DDR SDRAM compatability

[Chris.aspinall]

This is probably a stupid question, but here goes.

I've just bought a cheap motherboard (Biostar 7VIG 400 7.x) to upgrade an
old P2 200Mhz at minimum cost.
I have a 256MB SDRAM DIMM memory. Can it be used as a replacement for a DDR
SDRAM DIMM to save buying new. I've checked that the pinouts are "not
incompatible", but obviously the actual operation of the memory is
different, DDR being at twice the data rate (on both clock edges).

Anyone know if the Biostar, or indeed any other motherboard can accommodate
both?

Chris A.

 

[Larry Roberts]

This is probably a stupid question, but here goes.

I've just bought a cheap motherboard (Biostar 7VIG 400 7.x) to upgrade an
old P2 200Mhz at minimum cost.
I have a 256MB SDRAM DIMM memory. Can it be used as a replacement for a DDR
SDRAM DIMM to save buying new. I've checked that the pinouts are "not
incompatible", but obviously the actual operation of the memory is
different, DDR being at twice the data rate (on both clock edges).

Anyone know if the Biostar, or indeed any other motherboard can accommodate
both?

Chris A.

You will need to purchase a DDR DIMM. I'd go for a PC3200
DDR400 DIMM since they are the same price as the slower DDR333/266/200
DIMMs. That board supports DDR400 even though the CPU FSB speed is
only upto 333Mhz.
I'm not sure if any mainboards support both SDRAM, & DDR.
There might be. I had an old Socket 7 Jetay that supported both EDO
SIMMs, and SDRAM DIMMs, but not at the same time.

 

[Rod Speed]

You will need to purchase a DDR DIMM. I'd go for a PC3200
DDR400 DIMM since they are the same price as the slower DDR333/266/200
DIMMs. That board supports DDR400 even though the CPU FSB speed is
only upto 333Mhz.
I'm not sure if any mainboards support both SDRAM, & DDR.

Yep, some do.

 

[Paul]

This is probably a stupid question, but here goes.

I've just bought a cheap motherboard (Biostar 7VIG 400 7.x) to upgrade an
old P2 200Mhz at minimum cost.
I have a 256MB SDRAM DIMM memory. Can it be used as a replacement for a DDR
SDRAM DIMM to save buying new. I've checked that the pinouts are "not
incompatible", but obviously the actual operation of the memory is
different, DDR being at twice the data rate (on both clock edges).

Anyone know if the Biostar, or indeed any other motherboard can accommodate
both?

Chris A.

There were motherboards that were released with both kinds of sockets on
the same motherboard. This motherboard supports both SDRAM and DDR SDRAM,
but has separate sockets for each type. The memory types may not be mixed,
and you either use all SDRAM or all DDR. In this case, the two memory
types are separated by buffer chips on the motherboard, and the function of
the buffer chip, is to compensate for voltage differences between
the sets of memory sockets.

http://www.motherboards.org/mobot/motherboards_d/ASUS/A7A266/

Purchase whatever type of memory is specified in your user's manual.
Usually you can find some kind of downloadable manual, or even Crucial
can give you info on what to buy. Looks like some kind of DDR to
me.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...fr=Biostar&tabid=AM&model=M7VIG+400&submit=Go

http://www.motherboards.org/mobot/motherboards_d/BIOSTAR/M7VIG+400/

Paul

 

[SteveH]

You will need to purchase a DDR DIMM. I'd go for a PC3200
DDR400 DIMM since they are the same price as the slower DDR333/266/200
DIMMs. That board supports DDR400 even though the CPU FSB speed is
only upto 333Mhz.
I'm not sure if any mainboards support both SDRAM, & DDR.
There might be. I had an old Socket 7 Jetay that supported both EDO
SIMMs, and SDRAM DIMMs, but not at the same time.

IIRC the ECS K7S5A does both, I wouldn't buy one though.

SteveH

 

[nobody760]

MSI KM2M

Runs both SDRAM and DDRAM.

I have no compaints. Integrated MB and son seems to play his games ok
on it. Running Windows XP Pro with 512 of DDR PC2700.

 

[DaveW]

DDR and SDRAM DIMM pinouts ARE incompatible. They use different voltages
and different pin counts.

 

[nobody760]

Should have pointed out -

but not at the same time, either one type or the other.