AMD AM3 motherboard question

[trt740]

If I have a AMD motherboard with 4 slots can I populate all 4 slots with DDR3 or can you only use two?

 

[Kantastic]

I see no reason why you can't populate all 4 slots.

 

[trt740]

I see no reason why you can't populate all 4 slots.

thought they had some kind of trouble with more than 2 slots populated and when AM3 chips were used. I thought it was a memory controller issue

 

[btarunr]

You can populate four DDR3-1333 modules, but they will run at 1066 MHz.

 

[trt740]

You can populate four DDR3-1333 modules, but they will run at 1066 MHz.

ouch why? Why buy DDR3 then, buy a ddr2 board.

 

[Assassin48]

You will have to bump you NB voltage before you overclock that's all

 

[trt740]

You will have to bump you NB voltage before you overclock that's all

nope I think thats not gonna help here.

 

[btarunr]

ouch why?

A limitation. AMD blames the BIOS for that, and the motherboard vendors blame the processor IMC. People usually succeed with overclocking, and many have run 4x DDR3-1333 at ≥1333 MHz via overclocking, though it isn't guaranteed to work. They said a future BIOS update will fix it, though they still haven't managed to fix the >1 module/channel limitation for DDR2-1066 on AM2+ CPUs.

The IMC normally sets two DDR3-≥1333 modules to work at 1333 MHz, 9-9-9-24 (JEDEC standard). But when four of these modules are used (or >1 module per channel,) DRAM multiplier is dropped to 5.33x.

nope I think thats not gonna help here.

I think he means CPU-NB voltage, yes it may help.

 

[Kantastic]

ouch why? Why buy DDR3 then, buy a ddr2 board.

If I had an option I'd def buy an AM2/AM2+ board so that I can run AM3 CPU's without being limited to just AM3.

 

[trt740]

If I had an option I'd def buy an AM2/AM2+ board so that I can run AM3 CPU's without being limited to just AM3.

No not me their are now 65.00 AM3 chips no need.

 

[MushkinSean]

There were issues running 4 DIMMs on the AM3 platform at rated speeds/timings, most of the problems have been addressed in the last few months.
I've got quite a few customers running 8GB at CAS 7 @ DDR3-1600.

Some IMCs freak when when loaded with that much ram, in most cases a little more CPU-NB voltage helps get things stable and/or a Command Rate of 2T. Some IMCs will just refuse to run DDR3-1600 stable, in those cases it is necessary to drop the memory frequency to 1333, but you can generally tighten the timings to compensate.

 

[trt740]

There were issues running 4 DIMMs on the AM3 platform at rated speeds/timings, most of the problems have been addressed in the last few months.
I've got quite a few customers running 8GB at CAS 7 @ DDR3-1600.

Some IMCs freak when when loaded with that much ram, in most cases a little more CPU-NB voltage helps get things stable and/or a Command Rate of 2T. Some IMCs will just refuse to run DDR3-1600 stable, in those cases it is necessary to drop the memory frequency to 1333, but you can generally tighten the timings to compensate.

thats very helpful

 

[HolyCow02]

There were issues running 4 DIMMs on the AM3 platform at rated speeds/timings, most of the problems have been addressed in the last few months.
I've got quite a few customers running 8GB at CAS 7 @ DDR3-1600.

Some IMCs freak when when loaded with that much ram, in most cases a little more CPU-NB voltage helps get things stable and/or a Command Rate of 2T. Some IMCs will just refuse to run DDR3-1600 stable, in those cases it is necessary to drop the memory frequency to 1333, but you can generally tighten the timings to compensate.

So I have 8 GB of Mushkin DDR3-1600 (7-7-6-18), which is running at 1066. I have the latest Bios for my mobo (MSI GD-70). How exactly do I get it to it's actually timing and stepping? I up the memory voltage? I'm befuddled on this whole thing.

 

[MushkinSean]

Set up your BIOS like this,

Advanced DRAM Configuration
DRAM Timing Mode: Both
TCL: 7
TRCD: 7
TRP: 6
TRAS: 18
1T/2T Timing: 2T (try 1T later)
FSB/DRAM Ratio: 1:4
DRAM Voltage: 1.85V - 1.90V

If experiencing instability increase the CPU-NB VDD Voltage to 1.25V - 1.30V

If your IMC still won't co-operate at DDR3-1600 try this

Advanced DRAM Configuration
DRAM Timing Mode: Both
TCL: 6
TRCD: 6
TRP: 6
TRAS: 18
1T/2T Timing: 1T
FSB/DRAM Ratio: 1:3.33
DRAM Voltage: 1.85V - 1.90V

 

[HolyCow02]

Set up your BIOS like this,

Advanced DRAM Configuration
DRAM Timing Mode: Both
TCL: 7
TRCD: 7
TRP: 6
TRAS: 18
1T/2T Timing: 2T (try 1T later)
FSB/DRAM Ratio: 1:4
DRAM Voltage: 1.85V - 1.90V

If experiencing instability increase the CPU-NB VDD Voltage to 1.25V - 1.30V

If your IMC still won't co-operate at DDR3-1600 try this

Advanced DRAM Configuration
DRAM Timing Mode: Both
TCL: 6
TRCD: 6
TRP: 6
TRAS: 18
1T/2T Timing: 1T
FSB/DRAM Ratio: 1:3.33
DRAM Voltage: 1.85V - 1.90V

Thanks I will try it out when I get home tonight. Appreciate the response!