Intel VC820 mobo help-o!

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djspchless

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So I've had an Intel VC820 mobo for quit a while now with only 128mb rdram and a P3 866mhz/133. I KNOW!

Anyway, here's the deal. I would love to upgrade to 512mb 800mhz RDRAM on the VC820, BUT...

here's the problem - Intel's website only claims that you can you use 168pin RIMM's not 184pin RIMMS. Can't find 168pins anywhere for less that $300 for 128! I have not taken the ram out and counted the pins because I'm lazy. If it did take 184pin RDRAM I might consider upgrading to it's max 512mb.

The other option I can afford right now is to replace the mobo and stick 1gb-2gb of SDRAM on it and keep the p3 for now. It's getting harder to find p3 mobo's though that will except more than 786mb of ram.

So if i get the new mobo, I'll probably start with 512 and upgrade to 1gb. But would 1gb of SDRAM be better than 512 of RDRAM? Also does anyone else know if this board will even accept 184 pin RIMMS?

Thanks in advance!
 
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the motherboard is the Intel VC820, didn't see it on the list of compatible boards on that auction. the intel OR840 was on the list, i ran into that board on ebay during this quest i'm on. it's a dual 1ghz p3 board, nice but one review i read said that it got so hot he fried 3 video cards cuz the agp was too close to one of the processors or something. he was using it for a server so who knows what was going on with it anyway. the 820 board you have, is it the vc820 or d820lp?
 
no sh*t! i don't understand intel's support site about the vc820 then, was the 168pin a misprint?


"The Intel Desktop Board VC820 supports up to two 2.5 V, 168-pin RIMM modules with Direct Rambus* DRAM (RDRAM) devices. RIMM modules should be installed in Bank 0 first and then Bank 1.

All RIMM connectors must be populated. A Continuity RIMM must be installed in any unused RIMM connector."

http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/vc820/sb/CS-013684.htm#rdram

this is very good news though about your experiences
 
Do you have a digital camera or scanner? Take a picture of the ram module (including the fingers) and I'll have a look at it.
 
This incorrectly mentions SDRAM at the bottom of the page but the rest is all good:
http://www.powerspec.com/support/tech_notes/vc820_vc8202_ram_upgrade.html

This review mentions its 184pin:
http://www.sysopt.com/reviews/vc820/

Those pictures are pretty much identical to my motherboard. If you want to check if the RAM is 184pin you dont need to count the pins just compare the module to the one on the first link, all ram types have a different keying so their connectors are all quite different.

I cant actually seem to find anyone selling 168pin RDRAM so it may just be a massvie scale typo.
 
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