Can you run 4x512mb DIMMs in 9nda3+ @ DDR400? 1t?

[swiharta]

I have Patriot TCCD XBLK 2x512mb in slots 3 and 4 on my 9nda3+, looking to upgrade to 4x512mb. They're at Monarchcomputers.com for $169.99, free shipping.

I heard about an early limitation of the 9nda3+ on Anandtech's review, where they could only run 4x512mb @ DDR333 on the 9nda3+, while they WERE able to run it @ DDR400 on the likes of the MSI Neo2, AV8, and A8V. Somehow these mobo's ran at these settings even with Winchester cores; meanwhile, the ability to run 4x512 @ DDR400 is supposed to be one of the upgrades to the memory controller in the new Venice cores. The memory controller apparently only supports running 4x512 @ 2t command rate, not 1t.

What are your experiences with running 4x512mb double-sided DIMMs in your 9nda3+?
1) What CPU core do you have?
2) What kind of RAM? (matched pairs only please)
3) DDR333/400?
4) 2t/1t?
5) What are your RAM timings?

Thanks a lot for any contributions.

[SteveI]

AFAIK, the limitation is not on the mobo, but the CPU. On A64's, the memory controller is built into the CPU, not in the northbridge of the mobo. Older A64's could not run 4 sticks at PC3200. The newer A64's apparently have an updated memory controller that can handle 4 sticks much better.

[swiharta]

quote: "Older A64's could not run 4 sticks at PC3200."

The discrepancy in Anandtech's reviews is surprising, that's why I mentioned it in the first place.

Anyone with real experiences?

[swiharta]

I edited my post. No attitude was meant.

[Swifty2002]

Well on my 9nda3J which is just a stripped down 9nda3+, I am running 4 sticks, 2x512 and 2x256 at 400mhz fsb but not at 1T.

Maybe it's my memory holding me back though

[BarrySWE]

Are u using venice or winchester CPU?

[swiharta]

swifty - Are your 2x256 in RAM slots 1/2?

Thanks for the input, but I'm really interested in 4x512mb, or 4x1gb, or anything that uses 2 dual-channels and has 4 double-sided sticks. How do these configurations perform in the 9nda3+?

[Swifty2002]

Venice/San Diego cores should be able to run 4 sticks of any amount at 400mhz.... the 1T depends on mobo to be honest and the sticks themselves...

I don't remember if they are in 1/2 or 3/4 but they are all in dual channel since on this mobo once you populate all 4 banks you have dual channel

[swiharta]

Even with just 2 sticks, I have been unable to run my Patriot XBLK TCCD 2x512 in slots 1/2 @ 1t, it WILL run at 1t in slots 3/4, however. In slots 1/2 it runs @ DDR400-DDR5xx speeds at good timings just fine, but it has to be 2t or my system doesn't even boot. It just gives a beeping error and doesn't POST.

It seems most people with the 9nda3+ have to use slots 3/4 if they have double-sided matched pairs of RAM if they want to run it @ 1t. However there are some rare people who get 1t timings using slots 1/2. Anyway the vast majority of people have found the 3/4 RAM slots to generally work better than 1/2. This is the biggest thing that annoys me about this motherboard, since I'm thinking of upgrading to 4x512mb.

I guess I'm expecting my 9nda3+ will run 4x512 at my current settings (230mhz 2-3-3-6), but at 2t instead of 1t, which as I've been reading is on average about a 3% drop in performance, nothing to cry about. I wonder if the new DFI NF3 939 motherboard will run this memory configuration any better than the 9nda3+?

[Swifty2002]

Yes you are correct. I currently have 2 different type of RAM in my system... I have 2x256 of single sided Twinmos which does 2-2-2-6 at 1T 400mhz no problem.

Then i have 2x512 of double sided Corsair Value which only will do 2.5-3-3-8 at 2T 400mhz...

I am sacrificing timings though in order to have 1.5GB and that's a sacrifice I can live with. The performance difference is pretty small and not noticeable in anything other than benchmarks.

[BobyJo]

There are many posts over this subject on a lot of forums.
As far as I can see, using 512mb sticks, the majority have to run 2T.

I have never seen anyone running 4x512 sticks and using anything except 2T.
I have 2x256mb of Mushkin Black CL2, and I can't get this to run at 1T.
I also am running 2x512mb Mushkin Blue CL2, this will not run at 1T.

I think by reading a lot of threads about this most everyone has accepted the 2T setting until a bios revision that would allow the 1T setting to work.