DDR2 1066 Question

dijital

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When the Motherboard Spec says this:

DDR2 533/667/800/*1066 (1066 by AM2+ CPU)


is it saying I cant use the DDR2 1066 memory if I plan on buying a AM3 CPU?
 

hellwig

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The 1066 speed is not officially supported by your standard AM2 processors (i.e. Pre-Phenom). AM2+ is a modification to the standard AM2 socket. It is denoted as AM2+, this does not mean AM3.

Your Phenom, Phenom II, and newer Athlon processors (the ones based on the Phenom core) will support the 1066 speed natively (i.e. without manual overclock).

You can use DDR2 1066 memory with any DDR2 motherboard and processor, just note that you might not get 1066 speeds if you have an older AM2 processor.
 

dijital

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So using a AM3 CPU will get me the full 1066 as it is compatible?
 

hellwig

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Yes, an AM3 processor will support the 1066 speed.

Sorry, I misunderstood your initial confusion. An AM3 in a AM2+ board acts like an AM2+ processor. I was confused, thinking that you read AM2+ as AM3, my mistake.
 

dijital

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the board is actually an AM3 board.... Glad to hear it will be compatible for a minute I thought I was going to have to find another CPU that was AM2+
 

hellwig

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Uh oh, now you've confused me. The board does use DDR2 memory, right? AMD made their AM3 processors so they will work in AM2+ motherboards. Unfortunately, motherboard manufactuers like to use this fact to label their AM2+ motherboards as AM2/AM2+/AM3, but in reality, its just an AM2+ board. The memory is the key. If a board uses DDR2, its AM2+, if it uses DDR3, its an AM3 board. I just want to make sure I'm not leading you astray.


My answer is still the same though, your AM3 processor will run DDR2-1066 speeds, as long as your motherboard supports both.
 

dijital

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PERFECT thank you very much you made my mind at ease
 

dijital

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so again AM3 can do and speed of ddr2
 

wally_in_nc

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I have a Biostar TA790GX XE (AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX) and a Asus M4a78 Plus (AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770). I tried to run OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 OCZ2P10664GK on both, using AMD Athlon II X2 240 and 245 AM3 (respectively).

I cannot run it at 1066MHz. It will not run natively and I tried overclocking (5-5-5-18; 2.2V), without success.

Am I able to run DDR2 1066 with a AM3 processor, or when they say AM2+ it means ONLY AM2+?

Thanks in advance for your interest
 

hellwig

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AM2+ will run 1066 with an AM3 processor. If you can't run 1066 on two different motherboards, it sounds like the memory isn't reporting proper settings for 1066 speeds. Did you try manually setting the frequency or multiplier to get 1066?
 


Not quite, it all depends on the mobo. Some AMD boards that specify 1066Mhz compatibilty cannot handle the high RAM voltages. For example : I have an AM2+/AM3 mobo that is supposed to be able to handle 1066Mhz modules. The problem is that after I set the timings and raise the voltage to 2.2v (as stated by OCZ) it BSOD's when ever I stress test or play any game. The only 1066MHz modules that I can run at 1066Mhz are the low volt models. My board just cannot handle 2.1/2.2v .... So it all depends on the board. If you cannot get 1066Mhz no matter what the next best thing is to lower the frequency to 800Mhz and raise the FSB for a stable OC.
 

wally_in_nc

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Tks for the response hellwig, sorry for the delay

I did try to set the frequency manually on both boards, in both cases it either did not post or went as far as starting Windows (7) and then rebooting in a loop.

I have the memory right now on the Biostar running Memtest86 (so far 5 passes, no error) with voltage at 1.95V. I ran it overnight yesterday with 2.25V, but my wife turned it off in the morning before I saw it. She said it maybe was showing something like an error, but not sure.... :??: I will leave it overnight at 1.95V and if no error will try some hours at 2.25V (my board does not do 2.2V) tomorrow.

Maybe my both boards cannot handle the 2.2V as OvrClkr mentioned? It is a possibility. Bad luck then (or cheap boards...)

I will let you know my findings tomorrow. Thanks so far
 

wally_in_nc

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7:00am update: 16 passes on Memtest86 and no errors
I increased voltage to 2.25 and will run it through the morning. Let's see...