FAQ --- Memory

=20 Me= mory=20 Recommendation List

Question: How do I = identify ECC=20 registered SDRAM?
Answer: Please click here and refer to the memory = picture. Please=20 note that besides the 9 IC chips,
2 more buffer chips are = included in the center,one on the other side (3 buffers = total). All=20 Serverworks (RCC) chipset motherboards require ECC = registered=20 SDRAM.

Question: Can I mix = different=20 brands, speeds and types of memory on your=20 motherboards?
Answer: Mixing different = memory brands,=20 speeds and type. Mixing memory may introduce timing and = other=20 electrical issues that can affect system performance and=20 reliability.

Question: I have=20 your 440LX/BX/GX motherboard and the BIOS incorrectly = displays the=20 amount of memory installed. What is the problem and=20 solution?
Answer: SPD DIMMs = transfer data=20 to the BIOS that gives the optimal settings and = specifications of=20 the memory module. If the data is not correctly structured, = the BIOS=20 will report incorrect information. To correct this issue, = please=20 change the BIOS option "SDRAM Autosizing" (for 440LX BIOS) = or=20 "Memory Autosizing Support" (for 440BX/GX BIOS) to "Enable". = This=20 option is located in the "Chipset" section of the=20 BIOS.

Question: What=20 are the correct memory modules to use on your=20 motherboards?
Answer: Each chipset = has=20 different requirements, as follows:

430HX chipset: Non-buffered, = 5-volt SIMMs.=20 Parity (ECC), non-parity, and EDO SIMMs are also = supported.=20
430TX chipset: Non-buffered = 5-volt=20 non-parity and EDO SIMMs are supported. Non-buffered = 3.3-volt,=20 EDO, and SDRAM DIMMs are supported.=20
440FX chipset: Non-buffered, = 5-volt SIMMs.=20 Parity (ECC), non-parity and EDO SIMMs are also = supported.=20
440LX chipset: Non-buffered, = 3.3-volt,=20 SPD, non-SPD, EDO, and SDRAM DIMMs are supported.=20
440BX/GX chipset: "PC100" and = "Registered=20 100Mhz" DIMMs are required for all processor = speeds.=20

Question: What is SPD?
Answer:=20 SPD (Serial Presence Detect) is a new = feature=20 available on SDRAM DIMMs. This feature is an attempt to = solve=20 industry-wide compatibility problems by making it easier for = the=20 BIOS to properly configure the system to optimize SDRAM = performance=20 profiles. The SPD device is an 8-pin serial EEPROM chip that = stores=20 information on the DIMM modules' size, speed, voltage, drive = strength, and number of row and column addresses. When the = BIOS=20 reads these parameters during the POST routine, it = automatically=20 adjusts values in the BIOS Chipset section for maximum = reliability=20 and performance.

Question: What = different memory=20 types are available?
Answer: Please review the = data=20 below.

SIMMs: (Single In-line Memory = Modules) are=20 the most common form of RAM. They must be installed in=20 pairs, and do not have the capacity or the = speed of=20 DIMM.
SDRAM: (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) can keep = two sets=20 of memory addresses open simultaneously. = By=20 transferring data alternately from one set of addresses, = and then=20 the other, SDRAM cuts down on the delays associated with=20 non-synchronous RAM, which must close one address bank = before=20 opening the next.
DIMM: (Dual Inline Memory = Modules) are=20 a faster and more capacious form of RAM than SIMMs, and do = not=20 need to be installed in pairs.

Question: What is=20 PC100 compliant SDRAM?
Answer: = PC100=20 compliant SDRAM is the latest standard of memory, which = complements=20 the 440BX-system bus. This new memory is a new standard of=20 Synchronous DRAM and is capable of improving memory access = time by=20 following the new JEDEC standard of SDRAM. It is fully = backward=20 compatible with existing memory systems. This new = specification is=20 the latest module design to fully support the Intel 440BX/GX = chipset. PC100 SDRAM modules are highly recommended, due to = the=20 strict timing issues involved when operating at 100MHz = frequency.=20 Using non-compliant memory modules may prevent the system = from=20 booting. Even if the system does boot, changes to the = operating=20 environment such as temperature or certain hardware = applications may=20 impact memory reliability.

Me= mory=20 Recommendation=20 = List