MSI K8N Neo2

[larsh]

Got a new MSI MB last week, and find some inconsistencies in the manual.
Under memory configuration it says use both green sockets before the purple ones, and further to configure either socket 0 and 1 or socket 2 and 3 with dual channel RAM. The problem is that socket 0 and 2 are green and socket 1 and 3 are purple.
Have they swapped colors since they printed the manual?
Notice slot 0 and 2 used on picture on AnandTech MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum: Features and Layout page.
Using Corsair twinx1024-3200xlpro memory in slot 0 and 1 at the moment, OS SuSE Linux 9.1 64 bit.

 

[Aries64]

larsh,

You are running the memory in correct dual-channel configuration, with the exception that MSI has numbered the slots 1, 2, 3, and 4 (not 0, 1, 2, and 3). You have some excellent memory. That said:

You have installed a stick of memory in each of Slots 1 and 2 (the two slots closest to the CPU) to enable the dual-channel mode. This gives you a stick in each channel. If you follow the manual's directions and populate both GREEN slots first you are only running a single channel. You probably alreqady know this, but in case you don't, this will not run as fast a dual-channel, because there is bandwidth competition by the memory sticks.

As printed at the top edge of the motherboard as it sits in a tower case, Channel A [CHA A] is GREEN, Channel B [CHA B] is purple. So, if you think about it you can figure out that the manual is giving incorrect info for dual-channel configuration.

Also note that if you have four (4) sticks of memory and want to run all four sticks (dual-channel x 2) , the system will not "bench" as fast as with only two sticks. Filling all slots willl "stress" the bandwidth and memory system more than with only two slots filled, so your performance will suffer.

I have a total of 4GBs' of Mushkin PC3500 Level II (THE BEST!) - 1GB each in my "old" P4 3.4C and P4 2.8Cs plus, until the other day, another 2GB in my new FX-53 939. I was running 2GB in my system but recently pulled 1GB out, as running all four slots defaulted the timing to a 2T Command Rate instead of 1T. You don't notice the speed difference while playing Halo or benchmarking with the Halo timedemo, but it makes a BIG difference in Sandra 2004 to the tune of about 200 points. I'm running 2-2-2-5-11 1T timing now. I think I'll throw my extra 1GB into my wifes P4 3.4C system.

Anyway, hope this was helpful...

 

[larsh]

Thanks for the answer. I noticed too that the memory would clock at 333 if all slots were populated.
Regarding the color discrepancy, I have seen a picture of an early release with first 2 green connectors in position 0 and 1 and then purple for 2 and 3. I guess the documentation have problems keeping up with the hardware.
System is now running perfectly at +50 Centigrade with 100% CPU load (Boxed +3500 CPU)