An MSI K8N NEO4 motherboard has 4 184-pin DIMM slots using Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology. It supports both single channel and dual channel DDR-266 (PC-2100), DDR-333 (PC-2700), DDR-400 (PC-3200) standards and supports 2.5 volt DDR SDRAM DIMM.
The four DIMM slots are color coded — DIMM1 (Channel A): Green, DIMM2 (Channel B): Purple, DIMM3 (Channel A): Green, and DIMM4 (Channel B): Purple.
The color code determines whether a single-channel or dual-channel operation is used when a combination of DIMM module is installed in the slots. It also determines the maximum speed of the combined memory installed in the slots.
This motherboard allows you to install up to 4 GB of DDR memory by populating all four slots with either a single-sided or double-sided DDR module in each slot. Each DIMM slot supports 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and up to a maximum size of 1 GB. You need to install at least one DIMM module in the slots, and you should install it in the green slot first.
Each DIMM can work respectively for single-channel DDR, and you may install memory modules of different type and density on different-channel DDR DIMMs. However, there are some rules while using dual-channel DDR, and the same type and density memory modules are necessary while using dual-channel DDR, or instability may happen.
Dual-Channel DDR Installation
| Green DIMM1 (Channel A) |
Purple DIMM2 (Channel B) |
Green DIMM3 (Channel A) |
Purple DIMM4 (Channel B) |
Total Memory |
| 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB | ||
| 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB | ||
| 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 4 GB |
Single-Channel DDR Installation
| Green DIMM1 (Channel A) |
Purple DIMM2 (Channel B) |
Green DIMM3 (Channel A) |
Purple DIMM4 (Channel B) |
Total Memory |
| 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB | ||
| 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB | ||
| 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 4 GB |
To gain the maximum memory speed of DDR-400, MSI recommends the following memory combination when using either a single-sided or double-sided DDR memory module.
Note: A single-sided memory module has chips that occupy one side of the module. A dual-sided memory module has chips that occupy both sides of the module.
MSI Recommends Memory Combination
| DIMM Slots | Maximum Speed | |||
| DIMM1 | DIMM2 | DIMM3 | DIMM4 | |
| Single-Sided | DDR-400 | |||
| Single-Sided | DDR-400 | |||
| Double-Sided | DDR-400 | |||
| Double-Sided | DDR-400 | |||
| Single-Sided | Single-Sided | DDR-400 | ||
| Double-Sided | Double-Sided | DDR-333 | ||
| Single-Sided | Single-Sided | DDR-400 | ||
| Single-Sided | Single-Sided | DDR-400 | ||
| Double-Sided | Double-Sided | DDR-400 | ||
| Double-Sided | Double-Sided | DDR-400 | ||
| Single-Sided | Single-Sided | Single-Sided | Single-Sided | DDR-400 |
| Double-Sided | Double-Sided | Double-Sided | Double-Sided | DDR-333 |
Conclusion
An MSI K8N Neo4 motherboard supports DDR-266/333/400 using 184-pin SDRAM DIMMs. Each of the four DIMM slots supports a maximum size of 1 GB. So, you can maximize the size of the memory up to 4 GB by installing a 1 GB of either a single-sided or double-sided DDR memory module in each of the four slots. You enable a dual-channel memory operation when you install a DDR module in a green DIMM1 and a DDR module in a purple DIMM2. You enable a single-channel memory operation when you install a DDR module in a green DIMM1 and a DDR module in a green DIMM3. You should follow MSI’s combined memory configuration when you want a maximum memory speed of DDR-400.
References
- MSI Computer Corporation – K8N Neo4 Platinum/SLI
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo4_Platinum/SLI&class=mb - What is Dual Channel Memory & How do I use it Correctly?
http://www.legendmemory.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=317
DDR Memory for MSI K8N NEO4
- Corsair VS2GBKIT400C3 Value Select 2GB 2 x 1GB PC3200 400MHz 184-Pin DDR CL3 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit – From CORSAIR VALUE SELECT
- Crucial 2 GB Kit (2 x 1GB) DDR PC3200 UNBUFFERED NON-ECC 184-PIN DIMM – From CRUCIAL TECHNOLOGY
- Kingston Technologies 1GB DDR SDRAM Desktop Memory (KVR400/1GR) – From Kingston H. Corporation
- OCZ OCZP4001G DDR 400 PC-3200 Platinum 1GB Module – From OCZ Technology
- OCZ Technology 2 GB DDR PC-3200 Kit (OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K) – From OCZ Technology
