DDR Registered, Servers, FSB - Question

[PCBONEZ]

Hi,

I'm looking at some 533FSB dual Xeon server boards with Intel E7501 chipsets and they seem to all say that they will only take PC2100 max.

I know on 533FSB desktop boards that say that normally PC3200 works fine and usually by using it you can squeeze out a little better CAS Latency without getting into the more expensive memory brands.

Does the same thing work on these E7501 based boards?
Will PC3200 make it go go go??

[Reason I ask is the cost is about the same and PC3200 is more likely to be useful later on when I upgrade to another board.]

Thanks.

.

[Bookworm]

Re: DDR Registered, Servers, FSB - Question

Funny, because I think I have several sticks of PC2100 lying around because most of the boards want pc2700 and higher.

[zandrax]

Re: DDR Registered, Servers, FSB - Question

I think the board should work with Registered PC2700: a MSI model with the same chipset supports some of them. You could have trouble with high density sticks (e.g. some 1 GB ones), but all 512 MB and lower capacity should be recognized.

Zandrax

[bgavin]

Re: DDR Registered, Servers, FSB - Question

In my experience, I have never encountered a problem as a consequence of using higher-spec memory.

I buy DDR400/PC3200 for the same reason: it can be used in a faster DDR board somewhere in the future. I do not overclock, nor tweak CAS settings beyond their ratings. If I need faster memory, I buy faster memory.

The Newegg prices are staggeringly higher for the shorter CAS latency memory. I assume this is a combination of tighter chip yield plus the ability to shake down the overclockers who are willing to pony up for the privilege.

[zandrax]

Re: DDR Registered, Servers, FSB - Question

I think so, but I ignore if all PC3200 will be recognized: my only fear is that, being newer memories, there is a bigger chance getting high density modules.

Zandrax

[PCBONEZ]

Re: DDR Registered, Servers, FSB - Question

Thanks guys.
Your thoughts mirror mine.

I'm aware of the density concern. The boards tend to have 6 to 8 memory slots and I doubt I'll ever need more than 3gb anyway so that's easy to get around.

I've seen those that list PC2700 as an option but also many that only specify up to PC2100.

For regular P4 non-registered memory boards I just get PC3200 and it usually works. I've only had PC3200 not work on two. They were both earlier DDR chipsets (one i845 based variety on a cheap OEM board and one Granite Bay on an older Asus 'entry level' server board). I think the BIOS just didn't support the timings listed in the module's SPDs and an updated BIOS version would could have fixed that if the manufacturer cared enough to do a fix.

-

It's these chipsets that use Registered ECC memory I haven't played with because I don't have enough surplus parts around to experiment with them.
~ And I don't wanna buy something that won't work just for the experience.
~ I'm that crazy but not that rich.

Does anyone know for sure?
Actually used PC3200 on an i7501 board?

.