Memory size controlled by CPU?

[lordjohn]

from first gen i processors, intel states max memory size on the website for each processor, is that meaning max memory size is controlled by cpu not mainboard?

I have a x58 with i7 960, now have 6x4gb, mainboard can go up to 48gb, but i7 can go only 24gb, if so, why board manufacture make such 48gb for?

other from intel, I have a 990fxa with 8120, since amd does not say any max memory size, does it mean I can put 4x8gb on it to get 32gb according to the mainboard?

Thanks in advance.

[DanTheBanjoman]

The memory controller is on the CPU thus the CPU determines maximum addressable memory.

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

The memory controller is on the CPU thus the CPU determines maximum addressable memory.

thanks
but if amd also have the MC on cpu why amd does not states max memory size, and why x58 board can hold up to 48gb since there is no 1366 cpu can go for 48gb

[Aquinus]

Maybe? I've read a lot of people say if the board supports it, you're good to go.

I found this too.

[FordGT90Concept]

There is a hardware limit to what CPUs will support because even though a processor may have x86-64, it does not necessarily have the capacity to address 64-bits worth of memory. It might only be 40-bits (1.1 TB), for example.

Besides that strict limit, I think most mainboard/CPU manufacturers only give a tenative amount for "maxmium memory." That is, they take the largest module size available to them (today, that is 8 GiB), test it, and then advertise it as such. If you exceed the amount due to advancements in memory density, it may work but is officially unsupported for legal purposes. They can't stand behind a claim they can't test when they launch the product.

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by Aquinus

Maybe? I've read a lot of people say if the board supports it, you're good to go.

I found this too.
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9499/48gbonx58.jpg

Thanks
that means I can go for 48gb? very cool, thanks

[cadaveca]

Originally Posted by lordjohn

Thanks
that means I can go for 48gb? very cool, thanks

No ,what it mewans is that they do not support that configuration. Could be like PCIe 3.0 on X79..some CPUs support it, others, not so much.

Of cours,e we can overclock no problem, and technically, adding more memory might create a situation that requires a significant voltage boost to stay stable.

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

No ,what it mewans is that they do not support that configuration. Could be like PCIe 3.0 on X79..some CPUs support it, others, not so much.

Of cours,e we can overclock no problem, and technically, adding more memory might create a situation that requires a significant voltage boost to stay stable.

I think I will buy 4x8gb and try, if not working on my x58, I can use them for my 990fxa, I think 8120+990fxa can take 4x8gb, right?

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by lordjohn

I think I will buy 4x8gb and try, if not working on my x58, I can use them for my 990fxa, I think 8120+990fxa can take 4x8gb, right?

970/990 support 32 GB of ram

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by eidairaman1

970/990 support 32 GB of ram

990fx can go for 32gb, does 8120 go for 32gb?

like x58 can go for 48gb, but 960 can only go for 24gb(on ask.intel)

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by lordjohn

990fx can go for 32gb, does 8120 go for 32gb?

like x58 can go for 48gb, but 960 can only go for 24gb(on ask.intel)

i guess you didnt have your question answered, Yes it can, its board dependent actually

[OneMoar]

generally the less DIMM slots in use the better

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by eidairaman1

i guess you didnt have your question answered, Yes it can, its board dependent actually

Originally Posted by cadaveca

No ,what it mewans is that they do not support that configuration. Could be like PCIe 3.0 on X79..some CPUs support it, others, not so much.

Of cours,e we can overclock no problem, and technically, adding more memory might create a situation that requires a significant voltage boost to stay stable.

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

There is a hardware limit to what CPUs will support because even though a processor may have x86-64, it does not necessarily have the capacity to address 64-bits worth of memory. It might only be 40-bits (1.1 TB), for example.

Besides that strict limit, I think most mainboard/CPU manufacturers only give a tenative amount for "maxmium memory." That is, they take the largest module size available to them (today, that is 8 GiB), test it, and then advertise it as such. If you exceed the amount due to advancements in memory density, it may work but is officially unsupported for legal purposes. They can't stand behind a claim they can't test when they launch the product.

Originally Posted by Aquinus

Maybe? I've read a lot of people say if the board supports it, you're good to go.

I found this too.
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9499/48gbonx58.jpg

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

The memory controller is on the CPU thus the CPU determines maximum addressable memory.

Originally Posted by OneMoar

generally the less DIMM slots in use the better

Thanks everyone for help. I will wait a bit for ram to drop more, and go get 4x8gb to try on x58, if it works, go get another 2x8gb, and it will be 48gb, if the first try failed, i can use the 4x8gb on my 990fxa.
Thank you very much.

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by lordjohn

Thanks everyone for help. I will wait a bit for ram to drop more, and go get 4x8gb to try on x58, if it works, go get another 2x8gb, and it will be 48gb, if the first try failed, i can use the 4x8gb on my 990fxa.
Thank you very much.

x58 platform is a triple channel configuration, youd need 3/6/9/12

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by lordjohn

and why x58 board can hold up to 48gb since there is no 1366 cpu can go for 48gb

There are probably 1366 Xeon CPUs that work with that board that support 48GB.

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

There are probably 1366 Xeon CPUs that work with that board that support 48GB.

That maybe the answer, I never think of that, thanks

[lordjohn]

Originally Posted by eidairaman1

x58 platform is a triple channel configuration, youd need 3/6/9/12

x58 works with both dual channel and triple channel

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by eidairaman1

970/990 support 32 GB of ram

No, it depends on the CPU installed, and later, the number of DIMM slots there are. Zambezi IMC supports 32 GB. Future Vishera IMC could support 64 GB. Trinity IMC already supports 64 GB.

As for LGA1366 platforms, I think Bloomfield IMC supports up to 24 GB, and Gulftown IMC up to 48 GB.

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by btarunr

As for LGA1366 platforms, I think Bloomfield IMC supports up to 24 GB, and Gulftown IMC up to 48 GB.

I've read cases where the 920 will run 6 sticks of 1333 and will sometimes do 48Gb. It's not supported but there are reported cases that it works.

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by btarunr

No, it depends on the CPU installed, and later, the number of DIMM slots there are. Zambezi IMC supports 32 GB. Future Vishera IMC could support 64 GB. Trinity IMC already supports 64 GB.

As for LGA1366 platforms, I think Bloomfield IMC supports up to 24 GB, and Gulftown IMC up to 48 GB.

you have proof of that cuz 890fx boards only supported 16 gb.

[Pehla]

unles ur going to use ramdisk,or ramcache i have no clue why u want so much memory instaled!!
i think 16gb i waaay more then enough!!!
what ur rich or something ??u dont know how to spend ur money??

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by Pehla

unles ur going to use ramdisk,or ramcache i have no clue why u want so much memory instaled!!
i think 16gb i waaay more then enough!!!
what ur rich or something ??u dont know how to spend ur money??

ya know dude ease off

[Aquinus]

Originally Posted by Pehla

unles ur going to use ramdisk,or ramcache i have no clue why u want so much memory instaled!!
i think 16gb i waaay more then enough!!!
what ur rich or something ??u dont know how to spend ur money??

The other day I was using 14Gb out of 16Gb.

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by Pehla

unles ur going to use ramdisk,or ramcache i have no clue why u want so much memory instaled!!

Because for people whose rigs run 24x7, there's no such thing as too much RAM. Eventually, Windows caches everything it reads from the disk onto the memory (memory caching), until an application needs its space. So with say 48 GB of memory, you're practically running Windows, a couple of your favourite applications, and one or two big games completely off your RAM.

[Frick]

I want more RAM.