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Hardware "Broadwater" Memory Controller Changes
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - August 8, 2006 4:21 AM

17 comment(s) - last by Alpha4.. on Aug 9 at 4:53 AM

1Gbit DDR2-800 DIMMs no longer supported

Intel’s latest July 2006 specification update on the Broadwater family of chipsets reveals some changes to the memory controller. All Broadwater family chipsets including G965, P965, Q965 and Q963 will no longer support 1Gbit DDR2-800 DIMMs. This limits the maximum system memory for DDR2-800 equipped systems to 4GB.

Users seeking over 4GB of system memory or compatibility with 2GB DDR2 modules will have to stick with slower DDR2 533 and 667 MHz modules. This shouldn’t be too big of a problem as 2GB (16x1Gbit) DDR2-800 modules are scarce, if available, and carry a hefty premium over 1GB modules. There’s no mention of why 1Gbit DDR2-800 support was removed, though stability is a likely culprit.

Intel has only officially launched the P965 Express variant of its Broadwater family of Conroe optimized chipsets. The integrated graphics equipped G965 is expected later this month with a new GMA X3000 graphics core sporting DirectX 9 compatibility and programmable shaders. Intel is also expected to launch its vPro business platform with its upcoming Q965 Express chipset and its GMA 3000 graphics core too. The Broadwater chipset family powers a variety of Intel Desktop Boards. Broadwater’s successor, Bearlake is expected in 2007 with a variety of new motherboards accompanying it.

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Not a big deal, really.

By MonkeyPaw on 8/8/2006 4:07:06 PM , Rating: 2

How many people will buy a mid-level board and stock it with more than 4GB of RAM? My guess is not very many. Anyone with the dream of running such a configuration will either use a 975 board, or perhaps skip Core2 and go with a Xeon-woodcrest setup.

RE: Not a big deal, really.

By PT2006 on 8/8/2006 4:51:45 PM , Rating: 2

Yeah, except P965 outperforms 975X in just about every benchmark.

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RE: Not a big deal, really.

By MonkeyPaw on 8/8/2006 6:33:08 PM , Rating: 2

Well isn't that a kicker. I guess since 965 is made for Core2, it will be a bit more optimized than the 975. Will the 965 support more than one 16x slot? I can't remember for sure, but I don't think it has enough lanes?

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RE: Not a big deal, really.

By Googer on 8/9/2006 12:44:17 AM , Rating: 2

X16 Slot support depends on the south bridge the motherboard maker chooses to use. It could be ICH 6,7,8,etc. The 865 chip is called the northbridge and that is the memory controller only.

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RE: Not a big deal, really.

By uncledim on 8/9/2006 1:04:41 AM , Rating: 2

RTFM, x16 depends on north (P965 provides 16 lanes, ich8 - only 6).

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An attack on AMD?

By raven3x7 on 8/8/2006 10:39:04 AM , Rating: 2

trying to hurt AMD by manipulating DDR2 800mhz pricing? We all know that AM2 performce well mostly with PC6400 memory

RE: An attack on AMD?

By sdsdv10 on 8/8/2006 1:52:03 PM , Rating: 2

How praytell, is this attack on AMD and how is it going to negatively affect RAM pricing? If the assumption in the article is to be believed “There’s no mention of why 1Gbit DDR2-800 support was removed, though stability is a likely culprit.” and stability is the reason for not supporting (that is not supporting , it has nothing to do with supply ) this class of memory chip then this might actually increase supply. If Intel system can not take advantage of these chips, then they will not be put into Intel based computers systems, thus leaving a larger supply for AMD system. Jeeze, did you even read the article?

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RE: An attack on AMD?

By VooDooAddict on 8/8/2006 2:19:49 PM , Rating: 2

I think he's fearful that there will be very limited production of 1Gbit DDR2-800 Modules. BECAUSE it's not supported on Intel it might lead less manufacturs to make the modules.

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RE: An attack on AMD?

By shadowzz on 8/8/2006 4:00:51 PM , Rating: 3

Uh, castrate millions of boards to hurt the few hundred thousand AM2 boards that will run DDR2-800? Two thoughts: you either work at Sony, or have absolutely no grounding in reality for some of this stuff.

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So is it 2gb or 4gb limit???

By Marlin1975 on 8/8/2006 10:53:13 AM , Rating: 2

If it does not support 1gb slabs then boards, all of them that I have seen, will only support 2gb since they only have 4 slots for memory. And even then it would have to be 4 512meg slabs with the no 1gb problem.

If this is the case then why even get a P965 since other chipsets will support the conroe and have true non-pci IDE ports etc...

Or is this a issue with the first batch of 965 chipsets? C1 vs C2 ???

RE: So is it 2gb or 4gb limit???

By Anh Huynh on 8/8/2006 11:07:14 AM , Rating: 2

It doesn't support 1Gbit DIMM's DDR2-800 DIMMs which are 2Gigabytes in size.

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RE: So is it 2gb or 4gb limit???

By s12033722 on 8/8/2006 11:11:49 AM , Rating: 3

You are confusing the RAM chip capacity with the DIMM capacity. A 2 gigabyte DIMM is usually made up of 16 1 gigabit RAM chips. It is these DIMMS at the 800 MHz speed grade that are not being supported. THey are supported at lower speeds. 1 gigabyte DIMMS using 16 512 megabit RAM chips are fully supported.

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Mac Mini with X3000 intigrated core...

By VooDooAddict on 8/8/2006 2:17:36 PM , Rating: 2

Anyone else hoping for a Mac Mini refresh with Core 2 Duo and the G965 (X3000 integrated graphics)

Wouldn't be a main gaming system, but a nice tiny system that could get in some low rez Battlefield LAN action would be nice.

RE: Mac Mini with X3000 intigrated core...

By VooDooAddict on 8/8/2006 2:21:06 PM , Rating: 2

Damn, I posted in the wrong story.

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RE: Mac Mini with X3000 intigrated core...

By Alpha4 on 8/9/2006 4:48:01 AM , Rating: 2

Neverless you raise a good point. That game definitely leans towards CPU driven physics & geometry enough to benefit from a CPU overhaul if you can supply a 'bare-essentials' GPU to render some SM3 details. Thus would the X3000 shine :D.

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Why u say "no longer", "was removed"?

By uncledim on 8/8/2006 3:03:30 PM , Rating: 2

There were no 1Gbit DDR2-800 support, so nothing to remove:)
P965 datasheet ( dated 06.06.2006 ), page 20:
"DDR2 800 MHz 1Gb technology not supported"