Which CPUs work with DDR2 1066 PC-8500 memory?

[Dave]

Are there any current CPUs that don't?

The price of DDR2 1066 memory looks low, but some mainboard makers say
PC2 8500 requires AM2 processors.

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9A2_CF-F&class=mb
(search for 1066)

Is there a webpage for AMD like this one for Intel Paul pointed to.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAPL

Thanks.

John - You are asking the wrong question. CPUs and Memory have had no need to run synchronous for so many years now that I can't even remember exactly when.

Your mainboard will support certain CPUs
Your mainboard will support certain types of RAM

The CPU has a base clock speed
The RAM has a base clock speed
The two clock speeds DO NOT need to match

Some think that there is a performance advantage to matching CPU and RAM. Not really. Not unless you are running some kind of synthetic benchmark and are looking for a .000000001% gain. (!) -Dave

 

[John Doe]

Are there any current CPUs that don't?

The price of DDR2 1066 memory looks low, but some mainboard makers say
PC2 8500 requires AM2 processors.

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9A2_CF-F&class=mb
(search for 1066)

Is there a webpage for AMD like this one for Intel Paul pointed to.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAPL

Thanks.

 

[John Doe]

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUFilter.aspx

maybe that's one

 

[John Doe]

some mainboard makers say PC2 8500 requires AM2 processors.

Sorry, I meant "AM2+ processors".

 

[John Doe]

Doing some research.

Apparently Intel CPUs E2000/E4000 series are limited to 800 MHz FSB
speed. Difficult to tell what AMD FSB speeds are by looking at the
chart. It goes from 1600 (really 800? corresponding to the old x2
FSB mess?) to 2000 (Athlon X2) to 3200 (Phenom X4). The mainboard
maker warning says DDR2 1066 requires an AM2 CPU, and the first AMD
CPU FSB/2 to be at least 1066 is the Phenom X4 which is AM2. So I
guess AMD is problematic for using PC-8500 memory? If correct, maybe
that leads to some corrupt user reviews too.

 

[John Doe]

the Phenom X4 which is AM2

Crud, I meant "AM2+" again.

 

[John Doe]

....

Some think that there is a performance advantage to matching CPU
and RAM. Not really. Not unless you are running some kind of
synthetic benchmark and are looking for a .000000001% gain. (!)

Are you saying that DDR2 1066 runs optimally with AM2 processors?

The manufacturers say DDR2 1066 requires AM2+ processors.
Manufacturers employ a lot of real engineers. Manufacturers are
highly motivated to supply accurate information about their
products, especially when the information might not
increase their sales. They wouldn't discourage the sale of their
mainboard to users with AM2 processors without good reason. Also, some
DDR2 1066 memory text includes a "+" suffix like this "DDR2 1066+".

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9A2_CF-F&class=mb

"Supports Dual DDR II 1066(only for AM2+)"

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=149

"DDR2 1066(For AM2+ CPU only)"

 

[Dave]

Are you saying that DDR2 1066 runs optimally with AM2 processors?

No, not at all

The manufacturers say DDR2 1066 requires AM2+ processors.

(snip)

OK, you are thinking way too hard. There are memory controllers that determine what type of RAM is supported, at what speeds. Some (most) are on the mainboard chipset. Some few are built into a CPU, such as certain AMD brand CPUs in particular.

Without downloading a bunch of engineering specs and spending the next few hours pouring through them, I'm guessing that the AM2+ processor is YET ANOTHER AMD brand processor that has a memory controller function built in. So it's possible that there really isn't a chipset that will allow DDR2 1066 to run at that speed, and (right now at least) the only controller that will enable that speed is built into a certain processor. (a certain AM2+)

But again, you are thinking way too hard. If you want to buy a CPU and you want to buy memory, it's best to determine what chipset you want, then pick a mainboard that has that chipset (and all other features you want in a mainboard), THEN
When you know the specific model of mainboard that you want, choose a CPU and RAM to match the mainboard.
NOTE: both CPU and RAM should match what the mainboard supports! CPU and RAM do NOT need to match EACH OTHER, but they do need to match the mainboard.

If you happen to see a note that says that a certain type of RAM will only work with a certain type of CPU, then you have a further choice to make. Do you really want that type of RAM? If so, you'll have to buy a specific CPU to support it. But be careful! Just because a certain CPU matches a certain RAM stick doesn't necessarily mean that BOTH will be compatible with the mainboard! That's why you start with the mainboard first, and go from there. Me, I'd avoid RAM that needs a certain CPU to support it. But that's just me. -Dave