Intel X38 Configuration Manual

Intel® X38 Express Chipset
Memory Technology and
Configuration Guide

White Paper

January 2008

Document Number: 318469-002

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Copyright © 2007 - 2008, Intel Corporation

®

X38 Express Chipset MCH component may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the

®

PRODUCTS. NO LICENSE, EXPRESS OR

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Contents

1 Introduction.....................................................................................................5

2 Technology Enhancements of Intel® Fast Memory Access (Intel® FMA) .....................6

2.1 Just in Time Command Scheduling............................................................6

2.2 Command Overlap..................................................................................6

2.3 Out of Order Scheduling..........................................................................7

2.4 Opportunistic Writes ...............................................................................7

3 Supported Memory Technologies and Configurations..............................................8

3.1 Memory Technology Supported.................................................................8

3.2 DRAM Device Timing Support.................................................................10

3.3 ECC Support........................................................................................10

3.4 Valid Front Side Bus and Memory Speeds.................................................11

3.5 System Memory DIMM Configuration Support...........................................11

4 Memory Organization and Operating Modes ........................................................12

4.1 Single-Channel Mode............................................................................12

4.2 Dual Channel Modes ............................................................................. 12

4.2.1 Dual Channel Symmetric Mode..................................................12

4.2.2 Dual Channel Asymmetric Modes...............................................13

Tables

Table 3-1. Memory Technology Support Details.....................................................9

Table 3-2. DDR2 and DDR3 DRAM Device Timing Support.....................................10

Table 3-3. Intel® X38 Valid FSB/Memory Speed Configurations..............................11

Table 4-1. Sample Dual Channel Symmetric Organization Mode.............................13

Table 4-2. Sample Dual Channel Stacked Asymmetric Organization Mode................13

Table 4-3. Sample Dual Channel L-Shaped Asymmetric Organization Mode..............14

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Revision History

Revision

Number

Description Revision

Date

-001

-002

Initial release
Corrected DDR3 DIMM Module Support

Added Configuration details

October 2007

January 2008

§

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Introduction

1 Introduction

This document details the Intel® X38 Express Chipset system memory technology
enhancements, supported memory configurations, and memory organizations. It is
intended for a technical audience interested in learning about the performance
enhancements and simplified population rules offered by Intel
and Intel
Chipset.

®

Flex Memory Technology in the platforms based on the Intel X38 Express

®

Fast Memory Access

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