SoDIMM DDR3 testing on A1222

I tested several kinds of DDR3 in A1222. I also done also speed test to see if there is some diference. I was suprised that one module gives better performance. Test was done with SPE compiled STREAM benchmark that is on Aminet/OS4depot (stream-5.10-AOS).

I tested two kind of 1333 MHz and one 1066 MHz. All worked ok.

GoldenMars GMB20028SOX829-1333 MHz 2GB DDR3:
Function Best Rate MB/s Avg time Min time Max time
Copy: 853.5 0.190645 0.187454 0.205199
Scale: 530.4 0.314437 0.301685 0.333246
Add: 608.5 0.406054 0.394389 0.417909
Triad: 579.4 0.423509 0.414206 0.437765

KINGMAX FSFF65F-D6KQ9 BEE 1333 MHz 4 GB DDR3:
Function Best Rate MB/s Avg time Min time Max time
Copy: 787.8 0.208007 0.203093 0.217850
Scale: 479.9 0.340636 0.333376 0.346968
Add: 568.6 0.430306 0.422055 0.441371
Triad: 550.5 0.449238 0.435952 0.468612

KINGSTOM KVR1066D3S7/1G 1066 MHz 1 GB DDR3:
Function Best Rate MB/s Avg time Min time Max time
Copy: 859.0 0.189459 0.186271 0.195421
Scale: 557.1 0.296775 0.287192 0.304756
Add: 635.8 0.386305 0.377477 0.397208
Triad: 598.6 0.406753 0.400919 0.418826

So not every DDR3 gives the same speed on A1222. All DDR3 I tested are 1.5V.

I *didnt tested* 1600 MHz because the ones I have are *DDR3L* declared as 1.35V. DDR3 is usually 1.5V. Both are pin compatible but I simply didnt want to test that to avoid possible problems or to damaged board. Cant find any info that A1222 is compatible with DDR3L - maybe someone else can confirm?

Also other test results and compatibility reports from other A1222s out there are also usefull. DDR3 SoDIMM can be found in old PC laptops.

-dooz

Quote:

Thanks for testing. You can use DDR3L memory on DDR3 slot. But DDR3 memory in DDR3L motherboard not works. DDR3L memory stick are dual voltage. Dell article.

I tested Kingston 8GB DDRL KF318LS11IB/8 and it works fine, results are similar like your 4GB module:

@dooz @sailor

Great, thanks for the test and the information. I had asked about this before but it wasn't answered.

https://www.amigans.net/modules/newbb/ ... id=148528#forumpost148528

It seems that a 4GB SoDIMM with 1333Mhz would be a good choice. Can AmigaOs4.1 access 4/8 GB of memory at all or is the maximum usage 2GB?

@Maijestro
Quote:
For 99% of the software on AmigaOS 4.1 the limit is still 2 GB, using more requires adding support for the "ExtMem" feature in the software.
For example the "RAM Disk:" handler supports it, i.e. for files you copy to RAM: it doesn't use the first 2 GB, which all software can access, but can use the upper 2 GB instead software not supporting ExtMem can't use.

Special note for your QEmu setup: ExtMem isn't supported in the Pegasos 2 kernels, no matter if real or emulated hardware.
I don't know why, but probably differences to U-Boot or bugs in the hardware/DIMM setup of the Pegagsos 2 SmartFirmare for more than 2 GB RAM.

More than 4 GB is theoretically possible even on the old systems (G2, G3 and G4 CPUs support 36 bit physical address space, i.e. 64 GB RAM), but none of the 32 bit hardware (classic Amiga with Blizzard/CyberStormPPC, AmigaOne, Pegasso2) supports it. On the 4x0 CPUs it's IIRC 41 bit, 2 TB = 2048 GB RAM, but I doubt the Sam440/460 supports more than 4 GB.
Only the systems with 64 bit CPUs, X1000, X5000 and A1222, may support more than 4 GB.

@joerg

I think someone said the other day that A1222+ running OS4.1 supports up to 4Gb but can support more under Linux

Hope so, 'cos I have 8Gb in mine just for Linux!

@AmigaOldieQuote:
I have an 8GB module in mine, but only 2 GB shows up in AmigaOS 4.1.

Kind regards,

Francis

@joergQuote:

Sam440 CPU ( AMCC 440ep ) has limit 1 GB of RAM ( 4x 256 MB banks ), so it cannot have more on physical hardware.
Sam460 CPU ( AMCC 460ex ) has limit 8 GB of RAM ( 4x 2 GB banks ). So theoretically if exists SO-DIMM RAM 8GB with 4 ranks, it "should works". In real, I found only 4 GB SO-DIMM modules with 4 ranks. In future I will test it in Sam and let know.

I just tested Trancend 4 GB 2Rx8 DDR3 1333 MHz SO. It work just fine. This is a DDR3 type. I am extracting those from old laptops.

The speed results are:
Function Best Rate MB/s Avg time Min time Max time
Copy: 794.6 0.212749 0.201347 0.228843
Scale: 491.0 0.331638 0.325844 0.339423
Add: 588.6 0.415173 0.407729 0.427131
Triad: 556.7 0.441786 0.431123 0.460598

From my testing so far it seems that the fastest DDR3 RAM on A1222 are the older and smallest ones. So far 2 GB versions were the fastest. The older one you can find - the better. Or there is catch with the size... the smaller, the faster...I dont know. That is why testing is for

So its worth looking for those in old laptops.

I also found one DDR3L that is only 1.35V (it has a label 1.35V). Also documentations suggest only 1.35V. Most of those are still dual voltage but not this one. So those versions exists. I still didnt tested those to avoid problems. Typical example of those 1.35V only DDR3L is:

Cricial ct51264bf160bj.m8fn
4 GB DDR3L-1600 SODIMM 1.35V CL11

That one is not tested.