Do they even make a 1GB single bank DDR module

[geezman]

I'm looking to build a new computer and plan on doing some video editing. So far I am looking at an MSI nForce4 board with a venice A64 and starting with 2GB of memory, and eventually 4GB. What is the best route to go to achieve this? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[fstime]

I dont think you will need 4 gigs anytime soon. I dont do video encoding but I would suggest getting 1gb and see if thats enough, if it isnt, add another.

 

[superkdogg]

A64's current mem controller doesn't officially support 4 banks. That's why you have to adjust timings to use 4 sticks. By the time you need 4 gigs of ram, you'll also need a new mobo IMHO, so you may not have a problem there.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: superkdogg
A64's current mem controller doesn't officially support 4 banks. That's why you have to adjust timings to use 4 sticks.

Not exactly. If the A64 memory-controller didn't support four "ranks" ("banks" in SDR/DDR now refer to chip-internal banking), then they wouldn't work at all, not just require reduced timings. You're right that you have to reduce the timings, but that's because of the loading on some of the signals, not because the memory-controller lacks support.

 

[superkdogg]

We're talking semantics here, but...

The fact that you can use four sticks doesn't mean that it's officially supported. It's kinda like an overclock. You can run a CPU at an speed that is not officially supported. The company often gives you the capability to use components beyond what they are spec'd for.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: superkdogg
We're talking semantics here, but...

The fact that you can use four sticks doesn't mean that it's officially supported. It's kinda like an overclock. You can run a CPU at an speed that is not officially supported. The company often gives you the capability to use components beyond what they are spec'd for.

The A64 can use four DIMMs; however, on the current cores, you need to drop to 2T command rate, and possibly to DDR333. It's technically unsupported at 1T/DDR400 (I think), but it works with at least some CPU/MB combinations.

I know I've seen this spec quoted in reviews, etc., but I could not find it on AMD's website (which, by the way, is horrible if you're trying to find technical documents).

I did find this, and other sources that said the same thing: AMD64 processor specs -- the S754 processors support three DDR SDRAM DIMMS at up to DDR400, and the S939 processors are supposed to support four DDR SDRAM DIMMS at up to DDR400 (S940 supports up to eight DIMMs). No mention is made of them being single- or double-sided, or if timings need to be reduced with four DIMMS installed. Maybe they only validate like that in the context of a particular motherboard?

 

[ribbon13]

If you seriously need 4GB I'd highly advise going Dual Opteron.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
If you seriously need 4GB I'd highly advise going Dual Opteron.

 

[ribbon13]

I seriously doubt you really need 4GB or even 2GB for that matter but here->



I'd reccomend getting the S2895UA2NRF and S2895A2NRF from AxentMicro. The 'U' version has dual U320 SCSI onboard.

Best deal on opterons is the 244

I wouldn't reccomend anything other than a PC Power & Cooling Turbo-cool 510 AG. K8WE has the same form factor and power connectors as the K8W. QVL here

512mb $94 Corsair CM72SD512RLP-3200
1024mb $203 Corsair CM72SD1024RLP-3200

If you want 2GB of ram, get four of the 512MB sticks. You could get two of the 1GB sticks on CPU0, and two of the 512MB sticks on CPU1 for 3GBs, or two of the 1GB sticks on each cpu for 4GB

For a chassis, I'd suggest a ($130) Enlight EN-8950B00.