Maximum RAM on Biostar P4M8PM7 Socket775 mATX board
- by Alex Balashov
I have a server with a Biostar P4M8PM7 ("Pro-M7") board based on a VIA chipset. It's a strange board to put in a server because it seems like more of a desktop board to me, but alas!
It takes DDR2-667 (PC5300) RAM. What I can't figure out is the maximum amount I can put in it, as I cannot find the manual anywhere online. I've found a few marketing broadsheets from online retailers that say, "up to 2 GB of RAM!" but I am not sure whether to believe them. They also do not seem to be quite for the same board, as they indicate DDR2 400/533 RAM, for example: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=P4M8P-M7. The manufacturer's web site says the same thing, but does not elaborate.
It's a 64-bit CPU and board; is there a technical reason why the board would not be able to address more than 2 GB? Can someone tell me what sort of that reason that would be? I bought this server from someone really hoping I could put 8 to 16 in it, and wanted to do some research before I gave up.
On a related note, it's not indicated anywhere whether it can take ECC RAM; the existing chips are not ECC, but most memory sold in the range I'm looking for (e.g. DIMMs with enough chip density to do 8 GB) seems to be server-class and for that reason ECC. Any ideas?
Thank you very much for your consideration in advance!
