dr.sankhadeep
Adept
When you use DDR2 SDRAM, you should install DDR2 / DDR3 Switch Cards into empty DDR3 slots. If the board is working with DDR3 SDRAM, Switch Cards should be turned upside down and installed into the empty DDR2 slots. They have corresponding contact layouts on both sides. There are also certain rules: with DDR3 memory the Switch cards should go into the second and fourth DDR2 slots, but if the board is working with DDR2 SDRAM, you don’t really have much choice: there are only two DDR3 slots on the PCB, where these Switch Cards can go. However, if you intend to overclock the memory beyond DDR3-1333MHz, the Switch cards should be removed.
Pretty confusing at first, I should say. Other mainboards supporting two different memory types, do not require any type of cards or terminators at all. The good thing about these DDR2 / DDR3 Switch Cards is that they make the system look pretty. They are decorated with the LED message reading “MSI DDR II†on one side and “MSI DDR III†on another and depending on the type of memory you use, one or the other message will light up.
Pretty confusing at first, I should say. Other mainboards supporting two different memory types, do not require any type of cards or terminators at all. The good thing about these DDR2 / DDR3 Switch Cards is that they make the system look pretty. They are decorated with the LED message reading “MSI DDR II†on one side and “MSI DDR III†on another and depending on the type of memory you use, one or the other message will light up.
