Are 1GB DDR400 DIMMs compatible with the Intel 865 chipset?

[Cenarius]

Is there are hard and fast rule about the compatibility of 1GB DDR400 DIMMs with all motherboards based on the Intel 865 chipset? I?ve been researching this for a while and haven?t come up with anything definitive. I would imagine that the DIMMs would have to be low density, which I assume always means double-sided for a total of 16 chips. But would these type of DIMMs work in all 865 boards?

(Edit: added answer to sub-title)

 

[renethx]

Official information is Intel 865P & 865PE Chipsets Datasheet:

• Up to 4.0GB of DDR
• Supports up to four DDR DIMMs, single-sided and/or double-sided

(page 20)

The MCH can be configured to support DDR266, DDR333, and DDR400 (82865PE only) memory
in single- or dual-channel mode. This includes support for:

• Up to 4 GB of 266 MHz DDR DRAM, 333 MHz DDR DRAM, and
  400 MHz DDR DRAM (82865PE only)
• DDR266, DDR333 and DDR400 (82865PE only) unbuffered 184-pin DDR DRAM DIMMs
• Up to 2 DIMMs per channel, single-sided and/or double-sided

Table 15. System Memory Capacity

• DRAM Technology: 512 Mb
• Largest Increments: 1024 MB
• Maximum Capacity (4DS DIMMs): 4096 MB

(page 125)

 

[Cenarius]

Thanks for the pointer. I?ve now had a look at that Intel chipset PDF and also noted the following:? Supports 128-Mb, 256-Mb, 512-Mb DDR technologies
? Supports only x8, x16, DDR devices with four banks
? Registered DIMMs not supported

Another resource I found was this Micron PDF, albeit 3 years old, which states:
Allowed components and module configurations include:
? Four-bank DDR SDRAM devices
? A maximum of two dual-rank DIMMS per channel,
for a maximum system capacity of four dual-rank DIMMs
? 128 x 16, 256 x 16, or 512 x 16 components, single-rank DIMM

Prohibited components and module configurations include:
? Modules using 64Mb or 1Gb components
? Modules using x4 or x32 components
? Dual Rank x16-based DIMMs
? Registered DIMMs
I don?t know much about module configurations, but wouldn?t the high density 1GB DIMMs be the ones to avoid?

Edit: OK, I think I get it now. You can?t use:
? modules with 1Gbit components, ie chips
? modules with 4 chips, or 32 chips

So, no-can-use 8-chip (ie single-sided) 1GB DIMMs.

Don?t know what to make of "dual rank" though.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: sum1
Don?t know what to make of "dual rank" though.

For practical purposes, a DIMM rank can be interchangible with DIMM side. i.e. dual rank = double sided

This doesn't always work-out because there can be a difference between logical and physical sides of a module. e.g. a module can be double sided but single rank

i865 will support 1024MB modules built with 64Mx8 DRAM (512Mbit) chips.