On 1 Jun, 00:40, Franc Zabkar <fzab...@iinternode.on.net> wrote:
> On Thu, 29 May 2008 11:22:32 -0700 (PDT), rpgs rock dvds
> <rpgsrockd...@hotmail.co.uk> put finger to keyboard and composed:
>
>
>
>
>
> >Having re-read the Supermicro P6SBA (I have revision 2.0) mobo manual
> >(unfortunately only the manual for revision 4.0 exists online) what
> >must be about a dozen times now, the penny has *finally* dropped and I
> >now understand exactly type of RAM it supports.
>
> >I'd quite like 512mb of memory for my Win98 boxes. It would be nice
> >to dual-boot them with XP, and so this amount of RAM would be a good
> >idea I think.
>
> >However, in order to get this much RAM onboard, the RAM sticks must be
> >registered. I've found some registered sticks online (which are also
> >ECC.) The mobo manual says it supports both registered and ECC RAM,
> >so that's OK I think.
>
> >I guess my principal query is simply - will registered ECC RAM get
> >along fine with Windows 98 (and XP) ? I've heard this type of memory
> >slows things down a little bit, but would this decent amount of memory
> >more than make up for any "slowdowns" that this special type of memory
> >has on a mobo?
>
> >Alternatively, I could go for unregistered (non-ECC) SDRAM, but I'm
> >limited to a max of 384mb for this type of RAM.
>
> >I'm tempted to go for the registered ECC stuff...
>
> FWIW, I checked the ECC and non-ECC prices for 256MB PC133 SDRAM
> modules and found them to differ by about 40% for some vendors.
>
> AFAICT, enabling ECC will slow you down a little. However, at least
> one person seems to have had the opposite experience:
>
> BIOS Settings: DRAM Integrity Mode (ECC) - Disabled vs. Parity vs.
> ECC2 vs. ECC1:http://www.personal.psu.edu/lae2/fx83dinteg/fx83dinteg.htm
>
> Note that the default setting in your BIOS's "Advanced Chipset Setup"
> is "None" for "DRAM Integrity Mode". I'm not sure what the ECC1 and
> ECC2 settings mean, but I suspect one may be ECC (error checking and
> correction) whereas the other may be EC (checking but no correction).
>
> >Any thoughts please - thanks very much.
>
> >Best regards, Robert.
>
> This is what Crucial ...http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=SUPER P6SBA
>
> ... and Kingston are showing for your motherboard:http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...asp?SysID...http://preview.tinyurl.com/6s8krb
>
> Crucial offers PC133 non-parity unbuffered SDR SDRAM whereas Kingston
> offers only PC100.
>
> The Kingston web site states that ...
>
> "PC133 modules MAY NOT BE BACKWARD COMPATIBLE to PC100 machines.
> Systems using the 440BX, 810 or 810e chipsets should only use PC100
> memory."
>
> http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con....asp?type=...http://preview.tinyurl.com/ny6cn
>
> However, Crucial's advice for your motherboard is ...
>
> ====================================================================
> Q: What memory goes into my computer, and will a faster speed be
> backward-compatible?
>
> A: SDRAM memory with support for SDRAM, PC133 speeds.
>
> Because SDR memory is backward-compatible, you can safely upgrade your
> system with any of the guaranteed-compatible SDR speeds listed below
> [PC133 is listed, and the motherboard is shown to support PC66 and
> PC100].
> ====================================================================
>
> Furthermore, Crucial's web site states that "Error Detection Support"
> for your motherboard is "ECC and non-ECC", but the FAQ in the very
> same window states ...
>
> ====================================================================
> Q: Does my computer support ECC memory?
>
> A: No.
>
> Your system does not support ECC.
> ====================================================================
>
> I find it all very confusing. It seems that those who should know what
> they are talking about, don't. :-(
>
> If you want to get your data from the horse's mouth, then here is
> Intel's datasheet. There is a section devoted to ECC, but it's not
> light reading.
>
> Intel(R) 440BX AGPset: 82443BX Host Bridge/Controller Datasheet:http://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/29063301.pdf
>
> - Franc Zabkar
> --
> Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Wow, another sensational post Franc! If I was a millionaire, I'd pay
you to sort out all of my legacy hardware issues! <Reality Check>
I've spent most of my (time and) money already on my legacy machines
project!!
However, I do feel as if I am making steady progress. I've ensured
that the 2nd (of 3) mobo works with all of its intended legacy
components, and as I learn more about this, I feel confident I can get
the 3rd machine to work too.
Having said that, here is a summary of my main concern:
Because I am not knowledgeable about the Windows 98 (and 95) and the
Pentium II / III era, I have made quite a few mistakes. For example,
since I started this project about 4 months ago I have now bought
about 12 motherboards. I'd say that all of them have at least 1 thing
"wrong" with them. When I say "wrong", I mean it's just a niggly
thing like it only accepts 384mb of SDRAM (rather than 512mb), or it
uses a VIA chipset rather than an Intel one, or it's only got 2 ISA
slots when I really needed 3. (The list goes on!)
I'd say I've also bought about 30 additional components, mainly
graphics and sound cards, many of which I now realise aren't quite
what I'm after. Honestly, I'm beginning to run out of space to put
all of this stuff!
I would be *really* grateful if you could please offer me some advice
-- If I list what mobo requirements I need (and I've thought about
this endlessly please believe me, and I think I've finally got this
right), could you very kindly tell me which used mobos I need to look
out for?
If this is possible, here are the mobo requirements I need -
Slots -- 1 AGP, 3 ISA, 4 or 5 PCI. (If all 3 ISAs are filled, it's OK
if only 3 PCI slots remain.)
Chipset -- I think I need Intel, because Matrox recommend this chipset
for bus mastering, and as I quite like the Matrox (PCI) cards I've
bought, I think I'd like to use the Intel chipset.
HDD -- mustn't "hang" if a HDD is greater than 137gb. (I'll worry
about getting access to the "missing" space on the HDD another time!)
RAM -- PC100 speed is absolutely fine. However, I think I'd like the
flexibility to install 512mb of the basic unbuffered SDRAM. This
could be achieved using 2 x 256mb DIMMs (much preferred), or more
inconveniently using 4 x 128mb DIMMS.
AGP -- any speed is OK. If it is only 2x speed for example, that's
absolutely fine. I *think* I need a minimum of 2x speed though,
because I am using both nVidia FX 5200 and ATI Radeon 9250 graphics
cards which may operate correctly only from 2x speed up to 8x speed.
(Although I'm really not sure if that particular concern is relevant
and justified.)
CPU speed -- I think I would like a top speed of Pentium 3 800mhz.
CPU type -- I *think* I would like to have slot 1, because these mobos
may offer more older style ISA slots than the newer faster socket 370
boards.
Bus speed -- 100FSB is absolutely fine. 66 (max setting) is however a
bit too slow. 133FSB is probably a little bit too fast. I think
100FSB would be just right.
USB -- I really do need at least 1 port.
Phew. That's it!
Please note that I already have 5! Supermicro boards (models P6SBU rev
1.01 and P6SBA rev 2.0). I think these boards satisfy every criteria
listed above except the P6SBU must use 4 x 128mb DIMMS to achieve a
maximum of 512mb of unbuffered SDRAM rather than the more convenient 2
x 256mb sticks, and the P6SBA is only able to accept a maximum of
384mb of unbuffered SDRAM, which makes it less flexible than the P6SBU
board. However, I have learnt recently that there's a revision 4.0 of
the P6SBA board, which may have overcome this unbuffered SDRAM
limitation, although that's just a guess.
If you do happen to be able to offer up any buying advice, I'd be
eternally grateful to you.
All the best from Robert.