Do I need "Special" memory for Athlon64/NForce3??

L

LeviathanZERO

Supreme [H]ardness
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Dec 20, 2003
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Well, Im thinking of buying a Athlon64/Nforce3 system from ibuypower.com, and i was wondering... Do you need a special type of RAM for a Athlon64 system? I dont understand. I really want to get that sweet Corsair XMS PRO with the pretty lights and everything, but they dont have it selectable on the athlon64 systems. You can get it for the XP systems, however....

Is their website just being bitchy or is there a reason its not offered with any Athlon 64 system? If not I'll just be better off buying one of their systems without RAM and get the RAM myself.

hmm.....
 
if u run an athlon64 fx than you need buffered registered ECC ram i believe, but a normal athlon64 can use normal ram. correct me if im wrong
 
i thought that was for the new socket 940 or whatever. They are making a socket 942(or whatever) that doesnt need registered RAM. This is Athlon FX btw, The same doesnt apply to the 64, does it? I think the 64 uses a different socket, 7** something, i think....

but if thats the case. woohoo! Im getting my XMS ram. :)
 
The Athlon 64 (Socket 754) doesn't need "special" RAM; 184-pin, unbuffered PC3200 will suffice. The Athlon 64 FX and Opteron (Socket 940) processors require registered RAM. Early this year, the Athlon 64 FX (and possibly Athlon 64) will transition to Socket 939, where registered memory won't be required.
 
Check the mboard specifications. This can vary.
 
would it be favorable to wait for the socket 939? I want a athlon64 but if i wont be able to upgrade without overhauling the entire system, then thats not very price efficient.
 
Yes, I would recommend waiting for Socket 939 if you don't plan to migrate to Opterons in the future. Socket 939 based systems are more cost effective but less suitable for server and workstation duties. I'm sure you know where you stand. It has been rumored that Socket 939 CPUs and motherboards will emerge in the first half of this year. I predict a March/April debut.
 
I think Carmack said it best, "First generation hardware really isn't for consumers, it's for the developers." This is A LOT like the first P4s. The socket 423 was soon replaced with socket 478. I think this will happen even faster with the 64-bit Athlon chips. So in other words, wait.
 
oh *sigh*....

i guess im gonna wait then.... i cant spend 1600$ only to spend 1600$ more in 6 months.....

damnit, i really need a new system, this 1.2Athlon/Geforce 3 is near the end....
 
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