What's the diff b/t the A64 and AthlonFX?

[MichaelD]

A confused AMD fan wants to know...the person shall remain nameless.

 

[MDE]

Facts:
Opteron 1xx- Same as the FX, except requires registered ECC DDR DIMMs, will stay Socket 940
FX- Dual channel DDR, requires registered DIMMs, Socket 940 (will go to Socket 939 in the near future)
64- Single channel DDR, will take plain old DDR DIMMS, Socket 754

Speculation:
Same amount of L2 cache on all three (speculated by me)
XP SP1a appears to be required to install on an FX
FX may require ECC DDR

Please add to this explanation, correct it, and bump as needed to avoid any more threads asking this question.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks M.D.E. Maybe this could be added to the FAQ?

 

[xtreme2k]

I guess the follow up question to this is...

Then what is the difference between an Opteron 14x and an Athlon FX...?

Because I dont see any.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: xtreme2k
I guess the follow up question to this is...

Then what is the difference between an Opteron 14x and an Athlon FX...?

Because I dont see any.

Model name, that's all it is. Both are the same.

-Por

 

[xtreme2k]

Yah I know now they are the same.

I first thought FX would require UNBUFFERED instead of REGISTERED MEMORY. I guess I am wrong now.

However, I think AMD is SO STUPID REQUIRING the REGISTERED memory on the FX part.

FX is kinda like the P4EE. For serious users and 'gamers' and mad 'overclockers'. They are UNLIKELY to like the idea of REGISTERED MEMORY. Plus there is only 4 dimms on 2 channels, requiring REG memory is UNNECESSARY.

 

[RatDog8102]

Will the Socket 754 be around for at least a couple of years?

 

[The Sauce]

What is the difference between a registered DIMM and an unregistered DIMM? I know, but there is someone I know who doesn't know and would like to...I can't say who.

 

[FullRoast]

Registered memory: Here's a link. Basically, registered memory clocks the address and control lines into a register before using the signals to access the memory. It adds a cycle of delay to the memory tranfer. A lot of servers require registered memory to add stability and support more loads (memory dimms) on the signals.

 

[Snoop]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
FX- Dual channel DDR, requires registered DIMMs, Socket 940 (will go to Socket 939 in the near future)
64- Single channel DDR, will take plain old DDR DIMMS, Socket 754

EDIT: Please add to this explanation, and bump as needed to avoid any more threads asking this question.

Edit, found the info.

 

[mrgoblin]

Its not a rumor, its been confirmed for about a month

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Snatchface
What is the difference between a registered DIMM and an unregistered DIMM? I know, but there is someone I know who doesn't know and would like to...I can't say who.

Then YOU explain it to him

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

is there a difference in L2 Cache bewteen the athlon fx and Athlon 64? and with the opteron?

 

[MDE]

The Opteron and FX are essentially the same animal except the ECC requirement on Opteron. I believe the 64 has the same cache as Opteron\A64, just single channel memory.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Originally posted by: RatDog8102
Will the Socket 754 be around for at least a couple of years?

No, it is rumored to be phased out next year.... :/



mike

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Mikewarrior2

Originally posted by: RatDog8102
Will the Socket 754 be around for at least a couple of years?

No, it is rumored to be phased out next year.... :/



mike

Socket 940 for the Athlon 64 FX will be phased out (going to be 939), I'm pretty sure 754 will be kept around for budget A64 systems.

 

[MDE]

bump

 

[mechBgon]

There were a few tidbits updated at Hardware Analysis:

• Evidently regular 32-bit WinXP needs to be at SP1A level to install on their Athlon 64 FX (link)
• The A64 FX seemed to need registered ECC modules, at least for use on an Asus SK8N; it wouldn't run with non-ECC modules. Given that the memory controller is on the CPU, that seems like a pretty clear answer that playing with the big toys means investing in R-ECC modules, for now at least.

 

[mechBgon]

:Q Lookie here:

The CMX512RE-3200LL is a 512 MByte, two bank, ECC registered ultra-low-latency DDR SDRAM DIMM. The part has been designed with a special ultra-low-latency SPD program, which configures it to automatically boot up with optimal latency settings in most Athlon 64 FX motherboards. Since configuration is automatic, there is no need to adjust BIOS settings to attain maximum performance. The impact of these low latency settings are shown below. This part has been tested extensively in the Asus SK8N and other Athlon 64 FX motherboards that support registered memory.

Looks like Corsair is interested in this market.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
:Q Lookie here:

The CMX512RE-3200LL is a 512 MByte, two bank, ECC registered ultra-low-latency DDR SDRAM DIMM. The part has been designed with a special ultra-low-latency SPD program, which configures it to automatically boot up with optimal latency settings in most Athlon 64 FX motherboards. Since configuration is automatic, there is no need to adjust BIOS settings to attain maximum performance. The impact of these low latency settings are shown below. This part has been tested extensively in the Asus SK8N and other Athlon 64 FX motherboards that support registered memory.

Looks like Corsair is interested in this market.

If Corsair is in the fray, that's a very good sign. I won't be entering this 64-bit arena for quite some time. I've got a dream rig with "yesterdays" components waiting to be built, you know.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
There were a few tidbits updated at Hardware Analysis:

• Evidently regular 32-bit WinXP needs to be at SP1A level to install on their Athlon 64 FX (link)
• The A64 FX seemed to need registered ECC modules, at least for use on an Asus SK8N; it wouldn't run with non-ECC modules. Given that the memory controller is on the CPU, that seems like a pretty clear answer that playing with the big toys means investing in R-ECC modules, for now at least.

My original post has been edited accordingly. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[MDE]

Before work bump...

 

[MDE]

Re-bump for the pre-launch searchers.

 

[Lyfer]

Registered ram, implementing single channel on the A64 instead of dual? Is purposely trying to lose customers? Why can't we just have non-registered RAM (So we can use our existing ram) and dual channel capability.

 

[deepinya]

That would equire you to buy more RAM.....which means more money for 'them'.