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MSI Speedster FA4 - Pentium M Build - 4Gb Ram ?

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First post, by matze79

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Hi,

i'm going to build a Pentium M Machine, i got a Kit from Ebay for 1 € + Shipping.
Including a 1,7Ghz Pentium M, Mainboard and 512Mb of RAM.
It features PCIe.

The Handbook states it can only take 2Gb RAM, did anyone try to put 2x2Gb DDR2 inside ?
Before i buy some and can't use it..

http://de.msi.com/product/mb/915GM_SpeedsterF … l#hero-overview

Also i'm thinking about which PCIe Card would fit best, it would be nice to have some Video Encoding Features, to use it as Media Center too (YouTube etc.)

Thanks

Matthias

https://dosreloaded.de - The German Retro DOS PC Community
https://www.retroianer.de - under constructing since ever

Co2 - for a endless Summer

Reply 1 of 8, by nforce4max

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No you are limited to just 2GB and the same goes for any other 915 PM build, got this board myself and overclocking is stable until you get around 160 mhz then the sata controller craps out.

When it comes to graphics cards you options are nearly unlimited.

PM 780 @ 2.5/2.6ghz
2GB ram
8800 Ultra
500GB IDE
640GB sata

On a far away planet reading your posts in the year 10,191.

Reply 3 of 8, by matze79

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Looks like this is Bios Limitation, the Chipset seems to support at last 3,2Gb RAM.
It lacks Memory Remap. Got Intel Datasheet 😒
Why a Synthic Limit ?!?

Does anyone have a clue howto hack the BIOS for 3,25Gb Support ?
Other devices spotting the same chipset also work with 3,25Gb (2x2Gb DDR2)

https://dosreloaded.de - The German Retro DOS PC Community
https://www.retroianer.de - under constructing since ever

Co2 - for a endless Summer

Reply 4 of 8, by matze79

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Currently i got a 1,73Ghz Pentium M with 1Gb DDR1 333Mhz Ram Singlechannel (soon 2Gb DDR2 533 Dualchannel) and 8800GT 512Mb Inside.

I installed Windows 10 on this Beast.. and it turns out Windows 10 is constantly hammering the CPU to 30% load 😳

Windows XP runs fast like Hell 😀 i never seen a P4 at same Clock Speed running that fast.

i got something around 23000 3DMarks 03 out of it, without Overclock.

https://dosreloaded.de - The German Retro DOS PC Community
https://www.retroianer.de - under constructing since ever

Co2 - for a endless Summer

Reply 5 of 8, by PCBONEZ

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2 GB max.
http://ark.intel.com/products/27715/Intel-829 … mory-Controller
.

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Reply 6 of 8, by PCBONEZ

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matze79 wrote:

Windows XP runs fast like Hell 😀 i never seen a P4 at same Clock Speed running that fast.

i got something around 23000 3DMarks 03 out of it, without Overclock.

This is because a Pentium M is basically a PIII Tualatin in a different package with a higher clock, higher FSB and more cache.
.

GRUMPY OLD FART - On Hiatus, sort'a
Mann-Made Global Warming. - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.
You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.

Reply 7 of 8, by matze79

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yes predecessor of the Core Architecture.

The 2Gb Limit seems to be a BIOS Limit, the Hardware Limit is 3,2Gbyte.
I Already found other devices on the NET with same chipset operating at least with this amount.

https://dosreloaded.de - The German Retro DOS PC Community
https://www.retroianer.de - under constructing since ever

Co2 - for a endless Summer

Reply 8 of 8, by PCBONEZ

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matze79 wrote:

The 2Gb Limit seems to be a BIOS Limit, the Hardware Limit is 3,2Gbyte.
I Already found other devices on the NET with same chipset operating at least with this amount.

No. It is a chipset limitation as shown in the Intel spec doc I posted a link to earlier.

I think you are confusing the 915G with the 915GM. They are different.

GRUMPY OLD FART - On Hiatus, sort'a
Mann-Made Global Warming. - We should be more concerned about the Intellectual Climate.
You can teach a man to fish and feed him for life, but if he can't handle sushi you must also teach him to cook.

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