January 9, 201511 yr Hi All, I am building a backup server this weekend as part of my project here: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=37567.0 Posting this question outside that thread as it may result in some discussion. The motherboard I have selected for the Back-up Server is a AS Rock E3C224D2I (http://www.asrockrack.com/general/productdetail.asp?Model=E3C224D2I#Specifications) and the CPU is an Intel Celeron G1850 (http://ark.intel.com/products/80798/Intel-Celeron-Processor-G1850-2M-Cache-2_90-GHz). The board is fine because it supports ECC RAM DDR3 1600/1333, Max. 16GB. The CPU I have chosen however while it supports ECC Registered RAM it only supports DDR3-1333. My local supplier has a nice deal on Kingston KVR16R11S8/4I 4GB (1x4GB) 1600MHz ECC Buffered DDR3. As you can see it is spec'd at 1600. My question is two fold: 1) Is this going to be ok? I know in the past when I have built non server rigs before in some cases it has been ok, it will just not run at full speed. But I am not so sure about buffered, ECC, Server Memory. 2) Because it is buffered memory am I ok with just buying 1 stick as apposed to two. I know with unbuffered it will be more reliable if I install one module per channel - but given that it is buffered can I just install 1 stick (4GB) or should I buy 2 (even though I don't really need 8GB - 2GB modules I just can't get). Thank you in advance. Daniel
January 9, 201511 yr Author Im doing some more thinking. I am trying to figure out if I can "set" the RAM to operate at 1333MHz via the BIOS. I can't imagine it will "automatically" run at any speed let alone the speed I need it to. I guess it just runs at whatever the motherboard tells it to and that setting must be in the BIOS of the board? Or is that Friday night after 1 scotch logic?
January 9, 201511 yr ... Because it is buffered memory ... That board does NOT support buffered memory. You need unbuffered ECC modules for that board. Yes, it is okay to just buy one ... as with any other system with dual-channel support the memory will be slower in single-channel mode; but it will work fine. Also yes, you can use DDR-1600 modules ... they'll just run at 1333 speed with that CPU Also, r.e. "... I know with unbuffered it will be more reliable if I install one module per channel ..." => This statement is only true when you're considering whether to install 2 modules per channel vs. one module per channel. There's NO reliability issue if you only install one module in one channel instead of one module in each of your 2 channels. Bottom line: You can certainly just install one 4GB [unbuffered ECC] module if you want => the only difference is that the memory will operate in single channel mode. Candidly, you're not likely to notice the difference
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.