of the board I am currently using, and wanted to use it in the new system... Am I going to run into issues with this memory? I hadn't heard of anything prior to ordering this board, so I was not aware of any potential issues...

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Braxus]

I'm using a MSI K8N Neo Plat (NF3-250gb) at the moment with 3xDS 512MB DDR400 sticks. Running them at DDR400 2-3-2-10. Been sable so far!

 

[LocutusX]

Originally posted by: Buck_Naked
I just received the 8KDA3J and still waiting for my processor to get here... I am going to pull my 2x512 sticks of Corsair PC3200LL out of the board I am currently using, and wanted to use it in the new system... Am I going to run into issues with this memory? I hadn't heard of anything prior to ordering this board, so I was not aware of any potential issues...

From what I've read on this board and others, it looks like Epox was just trying to "cover their ass" by printing in their manual that 2 x DS won't work at full speed. Plenty of people have had success with 2 x DS, although there are still some people who have not. Since A64's in general are much more picky about memory than AXP's, it's still "luck of the draw" to some extent.

Generally speaking, most of the people who have had success with 2 or 3 DS DIMMs seem to have good quality, branded memory, from well-known manufacturers, and not stuff from unknown brands or "value lines".

 

[Steffenm]

I recently bought and installed the 8KDA3J motherboard, with an Athlon 64 3000+ CPU. I thought I could save a lot of money and use the memorychips I already had, but this proved to be wrong. What I had was:

-2x Apacer 256MB DDR PC2700/333MHz (Single-Sided)
-1x Apacer 512MB DDR PC2700/333MHz (Double-Sided)

Only way I can get these working stable is with the 512-chip and one of the 256-chips, or only one 256-chip. Which is the way it is described in the manual. One DS and one SS. One DS or one SS worked fine as well, in any DIMM-slot. But the two 256-chips in at the same time didn't work very well, and even worse was it with all three chips in at the same time. Computer crashed and froze both in Windows and when trying to start games.

But then again, I have come to learn that Apacer is a so called "Cheap" brand.. Nothing fancy, that is.
That have been my apologie (misspelled?) till now, and I've seen "light in the end of the tunnel".
This thread have really softened my heart and made me love my 8KDA3J board more. So, my question is: Is it likely that some more expensive memchips will work as they should? Main brands on my mind are Corsair, GeIL or OCZ.

The one I'm aiming for is Corsair TwinX 1024-PC4000 (Two matched 512MB chips). How will this work? :roll:

 

[BuckNaked]

I have the board running with 2x512MB sticks of Corsair PC3200LL without issue...

Dave

 

[imported_Smithy]

No shame in APacer. APacer was the only sh|t that would work in my old slot A. btw its still there and works fine. ( no I am not running a slot A now )

 

[DoobieOnline]

I've tried two different pairs of PC4000 512MB sticks with the Soltek nForce3 250GB and a 3000+ (which is stable at 10 x 250) running 1:1.

2 x 512MB Crucial Ballistix PC4000 max stable is 235MHz, 2.5-3-3-10-1T, at 2.8V (max for the board)
2 x 512MB Geil Ultra max stable is 240MHz, 2.5-4-4-10-1T, at 2.8V

Just a few days ago, the Crucial would only hit 210MHz at 2.8V no matter what timings were used. Maybe it had to go through a burn-in period because it's suddenly stable in Prime 95 up to 235MHz with the exact same settings in bios

doobie

Edit: forgot to mention that both the Crucial and the Geil will hit 250 FSB no problem with my P4 rig, so it's the "picky" A64 mem controller that's holding me back.

 

[filmore crashcart]

8kda3j with 2x 512 DS Kingston Value ram in dimms 1 and 2 - no problem.