PC3200 in..

dokko · 18 Jun 2007 at 19:46

Quick question.

Someone i know has a motherboard only capable of:

Memory
- Two 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for 2.5V DDR SDRAM PC2100 / PC1600 [DDR266 / 200]

Max: 2GB
- Two DIMM sockets for 3.3V SDRAM PC133 / PC100
Max: 2GB

Yes he has:

Device Locator Slot 3
Serial Number 00000000
Capacity 256 MBytes
Memory Type SDRAM DDR
Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Data Width 64 bits
Voltage SSTL 2.5V
Error Correction None
Refresh Reduced (.5x)...7.8 µs
Manufacturing Date N/A
EPP SPD Support No

PC3200 running in it. It clearly states the motherboard doesn't support it, but it is working. Does the motherboard just drop it to its limit of PC2100 or am i being stupid?

Thanks.

Yellowbeard · 18 Jun 2007 at 21:48

It will depend on the bios, the SPD of the memory, and the CPU. Have him run CPU-Z and it will tell you the memory speed.

dokko · 18 Jun 2007 at 23:59

Cheers mate got him to do it:

Processor AMD Duron
Socket 462
Core Speed 1795.2mhz
Multiplier x13.5
Bus Speed 133mhz
Rated FSB 266 mhz

Board

Model VT8367-8235
Chipset Kt266/333
Pheonix Technologies

Memory

DDR 256mb
Freq 133 mhz
FSB Dram 2.5 clocks
CAS Latency 3 clocks
RAS Precharge 3 clocks
Cycle Time 6 clocks

SPD

Module Size 256mb
Max B/W PC3200 (200MHZ)

Timings Table

Freq 200 mhz
CAS Latency 3.0
Ras to CAS 4
RAS precharge 4
Tras 8

Well Splattered · 19 Jun 2007 at 00:22

dokko said:
Does the motherboard just drop it to its limit of PC2100 or am i being stupid?

Thanks.

dokko said:
Memory

DDR 256mb
Freq 133 mhz
FSB Dram 2.5 clocks
CAS Latency 3 clocks
RAS Precharge 3 clocks
Cycle Time 6 clocks

The motherboard has dropped the memory to PC2100 and slightly tightened the timings too.

dokko · 19 Jun 2007 at 00:31

Nice one, thanks for the confirmation.

Is this normal?

The guy wants to upgrade so this is how it all came about.

I don't want to tell him to buy 1GB PC3200 for it to be a one off and he's wasted £50.

Cob · 19 Jun 2007 at 06:36

Yip it's normal.

Memory comes with several SPD settings, the highest being its advertised speed.

dokko · 19 Jun 2007 at 13:18

Nice one, i'll let him know he's safe to upgrade.

Yellowbeard · 19 Jun 2007 at 18:12

The main problem I can potentially see is a problem with the chipset handling the IC density on the memory. In some cases older chipset + newer memory = problem.