"AMD only" DDR2

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braparatat

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May 30, 2014
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Hi,

I acquired 2 Sticks of DDR2 RAM to upgrade my system running on an AsRock G31M-GS + Core2Duo E5700. The label of the RAM sticks reads

2GB PC-6400U-555-TC
HDR 12872-6E2 256X4 1154

Picture: http://abload.de/img/2015-01-1517.47.47e5qg3.jpg

It doesn't work with my motherboard. I read about some RAM manufacturer making special AMD ram a few years ago but I don't think this is the case here. Intel P35 Chipset details say it can handle up to 2x2GB DDR2 800MHz.

What I can read from the memory's label is that it's 800MHz, unbuffered, non-ecc. So far, so good. Should work, right? What does the "TC" suffix mean? Why does the label say "AMD ONLY"?

I tried a CMOS reset, running both and one at a time (both tried single), upping voltage and timings in BIOS, my PC doesn't throw any beep codes and simply won't boot.

Help or info would be much appreciated.
 
Solution
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I too have come across ddr2 ram labelled as AMD....and there seems to be a lot of ambiguity about what works where....

So a bit of research was the order of the day.

See section 5 of this excellent article http://www.ocfreaks.com/ram-overclocking-guide-tutorial...

To summarize:

1) An industry standard DDR2 module must ship with an SPD chip to be compliant. (SPD = serial presence detect)

2) The SPD chip contains JEDEC information which identifies the RAM module to the PC bios .

3) The SPD chip may also include additional information to help the BIOS configure optimal memory settings.

4) Intel call this extra information XMP

5) AMD call this extra information EPP

6) If the PC bios cannot understand EPP or XMP is falls back to the...
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06yfz450ridr

06yfz450ridr

Honorable
Nov 28, 2012
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that looks like ecc server memory , u stands for unbuffered which is correct. to me i only have seen pc2-6400 etc for desktops. pc2-6400 tells me it is ddr2 and 800mhz

amd only memory seems like it has to be something server related since my old amd ddr2 systems never had that

whats weird is you actually get picture?
 
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das_stig

das_stig

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Jul 24, 2009
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Based on the part numbers ..

HDR 12872-6E2 256X4 1154

Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Capacity 2GB
Pins 240 Pin
Bus Type PC-6400
Error Correction Non-ECC
Cycle Time 5ns
Cas CL6
Data Transfer Rate 800Mhz
Memory Clock 200Mhz
Voltage 1.8

So should work fine in a normal DDR2 motherboard.
 
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braparatat

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May 30, 2014
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I already bought it.



I quickly equipped the MS-7293VP with an E2400+Cooler, put 1 RAM slot in, worked. The CPU can't be the issue, right? The system I'm trying to install it into works fine with 2x1GB DDR2 667MHz. So it's the motherboard. But Intel spec clearly states it supports 2x2GB 800MHz. Halp? :(

And what does PC-6400U-555-TC that mean? "TC"? Can't find any info.
 
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rikkitikki

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Oct 28, 2011
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I too have come across ddr2 ram labelled as AMD....and there seems to be a lot of ambiguity about what works where....

So a bit of research was the order of the day.

See section 5 of this excellent article http://www.ocfreaks.com/ram-overclocking-guide-tutorial...

To summarize:

1) An industry standard DDR2 module must ship with an SPD chip to be compliant. (SPD = serial presence detect)

2) The SPD chip contains JEDEC information which identifies the RAM module to the PC bios .

3) The SPD chip may also include additional information to help the BIOS configure optimal memory settings.

4) Intel call this extra information XMP

5) AMD call this extra information EPP

6) If the PC bios cannot understand EPP or XMP is falls back to the JEDEC information.

7) All PC bios systems can understand JEDEC, irrespective of what other config data is on the SPD chip.

7) So, an industry standard DDR2 module could in theory contain JEDEC, XMP and EPP configuration data.

8) Which means (in theory) any DDR2 PC bios that can at least recognize the installed DDR2 module. (compatible ram timings or not)

9) It is an entirely separate issue if the RAM module timing specs are incompatible.(i.e. CL4 RAM in a "CL6 only" PC)

Example 1:

I own an Intel PC that needs CL5 ram modules. I purchase an "AMD" CL5 ram module and install it. BIOS cannot read the AMD EPP info on the SPD but can recognize the CL5 timing info in the JEDEC data table. PC BIOS auto configures for the AMD ram module and boots normally.

Example 2:

I own an AMD PC that needs CL6 ram modules. I purchase an "INTEL" CL6 ram module and install it. BIOS cannot read the INTEL XMP info on the SPD but can recognize the CL6 timing info in JEDEC data table. PC BIOS auto configures for the AMD ram module and boots normally.

Example 3:

I own an INTEL PC that needs CL6 ram modules. I purchase an "AMD" CL4 ram module and install it. INTEL BIOS cannot read the AMD EPP info on the SPD but can recognize the CL4 timing info in JEDEC data table. PC BIOS recognizes module timings as incompatible an refuses to boot.
 
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braparatat

Reputable
May 30, 2014
17
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4,510
Thanks for your answers, to summarize for people who come across this in the future:

The "AMD Only" RAM worked in the old OEM motherboard but not on the AsRock. I got 4GB of generic DDR2 800MHz RAM and it worked on both. I do not understand as to why, but it seems advisable to make sure you don't get "AMD Only" RAM if youre not on an AMD system, regardless of how weird that sounds considering the fact that DDR2 is supposed to be an industry standard.
 
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