Registered DDR2???

[chez]

I have a Dell Poweredge 1800 Server, which uses registered DDR2 in dual channel.

I currently have 2x256mb original dell memory in it (what it shipped with), but want to add some more.

Will any registered DDR2-400 do the job or are there extra considerations??

Thanks
Chez

[chez]

OK, I have looked into this a bit further.

I have seen some IBM X-Series memory, which is PC3200 DDR2 Registered ECC 1.8v CL3 240-pin memory.

The Poweredge 1800 takes PC3200 DDR2 Registered ECC 1.8v CL3 240-pin memory.

All of my knowledge of memory tells me that this will be fine, but I have never used/dealt with DDR2 before.

Can anyone confirm that this will work?

[aidanjt]

yes thats fine, its the same thing, all memory chips need to communicate with the northbridge with a standard signaling pattern, its a DDR2 chipset, so it uses DDR2 memory.

[mattjgalloway]

They are ECC modules - make sure your motherboard can use ECC ones. Check on the current sticks and see if they have an odd number of chips (on a single side) - if so they are ECC and you can use ECC for definite. If there is an even number of chips (on a single side) then you are best using non-ECC IMO.

[chez]

Thanks Matt, but this is a Dual 64-bit Xeon server and, undoubtedly, uses registered ECC RAM

Aidan - my only query comes from the different types of registered ECC DDR2 - some are single rank, some are dual. Can I 'mix and match' or do I need to stick to one or the other...

EDIT - It turns out the IBM ones can't be used because they have a feature called 'chipkill' which is IBM-specific.

[aidanjt]

I'm nearly certain you can mix'n'match, its the same deal with non-ecc memory, theres nothing special or unique about it other than the ECC checksums, even though the likes of DELL, Compaq, and HP would like you to think so..
big rasberries go out to IBM for their anti-competitive attitudes.

[Capt Doufos]

Worst case it will be like HP servers and flag up it isn't a dell chip installed. It will still work pertfectly, however if you have problems you tend to find Dell will always point the finger at it if they know it's in the system.

[noveltylamp]

Why not get Crucial memory they often guarantee compatability with your system if you buy their matched memory?

[chez]

Why not get Crucial memory they often guarantee compatability with your system if you buy their matched memory?

Price..