freejazz said:
I' m looking for memory compatibility of Asus P5GPL-X SE motherboard.
I downloaded a file from Asus site with memories compatibility table
but, for example, into the table I didn' t find my S3+ memory (size
512Mb) already installed on motherboard.
I don' t know which kind of memory I can install.
Can I install ddr2? How much is it speed?
How many pins?
Can I install anything memory brand?
Can I use a 2Gb module for anything slot (the motherboard has two slots)?
Thank you for your attention!
It takes DDR, like PC3200.
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=P5GPL-X SE&Cat=RAM
According to Crucial, max mem is 2x1GB for about $62 USD. This stuff is
PC3200 CAS3. Buying PC3200, means it's slightly easier to resell later.
http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=95D62B93A5CA7304
If you don't buy it from Crucial, then it is up to you to buy "low density"
1GB modules. Most "branded" memory is low density. Only if you go to Ebay,
will you be tricked into buying high density RAM. High density RAM uses
(16) chips of x4 width arranged in one rank. A proper module, such as
the Crucial product above, uses two ranks of (8) chips of x8 width. Intel
does not approve of x4 chips in this application, and the datasheet for the
chipset will show you only x8 and x16 width chips in the table. Bottom line,
be *very careful* if shopping on Ebay. Most other vendors will treat you
properly. It's when a stick of memory doesn't have a brand name, that
you have to worry. If the product description says Samsung, it means
the scumbags are trying to trick you, by using the name of the memory
chips on the module. The entire module PCB, wasn't made by Samsung.
But by mentioning Samsung's name, they hope to trick you into buying.
Instead, you seek brand names such as Crucial, Kingston, Geil, Mushkin,
Corsair, and so on.
Now, if I download the Asus user manual...
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/P5GPL-X SE/e2368_p5gpl-x_se.pdf
it says it has "915PL" chipset. The green colored table in the manual,
also mentions DDR400 2x1GB as the largest configuration.
Now, we try an Intel document, to see if that is true.
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/301467.htm
The chipset supports two kinds of RAM, but the motherboard
slots only support one kind of RAM (PC3200). From PDF page 27
of the Intel document 301467...
"Supports non-ECC memory only.
* Supports 256-Mb, 512-Mb and 1-Gb DDR/DDR2 technologies
* Supports only x8, x16, DDR/DDR2 devices with four banks
and also supports eight bank, 1-Gbit DDR2 devices."
A 1Gigabit chip is 128Mx8 in size, or 128MB. Eight of those
would be 1GB total. If a second rank is place on the other side
of the module, that would be 2GB total. So two slots would
support 4GB. We skip down to PDF page 224 for more info.
"By using 1-Gb technology, the largest memory capacity is 8 GB
32M rows/bank * 4 banks/device * 8 columns * 8 devices/rank *
4 ranks/channel * 2 channel * 1b/(row*column) * 1G/1024M * 1B/8b = 8 GB.
[Note: They quote 8GB based on the motherboard having four slots.
You have two slots or 4GB max.]
Though it is possible to put 8 GB in system by stuffing both
channels this way, the (G)MCH is still limited to 4 GB of
addressable space due to the number of address pins on the FSB."
So in theory, you could use 2x2GB PC3200, but try and find some
of that. You're better off buying 2x1GB PC3200 non-ECC, and
buying it from a reputable source who won't sell you "high density" RAM.
A quick browsing of the Newegg product lists, shows 2x1GB as
the largest kind of PC3200 you can buy. There are no 2x2GB PC3200
for sale. So you'll have to stick with the configuration recommended
by Asus in the first place, or 2x1GB max.
Paul
