[CentOS] core 2 duo motherboards and centos 4

John R Pierce wrote:
>
>> Nobody answered my original question, can you fill a motherboard with 
>> four DDR2 slots up to 8GB at all?
>
> Intel's DP965LT motherboard claims 8GB support with 4 DDR2 dimms.
> http://developer.intel.com/products/motherboard/DP965LT/index.htm
>
> if you have 4 dimms in this chipset, you're limited to 667Mhz memory 
> bus, with 2 dimms, and the right memory timings, you can get 800Mhz 
> memory timings.  All memory used in P965 chipsets must be 1.8V 
> compatible.
>
> I peeked at prices on newegg, 2x2GB dimm kits are $430-$600 each, so 
> 8GB ram will cost between $860-$1200.
I noticed, they do exist!
> This whitepaper on 965 chipset memory technologies details the 
> specifics of whats supported and how the memory timings interact.
> http://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/applnots/31320702.pdf
>
>
> I see nothing about any degrading above 4GB, except that 2 x 2GB 
> DDR2-800 is supported, while 4 x 2GB runs at DDR2-667 speeds...    I 
> wonder if the previously discussed performance degrading on the Asus 
> board was in reference to PAE required to allow 32bit OS's with > ~3GB 
> ram ?
That's what I understood. Not only Linux but also Windows seems to not 
work properly with large memory configurations. This ASUS board is no 
longer on my wish list.

In the mean time I contacted Dell. They proposed a Dell Precision with a 
Xenon 5150 processor. The price is different of course, but the memory 
is now fully buffered (FBD) and having 8 slots leaves room for upgrade 
to 32GB :-) Machine can be deliverd with RHEL4, so I trust Centos will 
not be a problem to install.


Theo