K8N Neo2 Platinum runs double sided ram in dual channel mode @ 333mhz?

[BentValve]

What would be the recommended thing do to if I have 2 double sided modules with the is motherboard?

 

[Aries64]

K8N Neo2 Platinum runs double sided ram in dual channel mode @ 333mhz?What would be the recommended thing do to if I have 2 double sided modules with the is motherboard?

First off - what memory do you have? You said your memory is DS (Double-Sided), but is it DDR400 or DDR333?

Assuming that your motherboard and/or CPU are dual-channel capable, what are your trying to do? Are you trying to run dual-channel DDR400 or DDR333? Your question isn't really clear. That said:

From what I gather from Section 2-8 of the (K8N Neo2) guide you can run DDR400 DS in dual-channel mode in Slots 1 & 2 (Green and Purple slots closest to the CPU) at DDR400. Or, you can also run them at DDR400 in dual-channel by placing the ram in Slots 3 & 4 (Green and Purple slots furthest from the CPU).
Obviously, you need a CPU that has a dual-channel memory controller (FX-53, FX-55, 4000+,3800+, or 3500+) to run dual-channel.

If your memory is DDR333 than you can run SINGLE-CHANNEL ONLY. This is accomplished by filling Slots 1 and 3 (BOTH GREEN), or also by filling ALL (FOUR) SLOTS. Please note that according to the manual you CANNOT fill Slots 2 and 4 (PURPLE) for single-channel while leaving SLOTS 1 and 3 (GREEN).

Hope this helps.

 

[BentValve]

That does help alot, thanks.


Does the 3200+ have an onboard memory controller?

 

[BentValve]

Basically I have 2 x 512mb Corsair Value PC3200, id like to run them DDR400 , but I only have an Athlon 3200+.


Would I be better off forgoing the dual channel rather then run them slower and in dual channel mode?


MSI recommends filling up the green slots first and they do not recommend using a single green and purple slot if its possible.


Right now I have both sticks in the green slots and its running at DDR333.

 

[Aries64]

Does the 3200+ have an onboard memory controller?

Yes it does. All Socket 939 CPUs' have an onboard memory controller. In the case of your S939 Athlon64 3200+, it is a single channel.

Would I be better off forgoing the dual channel rather then run them slower and in dual channel mode?

You CANNOT run dual-channel, as your CPU's (onboard) memory controller is only a single-channel controller. You will have to run both sticks on the same channel at 200Mhz (or as high as you can clock them).

MSI recommends filling up the green slots first and they do not recommend using a single green and purple slot if its possible.

Actually, that is not what the MSI K8N Neo2 manual states. What is says is:

"Always insert the memory modules into the GREEN slots first, and it is strongly recommended not to insert the memory modules into the PURPLE slots while the GREEN slots are left empty".

Translation: MSI recommends filling the GREEN slots ["Channel A", DIMMS 1 and 3] first for single channel, (as opposed to using the PURPLE slots ["Channel B", DIMMS 2 and 4] BECAUSE IF YOU "POPULATE" the PURPLE slots first (leaving the GREEN slots empty) the board may not recognize the memory correctly. This is normal.

Most motherboards boards have "common slots" (i.e. same channel slots next to each other), so to configure the memory for dual-channel operation you have to "skip" a slot when inserting the memory modules. Not so with the K8N Neo2 - the memory slots are arranged so that you install the memory side-by-side for dual-channel (this is why the slots are color-coded).

...they do not recommend using a single green and purple slot if its possible

If you have two sticks
of 512MBs' each and you put one in DIMM1 (GREEN, Channel "A") and the other in DIMM2 (PURPLE, Channel "B") your mobo will only recognize the 512MB stick in the GREEN slot ("Channel A") because you have a single channel memory controller on your S939 Athlon64 3400+ CPU AND A STICK IN EACH CHANNEL (ASSUMING TWO STICKS) CONFIGURES THE MEMORY FOR DUAL-CHANNEL. Your CPU's memory controller can't "see" the second stick in the PURPLE slot. Get it?

 

[sodcha0s]

Dude, I don't know what you're saying, and maybe I'm mis-reading it, but it sounds like you are WAY off base.
"if you have two sticks
of 512MBs' each and you put one in DIMM1 (GREEN, Channel "A") and the other in DIMM2 (PURPLE, Channel "B") your mobo will only recognize the 512MB stick in the GREEN slot ("Channel A") because you have a single channel memory controller on your S939 Athlon64 3400+"

I'm here to tell you, I have that motherboard, an AMD64 3000+ 939, and 2x 512MB Corsair XMS 3200 mem, and it certainly does run in dual channel. In fact, I thought that was one of the main differences between 939 and 754..... all 939's are dual channel, where 754's are not.

 

[SrGuapo]

Any s939 processor can run in dual channel... Assuming that you have a Wincheter, you can run dual channel, otherwise, you will have to stick with single channel.

 

[Rams2001]

Mr. BentValve,
I've got one of those MSI boards coming in the mail, and I bought the same memory that you have bought. SO, naturally I've taken some interest in your question and have done some reading at the MSI website about their MoBo that we now own.
In short, I think the double sided memory has got you having to make some hard choices. You can either have DDR400Mhz and Single Channel OR you can have DDR333MHz and Dual Channel
If your memory was single sided memory you could have both DDR400MHz and Dual Channel.

I hope I'm wrong...............
-Chris...

 

[sodcha0s]

Rams2001, my memory is double sided 400Mhz and runs in dual channel. I guess I need to go to MSI's site and see what's said about this issue. I know when I got the board and read in the manual about how to set up my memory, I was confused as well. They seem to be lacking in that department.

 

[BentValve]

Aries64, thanks you are absolutely correct on each account , thanks

I am running the ram in one green and one purple now and its at 400mhz




I wonder if my ram placement yesterday would account for some of the system instablility I have had so far.

Last night the system crashed for the 5th time or so and I could not get so much as a fan blip out of it ...NOTHING ..this morning it blipped the first try and on the second try it booted up.


What I had been doing was running the ram in the dual channel slots @ 333mhz then upping the FSB to 220ish ..it was working fine but I have some instability. The screen froze several times.


I am concerned that my PSU might be to blame but I just dont know...Id really like an explanation as to why I got the NOTHINGNESS last night. Ive never had a PC not do anything at all. BTW I did clear the Cmos.

 

[Rams2001]

What have you got for a PSU?

I'm happy to hear things are working better for you this morning!

My parts should arrive Friday, and I'll try to post my experiences over the weekend.

-Chris...

 

[WA261]

MSI has a page with this exact info. Check it out.

 

[sodcha0s]

Straight from MSI's site:
? The Maximum memory speed decreases when the following two memory combination is selected:
- Each channel is installed with two double-sided memory module (this means ALL four slots are filled with double sided modules)
- Both DIMM1 and DIMM3 are installed with double-sided memory module (typical single channel install)

So, your 2 double sided pc3200 modules SHOULD run in dual channel @400Mhz in slots 1 and 2, OR slots 3 and 4.

 

[Kovie]

1. All 939's are dual channel, thats the entire purpose of the extra pins vs. the 754. I have no idea where you received the idea they werent.
2. There is about a 5% average benefit from going to dual channel, not using dual channel negates any reason to even use a 939 processor instead of a 754. Its also the reason the PR ratings were upgraded vs their same clock 754 counterparts.
3. Boot and instability problems quite often tend to be power supply related, as this board has an odd tendency to sometimes be picky with some power supplies.

 

[naddicott]

Dealt with this board and two 1024MB sticks of dual sided RAM earlier this week. Slots 2&4 did not boot (and are not listed among the working combinations in the manual). Slots 3&4 are working fine. Have not attempted 1&2, largely because the Zalman heatsink gets perilously close to slot 1.

[edit: 2&4 and 3&4 were mixed up]

 

[Aries64]

I'm here to tell you, I have that motherboard, an AMD64 3000+ 939, and 2x 512MB Corsair XMS 3200 mem, and it certainly does run in dual channel. In fact, I thought that was one of the main differences between 939 and 754..... all 939's are dual channel, where 754's are not.

You CANNOT run dual-channel, as your CPU's (onboard) memory controller is only a single-channel controller.

Hey sodcha0s, you're right dude - I was really tired and forgot that we were talking about a dual-channel K8N Neo2 (S939) as opposed to the single-channel K8N Neo (S754). Thanks for making the correction. Duh. Thats' why theres a 185-pin difference. Duh.

My apologies to the OP (BentValve) for stating that your S939 CPU was single-channel. I brain-farted and forgot that you had a S939 3200+ on a K8N Ne02 AS OPPOSED TO AN S754 3200+ ON A K8N NEO. My mistake.

 

[Aries64]

Dealt with this board and two 1024MB sticks of dual sided RAM earlier this week. Slots 3&4 did not boot (and are not listed among the working combinations in the manual).

Unless I am now mis-reading the manual, the DIMM chart at the top of Section 2-8 shows that YOU CAN install 128MB-1GB (and, it "IS ASSUMED" THAT 1GB STICKS ARE DOUBLED-SIDED) sticks in EITHER DIMM1 & DIMM2 OR DIMM3 & DIMM4 FOR DDR400.

HOWEVER, if populating ALL FOUR (4) slots with DS (Doubled-Sided) RAM the memory will run at DDR333.

 

[naddicott]

Originally posted by: Aries64

Dealt with this board and two 1024MB sticks of dual sided RAM earlier this week. Slots 3&4 did not boot (and are not listed among the working combinations in the manual).

Unless I am now mis-reading the manual, the DIMM chart at the top of Section 2-8 shows that YOU CAN install 128MB-1GB (and, it "IS ASSUMED" THAT 1GB STICKS ARE DOUBLED-SIDED) sticks in EITHER DIMM1 & DIMM2 OR DIMM3 & DIMM4 FOR DDR400.

HOWEVER, if populating ALL FOUR (4) slots with DS (Doubled-Sided) RAM the memory will run at DDR333.

You're reading the instructions correctly. Ram Instructions for K8N Neo 2 Platinum.

I mixed things up in my original post (corrected by edit). 2&4 failed to post (and the manual doesn't suggest such a config), but 3&4 work well. Yes, 1GB sticks are safely assumed to be double sided, I like being redundant.

 

[imported_yoda]

I just finished building a computer with this board, and using the diagnostic D-bracket that it comes with It shows that it cannot get past the Memory Detection Test which means that "the memory module is damaged or not installed properly". I am using Corsair XMS 3200 dual-channel DDR400 (2x512mb) and a 3200+ Winchester CPU. I have tried putting these memory modules in every possible dual-channel or single-channel combination possible.

Does anyone else know what my problem is, because i cant even get into BIOS without fixing this problem. I really could use a fast response.

 

[clentz]

I have a K8N2, FX-55, and 4 sticks of 512MB PC3200 Ballistix ram. Would it be better to run 2GB(all 4 sticks) at DDR333 or 1GB(2 sticks) at DDR400?

Charles

 

[Aries64]

I have a K8N2, FX-55, and 4 sticks of 512MB PC3200 Ballistix ram. Would it be better to run 2GB(all 4 sticks) at DDR333 or 1GB(2 sticks) at DDR400?

I would say that unless you actually "need" to run all four sticks just use two and run them at DDR400 (or faster if you can tweek the memory and timings for better performance).

If your RAM is double-sided (DS) and you stall all four sticks your Command Rate will revert to 2T. Then, if you go into th eBIOS and change the memory's Command Rate back to 1T your system will not boot. You will have open your case and reset the CMOS to default settings, then go back into the BIOS and and tweek all your settings again. I know I had to do this before when I tried to run four (4) sticks of 512MB PC3500 Mushkin Level II (the original BH-5 stuff).

Note: Anandtech also mentions the 4 stick 2T Command Rate default in their "Socket 939 Roundup: Battle at the Top" article of 7/30/2004. Anandtech also notes that this, I quote:

"The MSI K8N Neo2 was able to run with all 4 DIMM slots at the same aggressive 2-2-2-10 settings used for 2 DIMMs. However, as we have seen on the other 939 boards running all 4 DIMMs, Command Rate must be reduced to 2T when filling both Dual Channels."

I tested my board at 2-2-2-5 1T and got just under 6100 in the SANDRA Memory and Cache Benchmark. When I ran four sticks I only got 4900+. Also, when running Halo there was a negative framerate count of about 10fps.

So, if you are running Photoshop or any other image editing or memory-hungry apps 2 sticks as opposed to four sticks may be a toss-up - two sticks at higher bandwidth, lower latency and 1T Command Rate at (DDR400 or greater) or four sticks at slightly lower bandwidth, equal latency, and 2T Command Rate but probably less disk-swapping?

Probably the only way for you to find out whats best for you is to test both configurations on your system running the apps you plan to use most frequently.