Abit KV7 Maximum supported mem question

levi_v · 07-03-2006, 10:57 PM

Hello all. I have a Abit KV7-V motherboard and I am using this as a linux game server/file server. I have 2x 256mb PC2100 modules in it right now and the manual says that it will support up to 3GB of mem, which is 1GB per slot. However below it states:

Total system memory for unbuffered ddr266 is 128mb-3gb
Total system memory for unbuffered ddr333/ddr400 is 128mb-2gb

Why is it that this motherboard will not support 3gb @ ddr333/ddr400? I have a 333fsb cpu so that is the speed memory that I am looking for.

-Levi

**UncleMacro** · 07-04-2006, 01:50 AM

The higher the clock rate, the noisier the RAM bus is. So in a single RAM channel motherboard (64 bits wide) like a KV7, it's common to support only two DIMMs at high speeds and three DIMMs at low speeds. A dual RAM channel motherboard (128 bits wide) which supports four DIMMs is only actually putting two DIMMs on each of its two channels. Putting three DIMMs on a RAM channel tends to be flakey at high speeds. I have two 1GB sticks running in a KV7 just fine. I don't think I'd try running three sticks at a lower speed. Even at lower clock speeds, three DDR DIMMs per RAM channel can be difficult to get stable sometimes.

levi_v · 07-04-2006, 05:38 AM

Ok thanks for the reply UncleMacro. I think that 2GB will work adequate for what I am doing. I origionally was running two 512mb ddr 400 modules @333 mhz and I was getting bad core dumps, however the memory is passing memtest. I switched back to the old 256mb pc2100 and my core dumps went away so so far I think my 512mb modules are bad.

07-03-2006, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
levi_v Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 7 OS: Which computer??	Abit KV7 Maximum supported mem question Hello all. I have a Abit KV7-V motherboard and I am using this as a linux game server/file server. I have 2x 256mb PC2100 modules in it right now and the manual says that it will support up to 3GB of mem, which is 1GB per slot. However below it states: Total system memory for unbuffered ddr266 is 128mb-3gb Total system memory for unbuffered ddr333/ddr400 is 128mb-2gb Why is it that this motherboard will not support 3gb @ ddr333/ddr400? I have a 333fsb cpu so that is the speed memory that I am looking for. -Levi

07-04-2006, 01:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	The higher the clock rate, the noisier the RAM bus is. So in a single RAM channel motherboard (64 bits wide) like a KV7, it's common to support only two DIMMs at high speeds and three DIMMs at low speeds. A dual RAM channel motherboard (128 bits wide) which supports four DIMMs is only actually putting two DIMMs on each of its two channels. Putting three DIMMs on a RAM channel tends to be flakey at high speeds. I have two 1GB sticks running in a KV7 just fine. I don't think I'd try running three sticks at a lower speed. Even at lower clock speeds, three DDR DIMMs per RAM channel can be difficult to get stable sometimes. Last edited by UncleMacro; 07-04-2006 at 01:52 AM.

07-04-2006, 05:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
levi_v Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 7 OS: Which computer??	Ok thanks for the reply UncleMacro. I think that 2GB will work adequate for what I am doing. I origionally was running two 512mb ddr 400 modules @333 mhz and I was getting bad core dumps, however the memory is passing memtest. I switched back to the old 256mb pc2100 and my core dumps went away so so far I think my 512mb modules are bad.