4DIMMs and 975X

[soydios]

So, I'm looking ahead to my Conroe build, and I'm wondering if I should go with 4GB of memory. Coming from the AMD camp, I'm familiar with the 1T/2T detail with 2DIMMs/4DIMMs, and I'm wondering whether or not this behavior also occurs on Intel chipsets, specifically the 975X. So, here are my questions:
- will the 975X memory controller still be able to run 4 1GB DIMMs at their rated speeds of DDR2-800 CL4?
- will running 4 1GB DIMMs lower the overclocking potential of the system?

Here's the pertinent hardware I'm planning on using:
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo (Conroe) E6600 (2.4GHz 4MB L2 Cache 1066MHz FSB)
- RAM: OCZ XTC DDR2-800 1GB (4-5-4-15)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227089
I would order two packs of RAM (each is a dual-channel kit), for a total of 4GB(4x1GB).
- Motherboard: Asus P5WD2-E 975X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131589
I would be getting the Conroe-compatible version or equivalent, whenever that might be.

 

[anandtechrocks]

I'd like to know this too.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

I believe not. I had a 478 P4 a while back and had 4 512 dimms. No problems whatsoever. Ran @ 1T

 

[stevty2889]

You can run 4 sticks with no trouble. Heck, I ran 6 sticks on my gigabyte 8IK1000 with a 3.06ghz northwood, and still no performance hit.

 

[ForgetCassettes]

Will the Asus P5WD2-E motherboard even support conroe? I have this board and I was under the impression I would have to buy a new motherboard to run a conroe chip.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: ForgetCassettes
Will the Asus P5WD2-E motherboard even support conroe? I have this board and I was under the impression I would have to buy a new motherboard to run a conroe chip.

Good point, it's not supposed to support conroe. They are making a diferent 975x chipset motherboard that will support conroe. The only known current motherboard that supports conroe is the Intel 975x Badaxe board, with a certain revision. There will be 975x boards that support conroe, but most of the current boards won't.

 

[secretanchitman]

the conroe equivalent of your mobo (the one i want as well hehe) is th asus P5W DH Deluxe (975x) and the P5B Deluxe (965x).

 

[uOpt]

You can buy 2 GB DDR2 sticks, BTW.

The real question is what are good 2GB sticks.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
You can buy 2 GB DDR2 sticks, BTW.

The real question is what are good 2GB sticks.

they're not cheap, though.

 

[996GT2]

Parents have a P4 3.0C with 4 512mb Kingston DDR400 sticks...no problems running at advertised latency and such