1 gig DDR on a Abit KG7 Raid

[MSUguy]

I think I read somewhere that if you go over 512 megs of DDR on the Abit KG7 Raid you need the ECC type DDR modules. I have 512 of the non-ECC modules, so I need to order 4 ECC ones? Is this correct or can I just order two more non-ECC modules and be good to go?

Thanks.

 

[Mugsy]

Yeah you'll need 4 ecc sticks!

 

[Squibby]

First of all, it's Registered memory that you need...not ECC. Most registered sticks are ECC, but what you're looking for is "registered."

Secondly, it's not how much RAM you have, it's how many slots you use. You can use two slots with unbuffered (sometimes all four if you're lucky). You only "need" buffered/registered RAM if you want to use all four slots.

Squibby

 

[Athlon4all]

Just fyi, KG7-RAID does support 4 unbuffered DIMM's. So u can just buy 4x 256MB unbuffered non-ecc RAM. The feature isn't officially supported by Abit or AMD but still it's there and people have said that it does work fine.

 

[Insane3D]

"Just fyi, KG7-RAID does support 4 unbuffered DIMM's. So u can just buy 4x 256MB unbuffered non-ecc RAM. The feature isn't officially supported by Abit or AMD but still it's there and people have said that it does work fine. "

That is an incorrect statement. The Abit KG7 is a AMD761 based motherboard. The need for Registered DDR if more than two DDR slots are used is a limitation of the chipset. The KG7 does not do some magical trick to make this limitation disappear. The KG7 is just like any other AMD761 based board, and it will need Registered DDR to use that much RAM...plain and simple.

 

[Athlon4all]

I am going to quote 2 reviews of KG7-RAID ok Insane3D, Here's one form HardOCP:


<< Still, we were successful at running four double-sided sticks of Corsair PC2400 to total a half gig of memory on the board at 150MHz at the settings mentioned above. We could also use an entire gig of registered DDR on the board at 150MHz bus. All of these sticks used Micron Ram chips. When we mixed brands of chips, namely Samsung and Micron (this was over the official bank limit as well), we would experience OS crashes and blue screens. If the Samsung (which happens to be Corsair also), which is not produced anymore, was used alone, it did just fine. Also, if we mixed sticks and kept it inside the official specifications, we did not run into any trouble. >>

So, there's one from a reputable Hardware site, and here's one from one not so reputable (VIAHardware):


<< However the four memory slots can be a bit deceptive, as the AMD 760 chipset only has support for two unbuffered DDR modules (which is why we see many 760 based motherboards with only two memory slots). The interesting thing about the KG7, though, is the ability to run four unbuffered memory modules at once. This feature is not supported by either AMD or Abit, but in our testing with 4 Crucial 256MB PC2100 modules it seemed to work without a problem. However, because this feature is unsupported, different modules may have trouble working reliably. Props to Abit for breaking the norm once again and extending the limits of a chipset.To use all four memory slots, registered DDR memory must be used. When inserting the memory, the modules should be populated in Dimm 4 to Dimm 1. If you do what I did, inserting the module into Dimm 1, you will kindly have a message on startup stating to populate Dimm 4 first. >>

Ok so there u have it, 4x 256MB Crucial PC2100 works fine at VH, and 4x128MB Corsair PC2400 works great for HardOCP.

 

[Insane3D]

[/i]"<< Still, we were successful at running four double-sided sticks of Corsair PC2400 to total a half gig of memory on the board at 150MHz at the settings mentioned above. We could also use an entire gig of registered DDR on the board at 150MHz bus. All of these sticks used Micron Ram chips. When we mixed brands of chips, namely Samsung and Micron (this was over the official bank limit as well), we would experience OS crashes and blue screens. If the Samsung (which happens to be Corsair also), which is not produced anymore, was used alone, it did just fine. Also, if we mixed sticks and kept it inside the official specifications, we did not run into any trouble. >>"[/i]

First, they were using 4 128mb sticks, four of those unbuffered will work fine. They needed Registered to run a gig of memory, which is what the original post was asking about.. Four 128mb modules is the same as two 256mb modules...even though they used four sticks. It is the banks that count, not the number of sticks. They needed Registered to run a gig of memory. That statement just proved what I was saying in the first place...thanks for the backup.

"<< However the four memory slots can be a bit deceptive, as the AMD 760 chipset only has support for two unbuffered DDR modules (which is why we see many 760 based motherboards with only two memory slots). The interesting thing about the KG7, though, is the ability to run four unbuffered memory modules at once. This feature is not supported by either AMD or Abit, but in our testing with 4 Crucial 256MB PC2100 modules it seemed to work without a problem. However, because this feature is unsupported, different modules may have trouble working reliably. Props to Abit for breaking the norm once again and extending the limits of a chipset."

Ok, Via Hardware claims the AMD760 only has support for two unbuffered modules when it is actually the banks that count...not the modules themselves. There is one incorrect statement from Via hardware...but not surprising considering it is a Via based site. The second bolded sentence really inspires confidence in me...especially the "it seemed work"...seemed? That sounds real conclusive... I just ran my 1.4ghz @ 1.7ghz and it seemed stable...until I tried to run anything stressful...LOL! So, you are saying that it's a good idea to just buy 4 unbuffered 256mb sticks and save a few bucks, and be in direct conflict with a known chipset limitation because one site said it seemed to work and Abit has magically overcome the limitation of a chipset that they seemed to have had trouble bringing to market well after several other companies brought AMD761 based motherboards to market? The difference is like $2 or $3 dollars more for Registered...seems like a no brainer to me.

This last bit really is interesting, and it is from the same quote from the site that says it will work fine.

"To use all four memory slots, registered DDR memory must be used. When inserting the memory, the modules should be populated in Dimm 4 to Dimm 1. If you do what I did, inserting the module into Dimm 1, you will kindly have a message on startup stating to populate Dimm 4 first. >>"


I rest my case...

 

[Athlon4all]

I see your points, and I understand clearly that this guy will want to go Registered for 1GB of RAM. I rest my case also

 

[MSUguy]

Yes thanks all, just placed an order with Crucial for 4 - 256meg sticks of ECC-Registered DDR modules. I appreciate the forum and all your help.

 

[Boonesmi]

their is a reason why amd says the 761 only supports 2 sticks of unbuffered ram, if the chipset would work reliably with 4 then amd would be the first to say it (since its a selling point)


basically it would be silly to get a kg7 and buy 4 unbuffered ram sticks for it, you would just be begging for problems