Re: A8N-SLI using 2Gbytes memory modules?

In article <dhgg1t$gn7$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Roland Scheidegger
<rscheidegger@xxxxxx> wrote:

> John Lewis wrote:
> > On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 20:26:15 +0200, Hp <hp@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Hello,
> >>
> >>does this board or AMD-CPU support already 2 GByte memory modules? To
> >>go for 4/8 GBytes of system memory.
> >>
> >
> >
> > Nope, afaik-- since the board max is 4Gbyte.
> >
> > Consult the user-manual. Download on-line at www.asus.com
>
> It indeed lists 4GB as the maximum (as do most other socket 939 boards).
> However, I'm not quite sure where this limitation comes from or if it
> even exists in practice, apparently the cpus (which containg the memory
> controller) support 4 x 2GB modules just fine, for instance the abit ul8
> board is advertized to support 8GB ram.
> So this only leaves board layout (1 address line not wired, seems
> unlikely), chipset (the same chipset with a different name for the
> workstation market supports it, and I'm not sure the chipset is involved
> at all) or bios (obviously needs to support memory address remapping,
> but it needs this already for the full use of 4GB).
>
> Roland

I find AMD to be very evasive on this issue. Only the 26094.pdf
"BIOS and Kernel Developer's Guide" discusses setup for various
sizes of DRAM modules, and I cannot find docs anywhere on the
AMD site that say what the total memory limits are.

BIOS 1006 on the Asus download page, lists "Add Memory Re-map function
SETUP Item", and BIOS 1007 says "Modify SETUP String and it's
discription of DRAM Over 4G remapping function". It sounds like
there is BIOS support for the memory hoisting function needed
to punch a hole below 4GB for I/O purposes.

The Samsung M368L5623MTN-CB3 is listed here:

"Validated DIMMs - AMD Athlon 64 Processor"
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/DevelopWithAMD/0,,30_2252_893_10125,00.html
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/DownloadableAssets/Athlon_64_Unbuffered_DIMM_AVL.pdf

So all the ingredients are there, except the sure knowledge
that the Nvidia chipset doesn't have some issue with
interconnecting to a processor that has 8GB of memory.

Perhaps a call to Asus Tech Support will clear this up.
Sending Asus a copy of "Athlon_64_Unbuffered_DIMM_AVL.pdf"
might speed up the process :-)

Paul
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: AMD 64x2 4400+ 4G ram apprears only 2G on XP SP2
    ... > Seems like high memory graphic adapters take quite a chunk of memory after ... >>> See this thread on AMD processor support forums for more info. ... I realize I had seen the thread on the AMD forum. ... morning the BOTH responded with a bios "modified for personal/internal use" ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: So what is the most loved PS/2 model and the most hated?
    ... While the module connectors itself are 32-bit as well it should be able to support 4 x 32 or 64MB Parity in that layout. ... There is however a problem with the 16 Adress Base / Split registers, which determine the memory module base adress resp. ... Given the Bermudas have only 4 module connectors and use only the lower 8 registers that would result in a 128MB adressable space *if* the BIOS would accept 4 x 32MB modules - which it doesn't. ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware)
  • Re: Problem in expanding onboard memory
    ... manufacturer that makes its alledgedly identical product unacceptable to the ... there was an issue with P4's and memory>512MB. ... Keep in mind that this support CAN be changed by a BIOS flash. ...
    (comp.os.os2.misc)
  • Re: Dim 8250 Memory
    ... With the introduction of the 2.53Ghz processor that ran at the new 533Mhz FSB, the 8200's came with the 850E chipset. ... Soon thereafter, Intel announced support for the PC1066 RDRAM, however, the Dell 8200's BIOS did NOT support the PC1066 RDRAMS. ... In benchmarks and some apps, you might, but considering the difference in price, I'd stick with the more readily available PC800 RIMMS. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Updating Bios on an XPS 8200
    ... It only officially supported a 400MHz FSB and 800MHz memory. ... Even with the 850 chipset, overclocking to support 533MHz FSB and 1066MHz memory often worked.]. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)