Updated Intel SCH specifications reveal support for 2GB of RAM

Ready to inhale some serious Intel technobabble? Here goes. As it stands, MIDs and UMPCs that utilize Windows operating systems are pretty much restricted to using Vista due to their incongruence with the "low-cost" requirement for still using XP. On top of that, Intel's chipset used in these critters (you know, with those Silverthorne Atom CPUs) only supports 1GB of RAM. We don't need to explain how underwhelming performance can be when mixing Vista with just 1GB of RAM. Now, however, a new PDF from Intel details updated System Controller Hub (SCH) specifications that include support for up to 2GB of RAM. What isn't clear is whether current systems can be updated via a BIOS update, but we'll be keeping an ear to the ground in hopes of hearing "yes."

[Thanks, Itto]

[Quantic @ Sep 1st 2008 9:41AM]

I'm not entirely sure about this article. But I know one thing for sure...

I "Hate" my yellow teeth

[OneLove @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:56AM]

Wait, atom only supports 1 GB. Hah...Hahahahahah! wtf?

[Adderz @ Sep 1st 2008 9:54AM]

Instead of forcing hardware companies to use Vista, MS should be forcing them to use adequate hardware to support their OS.

Obviously the Atom was not capable of running Vista acceptably, and most customers would dump all the negativity of the slow system, not with the rightful owner, but instead Microsoft and Vista. This is how Vista has acheived such a bad name. It needed increased specs, but hardware companies didnt up them.

So Microsoft need to force companies to stop using Celeron CPU's, stop using GMA950 graphics and stop shipping machines with a paltry 512mb of ram or less.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:14AM]

Addertz,

You DO NOT know what you are talking about. Vista runs perfectly well (Aero too) on the Atom. AND ... it runs with 2GB RAM.

Microsoft does not force companies to do anything. You are confusing this kind of one-sided behaviour with that iof Apple. Apple is the company which dictates what hardware should run with what software.

You are the subject of a FACTOID ( a lie told repeatedly until the feeble (that's you !) minded starts to believe it )


Idiot.

[Adderz @ Sep 1st 2008 10:19AM]

@kcc

If you read the article, it tells you that these machines obviously wernt capable of running Vista "optimally"

MS NEED to adopt Apples way, but not in the same extent. Yes open hardware is fine, but when it wont even run your OS, and your customers are complaining. Something needs to be done.

MS cant innovate if they are stuck on Celeron processors all the time or stuck with 1gb of ram.

[sr @ Sep 1st 2008 2:16PM]

Show me one benchmark where the Atom beats the cheapest Celeron. Some processors are optimized for power consumption while others are optimized for performance. Remember that son.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 1st 2008 6:56PM]

You've got it backwards. UMPCs shouldn't be running a heavyweight OS like a full Windows install anyway -- Vista or XP.

[perbu @ Sep 1st 2008 10:04AM]

Uhm. Isn't the aa1 equipped with a Silverthorne? If there is a limitation in the chipset - how come mine has 1.5GiB of memory, then?

[Peter @ Sep 1st 2008 12:02PM]

I have no idea but Intel's own atom mainboard supports two gig of ram so I suspect its for the 'other' atom chip designed to go in the MIDs/Phones as opposed to the bigger more powerful one that is designed for NetBook and terminal style devices.
http://www.intel.com/Products/Desktop/Motherboards/D945GCLF/D945GCLF-overview.htm

[Adderz @ Sep 1st 2008 10:14AM]

And just as a side note, the use of XP should be banned totally. How do you expect a company to progress and innovate when everyone is stuck on an OS that is 6 years old, and refuse to change?

The problem is not entirely MS or Vista. Increased features means increased specs, its the hardware companies which refuse to comply.

Im just glad im a Mac user. Leopard needed ALOT more resources than Tiger. I dont have to worry about that because every machine i buy exceeds the necessary specs. The same cant be said for Compaqs machines for instance. yes they are cheap, but they just dont perform.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:53AM]

Addertz,

Maybe I was a bit quick on you. You have been supplied the worng information by really bad reporting. Engadget is talking about MID's and UMPC's here, not general computing.

For your information the Intel945GCLF chipset operates with an Atom processor and 2GB RAM and runs Aero really well. I have two PC's the same. They are superb.

Everyone who has one, rates it really highly.

Newegg reviews:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=13-121-342&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=5&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&Keywords=&Page=


Specifications (note the "Maximum supported memory":
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121342&Tpk=d945gclf

If you really want this thing to fizz, then run a flash drive with 2 GB RAM as memory boost. This is something that you won't find on a Mac.

My Atom system beats the heck out of my Mac mini.

[roach @ Sep 1st 2008 10:30AM]

I have two Vista laptops both with 1 GB of ram and they both run fine. One is 3 year old with 1.1GHz and the other I was just doing video capture a couple of days ago. One thing a lot of people and tech writer fail to report is that crappy drivers (video) was a BIG reason Vista ran like crap. You can even have the best Quad, 8 GB gaming machine, but if your driver is crap, your performance is crap. Crappy reporting!

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:44AM]

again I agree with Roach, "Crappy reporting".

[sr @ Sep 1st 2008 2:10PM]

Seriously, people keep talking about RAM like it is the solution to every computer slowdown in the world. 2GB and now 4GB. Just because it is cheap doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. My Vista install barely ever shows greater than 1GB memory usage. For surfing the web + e-mail there is no reason anyone would need more than 1GB. If you use Photoshop + constantly encode/transcode media + DLNA server etc. then you might need 2 or 4GB depending.

In other words a netbook with 2GB RAM is overkill and a huge waste. Double your RAM and your hyberfil.sys doubles, your paging file doubles. Compare 1GB RAM with 1GB hyberfil + 1.5GB page file = 2.5GB vs. 2GB RAM with 2GB Hyberfil.sys + 3GB page file = 5GB. That's a lot of space for a small netbook. Not to mention slower hibernate and resume as a special bonus for you people who think RAM = Panacea.

[Neoprimal @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:29AM]

QFT.

Vista performance on a low end/low power setup depends highly on graphics hardware, even moreso than RAM. Would it run peppier on 2GB? Absolutely - but wouldn't XP/OSx/Linux run better on more ram as well? If you have a pc or laptop with solid video (any dx10 capable video, even dx 9 if you don't care about Aero) and GOOD drivers, then Vista will infact run fine on it....sure you won't be able to play Crysis - but it will indeed play Doom and it will do everything else that XP can, and will do it well.

I think Vista not being included in Netbooks is a result of a mixture of details. Vista is pretty big and many netbooks have tiny SSD hard drives. You slap a 10gb OS on a 12 or 16gb hard drive and well, obviously that makes no sense. Vista does use more resources n the background, I'd suspect this to drain netbook batteries a bit faster than Linux or XP. Finally I'm guessing it's more expensive to license the 'current' OS over the previous one....what better way to keep the laptops dirt cheap and interesting for the windows crowd than to ship it with XP which people are still very happy with?.

[James @ Sep 1st 2008 10:40AM]

So are you saying systems like the MSI Wind that only support 2GB max, can support 3GB? It has 1GB soldered into the motherboard and a free slot for an additional 1GB stick.

--James

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:43AM]

@Engadget,

This is a mis-leading article. You need to be more responsible. Be really clear that you are ONLY talking about MID's and UMPC's. The feable minded are thinking that you are talking about PC's in general.

You know perfectly well that the Intel D945GCLF board with the Atom processor runs 2GB perfectly well with Aero. You are confining yourselves to the MID / UMPC market.

[Adderz @ Sep 1st 2008 10:47AM]

Christ KC you dont get it.

i KNOW this is limited to MIDS etc. This isnt relating to the PC market. I KNOW this. Im EXPANDING on the example of underpowered MIDS and UMPCS and relating it to underpowered PC's.

Seriously can you not process more than 1 train of thought?

[Zo @ Sep 1st 2008 10:45AM]

Uhm, the Kohjinsha SC3 Series can be upgraded to 2gig and there are plenty of DIY MSI Wind videos on upgrading to 2gig. So, as far as I know, the Z520, 530, and 540 can be upgraded to 2gb.

The real story, given the prices of these devices and the lack of battery life, I don't care how small they are, seems like for a little more you can get a 12inch laptop which is far more capable and has far better battery life -- seems like a lot of money to only surf the web. I know there is a feeding frenzy on these things...but I question the value and utility.

[Steve Paine @ Sep 1st 2008 2:02PM]

My SC3 with Silverthorne and Poulsbo (SCH) is running 2GB must fine already. Looks like someone fed Engadget some non news.
There may be some versions of the SCH that only run 1GB but at the end of the day,
Atom isnt for Vista. IN fact in the next version, Moorestown, I don't think it will be possible as the PCI bus will be missing. (I heard)

S.

[RC @ Sep 1st 2008 6:00PM]

"We don't need to explain how underwhelming performance can be when mixing Vista with just 1GB of RAM."

Actually, you DO. There is so much hyperbole on this issue from tech writers that they actually have to justify their remarks if they want to be taken seriously.

[Neoprimal @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:53AM]

"As it stands, MIDs and UMPCs that utilize Windows operating systems are pretty much restricted to using Vista due to their incongruence with the "low-cost" requirement for still using XP"

Was this not a part of the article before? How much more clear can he be?

The problems are with the factoids and opinions stated like they are fact "We don't need to explain how underwhelming performance can be when mixing Vista with just 1GB of RAM." and "As it stands, MIDs and UMPCs that utilize Windows operating systems are pretty much restricted to using Vista due to their incongruence with the "low-cost" requirement for still using XP". Neither is fact, nor real news - but both are written as if they are.

As for the article. Perhaps the specs have changed to 'officially' support 2GB?....or there's something in the infrastructure that utilizes it more efficiently, I'm not sure - but I have seen many onlder umpc upgrades to 2gb from 512mb and 1gb.

You all need to realize that this is a Tech BLOG (go ahead, look up blog) and not CNN. The writers here are completely entitled to their opinions..lies, factoids or not.

[limeroad @ Sep 4th 2008 8:39AM]

you can remove the hiberfil file in vista, this will give you a few more gb's of space