Single bank Memory on A7V880

[Gavrik]

Does anyone know if the Asus A7V880 motherboard will work with 512MB
DIMMs that are constructed with a single-rank of 512Mbit devices? I
am thinking of using single-rank modules for stability reasons and am
not confident that I understand all the issues.

The Asus qualified memory list does not show any examples of
single-rank 512MB modules -- I can only find two-rank 512MB modules
that are made out of 256Mbit devices.

If you look at the data sheets for single-rank modules (512Mbit
devices) and dual-rank modules (256Mbit devices) the number of address
lines (13) is the same for both. The only difference is that the
single-rank modules use a single chip-select line and the two-rank
modules use two chip-select line. I assume that this means that both
should work.

Does anyone understand this stuff?

-- Gavrik

 

[Paul]

Does anyone know if the Asus A7V880 motherboard will work with 512MB
DIMMs that are constructed with a single-rank of 512Mbit devices? I
am thinking of using single-rank modules for stability reasons and am
not confident that I understand all the issues.

The Asus qualified memory list does not show any examples of
single-rank 512MB modules -- I can only find two-rank 512MB modules
that are made out of 256Mbit devices.

If you look at the data sheets for single-rank modules (512Mbit
devices) and dual-rank modules (256Mbit devices) the number of address
lines (13) is the same for both. The only difference is that the
single-rank modules use a single chip-select line and the two-rank
modules use two chip-select line. I assume that this means that both
should work.

Does anyone understand this stuff?

-- Gavrik

I guess the way I would analyse it, is to note that the A7V880
supports 1GB DIMMs, and those are double sided. A 512MB single
rank DIMM, is just a 1GB DIMM with half the chips removed. So
I don't see a reason it won't work.

For example, if you look here:

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=19527

the KVR400X64C3A/1G is a 1GB module that is supposed to work
with your board. The datasheet shows it uses 64Mx8 chips:

http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR400X64C3A_1G.pdf

A 512MB single rank (eight chip) module, would just be a
KVR400X64C3A_1G with half the chips removed.

As long as the modules you are buying have eight chips,
and aren't using any of those crazy stacked chips, you
should be OK.

Paul

 

[Gavrik]

I guess the way I would analyse it, is to note that the A7V880

supports 1GB DIMMs, and those are double sided. A 512MB single
rank DIMM, is just a 1GB DIMM with half the chips removed. So
I don't see a reason it won't work.

Paul. I think you are correct.

Thanks.

-- Gavrik