Motherboard Memory Query

[Malatar]

Hi, I'm building a spare computer for my wife, and bought a Syntax K7SV266AD motherboard for a 1 Ghz AMD T-bird we had lying around.

The manual says the motherboard can only use 1600/2100 DDR SDRAM, but it doesn't mention if I can use the cheap high density memory modules like the Generic 1GB DDR (128Mx4 DRAMs) or the Generic 512MB DDR (64Mx4 DRAMs).

Anyone know if these would work? Their web site has no useful data on this question and while I'd like to get the cheapest memory possible I'd hate to see it come up with only half the memory visible also.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Peter]

This uses VIA KT266A northbridge, and yes it can use 512-Mbit RAM chips - and hence, 1-GByte DIMMs. x4 RAM chips are something VIA's northbridges do support even on desktop standard "unbuffered" DIMMs.

So yes, I'd go ahead with those. Be aware that this x4 stuff usually is the cheapest of the cheap. Do your own quality control - www.memtest.org is your friend.

 

[Malatar]

ARGH! BIOS only sees 512Mb of RAM. This motherboard can NOT use the cheapo high density RAM.

 

[Peter]

Hmmm ... according to VIA's specifications, the KT266A northbridge does have a 4-GByte RAM limit, implying that it does support 1-GByte DIMMs.

It may not be capable of handling the 128Mx4 DRAMs but certainly does have to do 64x8 and 64x4 type chips. Also, a BIOS update might be in order. Check with Syntax.

 

[Malatar]

Flashed the bios to the newest version at Syntax, but no luck. Still only shows 512MB.