ddr sdram compatibility conjunction

[josemavicente]

hello again,

how do you know if your MB can support running ddr and sd ram at the same time? can this really be done. i thought you cant. and is this advisable if it can?

my mb is a k7s5a, 2 ddr slots, 2 sd slots. waddaya think? :)

[ski]

According to the user's manual for that MB, you cannot simultaneously install SDRAM and DDR modules:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/manual_k7s.htm

[rond36]

As far as I know any motherboard that accepts both SDR-SDRAM and DDR-SDRAM it will accept one or the other not both at the same time.

Copied from the spec sheet on ECS's web site for your board:

MEMORY

2 DDR DIMM sockets and 2 DIMM sockets support (can not be used simultaneously)
Two 184-pin DDR SDRAM (DDR200, DDR266) or
Two 168-pin 3.3V SDRAM (PC100, PC133)
Maximum: 1.0GB (DDR or SDRAM)

If you have both DIMM sockets filled your only option is to buy larger DIMMs. 512MB DIMMS are the largest you can install.

[mjc]

If there are any that will run both, it will be speeled out in the manual. But, like rond36, I haven't seen any that can run both together.

[Budfred]

I saw one that looked like it might do both, but the ECS K7S5A definitely doesn't...

[boneburner]

No way. The board may actually fry if you try it. VERY different voltages for the two memory types, system clock speeds...etc.

[josemavicente]

PERFORMANCE-wise, how big will the improvement be? i got 390MB SD RAM, and I can only afford to get 256DDR as of now. will it be a useless expense, meaning icould buy something else at the moment? im running a athlon xp 1800 with a GEforce2Ti

[Budfred]

I switched from SDRAM to DDR on that board and didn't really notice the difference. DDR is supposed to run at twice the speed of SDRAM, but what you will actually see depends on all sorts of factors....

[ski]

jose,

Also, if you're doing any video editing or graphic design, running a lot of programs simultaneously, or playing current games, then I would recommend that you stick with the existing SDRAM.
Only 256MB of DDR may not be sufficient for the above, and your virtual memory may become activated and slow your system down.

[josemavicente]

yeah ski, i got the same feeling ... 390 will still be a lot better than 256 ddr... just really wanted an opinion. now, i guess ill just have to get two sets of 256 DDR maximizing my RAM the nexttime i intend to upgrade? i guess nowadays you need a min of 512MB DDR?

im trying to see whether my computer will meet the requirements to play the upcoming DOOM3 decently.. i can run splinter cell pretty well.

[josemavicente]

Budfred and guys,

does the board matter then?

you said:
I switched from SDRAM to DDR on that board and didn't really notice the difference. DDR is supposed to run at twice the speed of SDRAM, but what you will actually see depends on all sorts of factors....

[ski]

Yeah, new games can be system killers.
I ran Combat Flight Simulator 1 and 2 with no problems using 256MB of RAM.
But CFS 3 sucked up around 220MB when it loaded, and it studdered terribly due to the virtual memory activating.
I ended up installing another 256MB to get it to run smoothly.

[josemavicente]

*SIGH*:(

[Budfred]

I am not sure how much the board makes a difference, but I used that board and tried both types of RAM in it. The good thing is that both worked, but, like I said, I didn't really see the difference. I also didn't play any games or run any RAM intensive programs.

I do know that you can take 2 different boards with very similar specs and run them side by side using the same software tests and get very different results. This is because there are a number of different potential bottlenecks or open roads that can be built into a board or the peripherals. The specs are only a guideline to the actual function of a finished piece.

[josemavicente]

hmmm, well i know that ECS isnt exactly the best brand, but i consider it efficient because its known to be a BUDGET board.