AMD Tri-Core Question

[Wiiings12]

I am strongly considering buying a new AMD triple core, and have found the one I want. My only problem is my motherboard is kind of weird. I am running four sticks of ddr2 1066 mhz ram, and according to the motherboard manual it will only run that ram with a AM2+ processor. This processor, however is an AM3. I have checked and the processor is fully supported by the motherboard, and all that jazz. But I don't know if my ram will be able to run at full speeds. Anyone have an answer?

Motherboard - http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=887&CategoryID=1&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=20&LanID=9

Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843

 

[ksampanna]

I did read somewhere that the AM3 CPUs at stock will only work with DDR2 of 800 MHz . However, if you OC them, then you might be able to increase the RAM speed. However, at stock, the RAM would be downgraded to 800 MHz. I'm not fully sure, though; somebody else will have to confirm.

 

[enzo matrix]

Page number of the manual where you read this?

AM2 CPUs like the Athlon 64, had only 800MHz hypertransport speeds. AM2+ has 1600-2000MHz and AM3 has hypertransport speeds of 2000MHz. Your ram will be fine with the new CPU.

 

[ksampanna]

Page number of the manual where you read this?

AM2 CPUs like the Athlon 64, had only 800MHz hypertransport speeds. AM2+ has 1600-2000MHz and AM3 has hypertransport speeds of 2000MHz. Your ram will be fine with the new CPU.

Maybe I'm wrong .. I did say I'm not sure ..

 

[loneninja]

It probably says it can only run DDR2 1066 with an AM2+ processor because at the time they were the only processors that could run that speed. The AM2 processors only supported DDR2 800. An AM3 processor should be able to run at DDR2 1066 just fine.

 

[roonj]

The current threshold for a AM3 cpu's internal memory controller is 1066 w/ddr2
and 1333 w/ddr3.
I believe it is 2 distinct internal memory controllers.

 

[erick81]

Well with Amd there is a usually a one dimm limit to 1066 meaning only two sticks can run at 1066 I have never personally seen anyone including myself be affected by it.I run a 945 Am3 on 8gb of Ocz platinum at 1066 with no problems.

 

[FALC0N]

The current threshold for a AM3 cpu's internal memory controller is 1066 w/ddr2
and 1333 w/ddr3.
I believe it is 2 distinct internal memory controllers.

Correct on the memory.

Wrong on the memory controllers. It has one memory controller which is able to access both types of memory.

 

[FALC0N]

Well with Amd there is a usually a one dimm limit to 1066 meaning only two sticks can run at 1066 I have never personally seen anyone including myself be affected by it.I run a 945 Am3 on 8gb of Ocz platinum at 1066 with no problems.

DDR 2 or DDR3? It does not apply to DDR3 at 1066. Only DDR2 1066.

DDR2 1066 is supported on both AM2+ and AM3 cpu's, but the controller only supports 1 dimm per channel. Which means you can run 2 if you use dual channel. For DDR3, the 1 dimm per channel rule applies to 1333. DDR3 1066 has no such limitation.

I have seen many people affected by the 1 dimm per channel issue. It is not always a problem and some people have succeeded in running more by tinkering with the timings. But never assume it will work. But it will let you run the ram at slower speeds if it doesn't.

AM2 only supports DDR2 800.

 

[FALC0N]

I am strongly considering buying a new AMD triple core, and have found the one I want. My only problem is my motherboard is kind of weird. I am running four sticks of ddr2 1066 mhz ram, and according to the motherboard manual it will only run that ram with a AM2+ processor. This processor, however is an AM3. I have checked and the processor is fully supported by the motherboard, and all that jazz. But I don't know if my ram will be able to run at full speeds. Anyone have an answer?

Yes, it will run fine with the rules I outlined in the above post.

It says AM2+ because that board was released before AM3 was out. They later issued a bios update to allow it to run AM3 cpu's, but did not update the other info on the page.