I don't know why I am so confused by this.

My MB is an ABIT KT7A-Raid.
3 slots - 1.5G max memory
manual says:
"support......... and 64Mx64 (512MB) or double sided DIMM modules"
"three.....modules.... (six banks)"
"memory array is 64 or 72 bits wide"
"supports single and double density DIMMS"

when I search for RAM most sites tell me the 64x4 or 64x64 high
density will only work with something which is NOT a KT133A.

The indication is that I need 32x8 modules.
Can someone help me understand all this?
thanks

Simple method, Crucile or Kingston web site, use their config tool

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
newso1m91t2conqd795d4piucdsjuelkeb63q@4ax.com...

see.cher@your.place wrote:
Just look for PC133 memory in the specs.
http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/...ies=1&model=88

Rôgêr wrote:
Okay, help *me* out, here. I'm running a KT133 chipset, which his is
an *advancement* on, and I'm using PC2100 DDR RAM.

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Blinky the Shark wrote:
your. I don't know why the supposed advancement meant going backwards in
memory technology. But, according to this page all Abit's with the KT133
are made for SDRAMM.
http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/kt133.php

Rôgêr wrote:





You're mixing up my chipset (KT133) with his (KT133A).

The question is why would his advanced chipset (it replaced mine) limit
him to PC133 when my original KT133-not-A can take PC2100 DDR SDRAM?

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Blinky the Shark wrote:
The first two are KT133A, the third is KT133E, the last two are KT133.
All are listed as SDRAM compatible.

I don't know. Did you have to use a hammer to get those chips into the
slots?

Rôgêr wrote:








From the dead-tree manual:

Versatile Memory Support

Two 184-pin DIMM slots to support up to 2GB of PC1600 or PC2100
compliant DDR SDRAM module.

Didn't say anything about a hammer, so I just installed them the usual
way.

It also has a couple slots for PC100/133. But that obviously doesn't
mean it's limited to that slower memory. User's choice -- one or the
other. Point is, that chipset (the older KT133-no-A) is equally
obviously not limited to the slower memory.

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Blinky the Shark wrote:
I suppose that's the difference, your motherboard is one of the few that
allowed either type. But his motherboard *is* limited to PC133. You can
look at the enlarged pic from the first link and there're no DDR slots
there.

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
newso1m91t2conqd795d4piucdsjuelkeb63q@4ax.com...
I believe that 64 is non-ECC and 72 is ECC. You do not want to mix the two.
Unless you have a critical server, you should probably use non-ECC.


Buy low density ram and it will work.

Usually high density ram is 'one' sided and a stick of 512MB high density ram on
your machine would probably only read as 256MB, as the max amount read by your
MB on each side is probably 256 (it reads both sides).

It's possible that a 256MB high density stick may work just fine, but unless you
can try and then buy, just stick with the low density type.

There are some excellent deals on ebay.
I paid aprox $50 for a 512MB stick of PC-133 CL3 lowdensity and it works just
fine on my old motherboard.(K7S5a)
High density chips don't work on many MBs, but they are cheaper.
If you do some Googling, you will find out more about high and low density SDRam

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
newso1m91t2conqd795d4piucdsjuelkeb63q@4ax.com...
Well, looking at this link, it sounds like high-density might work on your MB.
(KT7A is listed, but not the KT7A raid)
http://www.allmemoryupgrades.com/pc1...atibility.html

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
newso1m91t2conqd795d4piucdsjuelkeb63q@4ax.com...
More places to look at:
http://www.pcboost.com/store/faq.asp?IDFaq=6
http://www.pcboost.com/store/faq.asp

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
newso1m91t2conqd795d4piucdsjuelkeb63q@4ax.com...
32x8 modules are the low density config:
"32M x 8-bit (8M x 8-bit x 4 Bank / PC133 components)"
64x4 bit are the high density ones.
As I posted earlier, the cheaper high-density ones may work in your MB

Rôgêr wrote:

Seems weird that the mobo wouldn't support what the chipset was capable
of. Or maybe that happens all of the time. I've been pretty thorough
when mobo shopping, but it's been a while and maybe I just forgot that
some mobos are the limiting factor, not the chipsets.

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Thanks Buffalo;

that's good info. First site I have seen that said high density fit my
board. Most just warn or don't tell you what the module is.

I don't know why this has to be so confusing, but I still don't really
know what the difference is.

I think that MAYBE my mb will take EITHER high or low and they would
rather sell the higher priced low density modules.

64Mx64 is used when speaking of high or low modules. so is 64Mx4 but
then they talk about using 32x8 memory modules for low density and
64x64 for high and I think there was another configuration # that was
thrown about.

I have found sites saying high would NOT work in a KT7A but the manual
says high. I guess low will work in high but not vice versa and the
vendors are confused also so they sell low.

'still confused' - I need and engineering answer! but at least I now
know I can buy high (at least from one site).

On Tue, 31 May 2005 12:55:55 -0600, "Buffalo"
<eric(nospam)@nada.com.invalid> wrote:

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
news:s5e0a1hfr0e52cgj97l4a2cqubalmuhjo3@4ax.com...
Well, high-density wasn't popular (maybe not even on the market) when your MB
was made.
I agree, it is very confusing.



32x8 is Low-Density
I think you could find out more by using Google and putting in something like
High Density vs Low Density SDram.
One hit was:

http://hardware.mcse.ms/archive24-2004-12-113655.html

If the cost difference was only a few dollars, I would go for the low-density
High-Density is cheaper and will not work in most older MBs, esp those which
have a 1GB total Memory limit.
But that site says that High-Density will work in the KT7a.

thanks buffalo

well the manual refers to high density and it also supports 3x 512M
modules, so I guess it is means 64x4 chips are OK - non-double sided,
etc. and since it has an extra line for high density, low density
should also work. So I can throw caution to the wind and go for it.
Much appreciated. Now if I had an app note and schematic for the two
my mind would be totally happy.

On Fri, 3 Jun 2005 07:44:51 -0600, "Buffalo"
<eric(nospam)@nada.com.invalid> wrote:

<see.cher@your.place> wrote in message
news:sri1a1tndpg1n7gutacnpgtv7nftrqh236@4ax.com...
Read the whole thing if you're interested in learning more.
http://hardware.mcse.ms/archive24-2004-12-113655.html
Especially the responses by Dave Maynard.
Also, see if the shop will install it free.
Best of luck and enjoyment.
Buffalo

To whomever gives a crap.

Here is the answer as I have figured it out.

high vs low density was never offically defined and different people
refer to different things, but most don't really know what they are
refering to.

1. x4 chip vs x8 chip - this does not necessarily define H vs L.
2. chips placed on both sides of pcb - doesn't mean anything by itself
either.
3. does a MB support this module vs that module - could support either
but not both.

OK, here is my answer.

some MB have 11 address lines some have 12.
some MB have 4 memory slots some have 3. (forget about 2 or 1).
some MB support 1MB some 1.5MB
some memory modules have chips on both sides
some memory modules use x4 chips, some use x8 chips.

In order to support 1.5MB with a 3 slot board you need 512MB modules.
Modules with 13 address lines (A0 thru A12) will work. In fact, any
512MB module MUST have 13 address lines. MB that support 1MB have 4
slots for 4x 256MB modules or 11 address lines.

So the real issue is with 256MB modules. If you make them with 32x8
chips you need 12 address lines. If you make them with 64x4 chips you
need 13 address lines. the x8 or x4 is the data bus width, the 32x or
64x tells you how "high", or how big a ladder you need to reach the
top - IE, how high your address bus must be.
If you put 64x chips in a MB without the extra address line you won't
see the other half of the chip.
If you use 32x4 chips, you should not have a problem since you only
need 12 address lines to see the whole chip. (I don't think these are
common)

THEREFORE, if you refer to "density" relative to address lines ,
everything is intellegible. Using 64x4 chips you must have 13 address
lines. However, a 512MB module using 32x8 chips still needs 13 address
lines.

Then there is the issue of mixing 12 address line modules with 13
address line modules. Software may be able to figure this one out, but
I bet a lot of "it won't work in this slot but it does in that slot"
complaint have to do with that. IE, in a 3 slot board if you put two
12s and a 13 in that order the MB may have a problem talking to the 13
line module.

SOOO, if it has 3 slots and supports 1.5G anything should work as long
as they are all the same type.
if it is 4 slot by 1G, 64x4 chips won't work. A 256MB 32x4 chip should
work if there is such an animal.

and that is my opinion - which seems to verify.


On Fri, 3 Jun 2005 19:13:46 -0600, "Buffalo"
<eric(nospam)@nada.com.invalid> wrote: