Unleaded's - MSI MS-1029 Review - Page 5

As the 3DMark scores are much more reliant (practically entirely so) on the GPU, I'd expect you'd see scores consistent with those reported in this thread. In short, the answer to your question is: Yes.

I have some moderately disturbing test results to share. I'm hoping that these findings will prove useful to MSI's Asst. Product Manager who will be conducting a conference call with Taiwan this evening to discuss this issue (already emailed findings)

The first test below was conducted using a single 1GB DDR 400 SODIMM (Supertalent with Samsung chips)



Everything is as it should be. A single stick of DDR400 is running at 400MHz

The second test below was conducting by adding a second 1GB DDR 400 SODIMM for a total of 2GB (Both Supertalent with Samsung chips)



Sure enough, two sticks downclock to 266MHz. The third test below is, however, the most distressing

The third test was conducted with 2 DDR333 SODIMMs of 512MB each for a total of 1GB (Apacer with Infineon chips - please note that Apacer memory is on MSI's AVL for compatible memory)



2 sticks of DDR333 Apacer ALSO downclocked to 266MHz.


My recommendation at this point when configuring an MS-1029 is to stay with a single stick of RAM provided you do not wish to configure with more than 1GB (there is no performance hit here as the MS-1029's K8 chipset does not support dual channel). Once we have more information from MSI we may have other ways to address this issue. I will be removing 2X SODIMM configurations from our site until such time as this matter is adequately addressed.

I hope this information is helpful to current MS-1029 shoppers.

I believe that DDR400 512 x 2 was already stated definitively to run at 266MHz. The DDR333 running at 266MHz, however, was a surprise.

Let's wait and see what comes of the call which MSI USA has scheduled for tonight with MSI Taiwan. I might be in a better position to speak to that question following the call.

Nope, they were double sided SODIMMs. Again, the issue is not double-sided (ranked) versus singled-sided but rather compatibility with the board. As I stated (at least I think I did) in a previous post, the two manufacturer's SODIMMs on MSI's AVL only offer double-sided PCBs. One such memory module was that which I tested - the Apacer 512MB DDR333 SODIMMs. Furthermore, to what I am certain I stated previously, I have yet to find a 1GB single-sided SODIMM so we'll have to look for a double sided 1GB SODIMM that will run at 400MHz when paired (the search continues).

Wouldn't surprise me if there are single-sided 256MB and 512MB SODIMMs...when you get to 1GB I think the issue of "real estate" on a smaller PCB comes into play. I've yet to test with two sticks of 256MB or 512MB single sided. However, I will point out again that the two MSI approved 256MB and 512MB SODIMMs (TwinMOS and Apacer) are double-sided.

I spoke with XXXX at MSI again just now. They seem to be working diligently to find a solution. I was informed that they will be testing some Kingston SODIMMs and perhaps some other brands in the U.S. and he will be speaking with Tapei at Noon PDT to discuss other solutions. One such solution might be a BIOS update to address downclocking.

I will post when I know more.

MSI's Asst. Product Manager for notebooks is at one of the major distributors now testing a variety of RAM in the 1029. I will update when I have more.