Given a processor specification how can I figure out what RAM it can use?
Given a processor specification how can I figure out what RAM it can use?
If I have a number of varying processor specifications (x86, x64, PII, P4 etc) can I accurately calculate the memory (speed, size, etc) that will work with the CPU?
"I'm not certain of what you're really trying to ask. Basically, CPU/RAM specifications are usually a function of the chipset more than RAM.
If I have a number of varying processor specifications (x86, x64, PII, P4 etc) can I accurately calculate the memory (speed, size, etc) that will work with this RAM?
""Accurately calculate""? Um, yes I suppose. The motherboard Chipset and usually the socket of the CPU will determine what specifications of RAM can be supported. For example, some processors are supported by chipset 'X' and 'X' does NOT support DDR3. Guess what? No DDR3 support for that CPU. That's about as simple as it gets. Some CPUs are built around RAM (remember RAMBUS?) while others focus more on what chipset can support which features they want.
Are there any 'gotchas' or can I deduce this all from specifications and what properties of the RAM / CPU should I be checking?
Yes there are some BIG gotchas. People (system builders) typically get hung up on a few details: what CPU can I have - how much RAM can I hold - bus support (PCI-e x16/x8/x4?) and peripherals. The problem in looking at things in this light is that the most important factor is being left out: the chipset.
I don't care how fast a CPU is or what killer RAM you get, the chipset is the heart of the motherboard and in turn, the computer itself. Chipset determines RAM, CPU, buses, everything. So if you want to deduce from specifications of RAM & CPU, start looking at the motherboard chipset.
Another ""gotcha"" is RAM. RAM can be expensive to rare to find to stable/unstable. RAM is a strange beast. The faster the RAM, usually the slower the timings. If you really want to learn about how RAM works, there are lots of articles all over the web. But learning RAM timing and how the chipset works in conjunction is what really matters.
Don't get swept up in ""nehalem"" fever or whatever CPU is the flavor of the year. Yeah, it's a solid CPU, but if the RAM is too expensive or flaky and the chipset is 'meh' at best, it's not always worth it. DDR3 is not better simply because of speed. You have to weigh your options carefully with what you're trying to achieve. Are you building a simple computer? Workstation for development or animation/rendering or computation?
And as a last and obvious note, always read the manual before buying anything. You'll save yourself time and money."
If you go check out the memory advisor tool at Crucial, you will see that it is basically using a database of every known motherboard. If you know the motherboard, you can figure out which memory modules work with it.
"Contrary to what is stated in most of the other answers, there are several CPUs for which you can definitively state that a particular type of RAM is compatible without researching motherboard chipsets.
The determining factor is the memory controller, which either resides on the motherboard or is integrated into the CPU, as has been the case for AMD CPUs as far back as the Athlon 64.
Computers using Intel microprocessors have traditionally had a memory controller implemented on their motherboard's northbridge, but many modern microprocessors, such as DEC/Compaq's Alpha 21364, AMD's Athlon 64 and Opteron processors, IBM's POWER5, Sun Microsystems's UltraSPARC T1, and more recently Intel's Core i7 and Core i5 Cpu's have an integrated memory controller (IMC) on the microprocessor in order to reduce memory latency. While this has the potential to increase the system's performance, it locks the microprocessor to a specific type (or types) of memory, forcing a redesign in order to support newer memory technologies.
Given a CPU model, you could look at the documentation on the manufacturer's website or Wikipedia (AMD | Intel) to determine (1) if it has an integrated memory controller and (2) if so, what type of memory it supports.
If you're looking at an AMD CPU older than the Athlon 64 or an Intel CPU older than the first generation of i3/i5/i7 (Nehalem), then the CPU does not have an integrated memory controller and the type of memory will be dictated by the motherboard chipset."
"Not fully. Motherboards may impose upper limits on the amount of RAM that will be supported. In fact, if you know your motherboard, you'll know what RAM you'll need. If all you know is your CPU, you'll be able to determine what motherboards would support it and from that, know what RAM you'll need.
Some CPUs support multiple types of RAM. AM3 based Phenom IIs, for example, support DDR2 and DDR3 RAM."
