Best RAM for my motherboard - HELP !!!

[Chess Gator]

Hi,

I am considering buying the TYAN Tempest i5400PW (S5397) motherboard, it takes 240-pin DDR2 FBDIMM - maximum of 128GB DDR2-533/667/800. I will be using the computer for computer chess.

What is the best RAM choice for this motherboard and my needs?

http://www.tyan.com/product_board_spec.aspx?pid=560

Thank you,

Chess Gator

 

[Mondoman]

Well, since you didn't mention price, I would think 128GB of fully-buffered DDR2 RAM would be your goal. Note that you need the special "fully-buffered" RAM for that MB, not the consumer-grade "unbuffered" RAM.

 

[Chess Gator]

Originally posted by: Mondoman
Well, since you didn't mention price, I would think 128GB of fully-buffered DDR2 RAM would be your goal. Note that you need the special "fully-buffered" RAM for that MB, not the consumer-grade "unbuffered" RAM.

Hi, can u suggest a specific manufacturer and model that stands out as the best?

What is better the type you mentioned or Dual Channel RAM?

Thanks

Chess Gator

 

[Boyd117]

It depends on the cpu you plan to run...most likely your only going to need ddr2-667

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Most manufacturers are about even when it comes to server RAM. You want fully-buffered for the reliability. DDR2-667 will work fine.

 

[Chess Gator]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Most manufacturers are about even when it comes to server RAM. You want fully-buffered for the reliability. DDR2-667 will work fine.

Hi, sorry to belabour the point, can you help to understand why fully-buffered RAM would be better than Dual Channel, I notice most companies high MHZ RAM is dual channel, it is making me nervous, thanks.

 

[Mondoman]

"fully-buffered" and "dual-channel" are apples and oranges. "Fully-buffered" refers to a feature of the hardware design of the RAM module itself. "dual-channel" refers to a feature of the hardware design of the *motherboard* and has nothing to do with the memory module. In the old days, some dual-channel motherboard designs had problems running in dual-channel mode unless the RAM modules used were *exactly* the same. Thus, some memory manufacturers started selling identical RAM modules in pairs. However, there is no difference in the physical design of RAM modules sold in pairs versus those sold individually.
"Fully-buffered" is a feature of the DIMM module that you *must* have in order for it to work on the motherboard model you mentioned. "Dual-channel" mode is a feature of the motherboard memory controller, so you don't need to worry about it when buying RAM.

Remember, too, that you will need an OS that supports multiple physical CPUs and 64-bit computing; were you thinking of running Linux?

 

[Chess Gator]

Hi, I would be using Vista 64.

If a motherboard could support Dual Channel like Supermicro and another one supported Single Channel fully buffered like Tyan, which would be the better RAM to use?

http://www.supermicro.com/prod...n1333/5400/X7DWA-N.cfm

http://www.tyan.com/product_board_detail.aspx?pid=560

The problem with Supermicros boards is they do not use SAS hard drives only SATA.

Let me know what you think !

Thank you,

Chess Gator

 

[Mondoman]

Since both boards use the same chipset, I would expect both to support dual-channel mode. As I pointed out before, there is no such thing as "dual channel" or "single channel" RAM -- it's a feature of the motherboard, not the RAM. The RAM modules are exactly the same in both cases.

For maximum compatibility, go with one of the RAM modules tested as compatible by the motherboard's manufacturer.