Need RDRAM info plz

TBonZTBonZ Ottawa, ON Icrontian
edited August 2003 in Hardware
I have a job to do on a customers machine and one of the tasks is to give it a memory upgrade but oddly enough this is the first rdram equipped system I have ever dealt with so your guidance is very much needed.

MB: ECS P4ITA V1.0 - Supports up to 2Ghz of memory.

It currently has 2 X 64MB, 800Mhz Samsung modules installed.

They want it brought up to 512MB.

1 - Can the modules be mixed and matched (different sizes and differing manufacturers)? For instance a 256, 128 & the 2 - 64MB, will that work?

Also, what are those other modules which seemingly are only pieces of PCB board. Are they just inserts for unused ram slots or are they needed for this particular platform? I hope some of you know what I 'm talking about. :scratch:

Comments

  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    No, you can't mix and match size like you say; they need to be paired - matching size. I'm pretty sure you can mix and match manufactuers though.

    The other modules are terminators since RDRAM needs to be paired like that.
  • TBonZTBonZ Ottawa, ON Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Ok, so the 64MB modules have to be dropped and replaced with 2 identical 256MB modules?

    Also, those terminators must be present? Can you not install 4 128MB modules without the terminators instead of just 2 modules and 2 terminators?

    It seems way too expensive and stupid to bother with rdram to me. :rolleyes2
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    TBonZ said
    Ok, so the 64MB modules have to be dropped and replaced with 2 identical 256MB modules?

    Also, those terminators must be present? Can you not install 4 128MB modules without the terminators instead of just 2 modules and 2 terminators?

    It seems way too expensive and stupid to bother with rdram to me. :rolleyes2

    A. You can keep the two 64s if you want. //edit... they only have to be matching per pair, so you can have two 64's and two 256s if you like or something similar.

    B. The terminators can be left out if you replace them with a pair of RDRAM sticks.

    C. Yes, it is. And high latency also.
  • TBonZTBonZ Ottawa, ON Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Hehe, alright if I get this right, 2 X 64MB & 2 X 256MB will work. EDIT - Just saw your edit.

    Doesn't do me any good though as those numbers just don't add up for me.

    Thx for the help GH, much appreciated. :respect:
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    No prob. Good luck with that P4 & RDRAM garbage... ;)
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited August 2003
    Easy now... RDRAM is still a viable platform, it's just expensive.
    You have to install all modules in matching pairs, sizes.

    All modules in (even opposite pairs) have to be the same NS rating.

    C-RIMM's (Continuity RIMM's) are those terminators utilized to complete the RDRAM bus and only need to be used to fill the empty RIMM slots on your mobo :)

    Yes, RDRAM is kinda garbage against today's high speed DDR, but for the longest time, it was the only high-performance option for P4 users. :)
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited August 2003
    thats the same mobo i have. u half to use same ram in slots or CRIMMS they should use 2X 256mb ram sticks, i use 4 128's
  • WuGgaRoOWuGgaRoO Not in the shower Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    thats why i opted for my p4x400 dragon...it was one of the first to support ddram and 8x instead of rdram
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited August 2003
    The higher the clock the less penalty for latency, so is the latency truly a big issue for RDRAM? Especially as it gets higher up, like the 1200MHz modules? What's the latency like on those?
    GHoosdum said
    C. Yes, it is. And high latency also.
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited August 2003
    Yes its 40-45ns instead of the 5ns for PC3200.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Yeah, PC1200 modules have a latency of about 42ns on the nose. It's funny because often DDR400 has more bandwidth than the theoretical 4200MB/s PC1200 is supposed to have.
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