Socket 754 DDR400 RAM questions

naitkris

ok, normally i can find solutions to these kind of questions quite quickly, but seeing as i haven't been able to i'll ask some boards.ie users...

1) i know socket 754 DDR400 support works well in 1 DIMM slot (be it single or double sided DDR modules) but not so well when there is 2 or 3 DDR400 modules as it'll work at DDR333 or slower speed. yet how come so many of the speed freaks who post their system specs are using top quality RAM but with 2 x 512MB sticks instead of 1 x 1024 - if there is a performance gain on socket 754 with a single DIMM why don't people go for slightly cheaper quality RAM but with 1 x 1024MB module for the guaranteed DDR400 speed?

2) does anyone know if the following RAM for sale on jes.de is compatable with the socket 754 MSI K8N Neo Platinum motherboard:
- DDR PC400 512MB MDT CL2,5 (it costs only 78 Euro and is the cheapest on jes.de, yet is brilliant for overclocking from reviews i've read)
- DDR PC400 512MB Infineon Original (90 Euro on jes.de, i know some Infineon DDR RAM works on the K8N Neo, but not sure if this specific one does)
- DDR PC400 512MB Mushkin Basic Green (92 Euro on jes.de)

So depending on what modules from the above work on the K8N Neo, should I go with 1 x 1024MB DDR400 RAM instead of 2 x 512MB DDR400 RAM because of the performance limitations of using 2 or 3 DIMM slots on socket 754 or will i be ok with 2 DIMM slots but not 3 with the K8N Neo?

Thanks for any help!

BloodBath

Can't say i've heard of any performance limitations from using two sticks of RAM unless they are different speeds. i.e. if one was pc2700 and the other pc3200 then they would both run at pc3200 but if they are the same speed then you should have no troubble.

Using Dual channel memory with intel chips offers a nice performance gain. That's why we all use 2 x 512mb.

Have a look at www.shop4memory.co.uk

They are based in Ireland with free delivery within a couple of days.


BloodBath

naitkris

BloodBath wrote:

Can't say i've heard of any performance limitations from using two sticks of RAM unless they are different speeds. i.e. if one was pc2700 and the other pc3200 then they would both run at pc3200 but if they are the same speed then you should have no troubble.

Using Dual channel memory with intel chips offers a nice performance gain. That's why we all use 2 x 512mb.

thanks, but i know this already. looking for socket 754 related DDR400 RAM info...

the Athlon 64 for socket 754 is really badly limited in terms of the number of modules that can run at DDR400 speed, the K8N Neo is one of few motherboards that can hit DDR400 with 2 modules - but it depends on make etc. etc. so i've read.

Matt Simis

naitkris wrote:

thanks, but i know this already. looking for socket 754 related DDR400 RAM info...

the Athlon 64 for socket 754 is really badly limited in terms of the number of modules that can run at DDR400 speed, the K8N Neo is one of few motherboards that can hit DDR400 with 2 modules - but it depends on make etc. etc. so i've read.

Its up for debate if the issue is the CPU (memory controller), motherboard or bios. Ive had numerous A64s so far on 2 K8T800 and one NF3150 board, no combination of various brand 2x 512MB PC3200 Dimms would run reliably (lockups, reboots, sometimes no post). Generally it was accepted that the problem is more precisely with double sided memory. For the past few months Ive ran 2 A64s (1st gen boards, various CPUs) with 1x 512MB and 1x 256MB with 100% success. Recently I got some of the cheap 1GB sticks going on the forsale board, which work perfectly, at over PC3200 to boot (they are rated PC2700).

Hopefully the 2nd gen boards and CPUs no longer have these issues.


Matt

BKtje

- if there is a performance gain on socket 754 with a single DIMM why don't people go for slightly cheaper quality RAM but with 1 x 1024MB module for the guaranteed DDR400 speed?

I dunno, Matt Simms seems to have done more testing that i could be arsed doing but from what i've read from revies (well at least the impression i got) was that the 2nd gen boards (mainly nvidia chipsets revies i read) were fine with 2x512 . If a 3rd was added it usually underclocked. Each board is different however which makes me think its more a motherboard issue than a memory controller issue.

For the record i have no problems at all running 2x512 at either stock or overclocked speeds (i had it at 1:1 (250fsb) but found that tighter timings were actually better for performance).

Just review your board maybe checking the manufacturers forums for advice.

naitkris

thanks for the replies.

i've checked everywhere and can't find any info on whether the MDT DDR400 memory works on the K8N Neo board...