Intel(R) Corporation
Intel® Desktop Board PD440FX

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Software and drivers
Bios and drivers

Product Documentation
icon Technical Product Specification
icon Specification Update

Compatibility
Supported processors
The motherboard only supports Intel® Pentium II processors that run internally at 233, 266, 300 and 333 MHz and have a 512KB L2 cache supporting ECC or non-ECC operation.

While the Intel® Celeron® processor uses the same P6 microarchitecture as the Pentium II processor, but there are some differences. No qualification or compatibility testing has been performed using the Intel Celeron processor and the BIOS does not contain support for this processor. No additional BIOS upgrades are planned for the Intel® PD440FX Motherboard. While the Intel Celeron processor may appear to work in a PD440FX board, the reliability of operation is not known.

Warning: Processors not specifically listed by type and rated speed may have requirements that are not supported by the motherboard's design. Use of unsupported processors may result in improper operation, damage to the motherboard or processor, or reduced product life.



System memory
Contents
System Memory Combinations
The Intel® PD440FX Motherboard has four SIMM sockets arranged in two banks: bank 0 and bank 1. Each bank has two sockets and provides a 64/72-bit wide data path. SIMMs in the same bank must be the same type (EDO, non-parity, parity, ECC), sizz, and speed; SIMMs in different banks may differ in type, size and speed. SIMMs must be installed in both sockets of a bank, and at least one bank must be filled for the motherboard to work. The minimum memory size is 8 MB and the maximum size is 256 MB. The BIOS automatically detects memory type and size, so no jumper settings are required.

The motherboard supports the following:

  • 72 pin SIMM modules with tin-plated contacts only
  • 50 ns or 60 ns DRAM speed only
  • EDO SIMMs only
  • Non-parity, parity or ECC SIMMs
  • 5 V-memory only
  • Single- or double-sided SIMMs
The motherboard supports SIMMs in the following sizes:

SIMM Size Non-parity Configuration Parity and ECC Configuration
4 MB 1 x 32 1 x 36
8 MB 2 x 32 2 x 36
16 MB 4 x 32 4 x 36
32 MB 8 x 32 8 x 36
64 MB 16 x 32 16 x 36


EDO DRAM
EDO DRAM improves memory-read performance by holding the memory data valid until the next falling edge of the CAS# signal. With EDO DRAM, the CAS# precharge overlaps the data-valid time, which allows the CAS# signal to negate earlier while still satisfying the memory data-valid window.

Parity/ECC DRAM
Memory error checking and correction supports the following operations:

  • Parity memory operation -- detects single-bit errors but does not correct the errors
  • Error checking and correcting (ECC) operation -- detects single-bit and double-bit errors, and corrects single-bit errors.
Use parity and ECC memory as follows:
  • Parity and ECC SIMMs must not be mixed in the same bank.
  • The 82441FX (PMC) memory controller automatically detects the presence of parity and ECC SIMMs (36-bit modules) and treats them identically.
  • Parity and ECC operations are supported with parity or ECC SIMMs.
  • Use the Setup program to enable parity or ECC support.
  • If any non-parity SIMMs are installed, the memory operates in non-parity mode only. The Setup options for selecting parity or ECC model do not appear
The following table describes the effect of using Setup to put each memory type in each supported mode. Whenever ECC mode is selected in Setup, some loss in memory performance occurs.

SIMM Type Disabled Parity ECC
Non-parity SIMMs No error detection N/A N/A
Parity SIMMs No error detection Single-bit error detection Single-bit error correction,
Double-bit error detection
ECCy SIMMs No error detection Single-bit error detection Single-bit error correction,
Double-bit error detection


SIMM Vendors - Web Sites
The list below contains vendors that have tested their memory for Intel PD440FX Motherboards and that have their products listed on their own website. Please visit their sites to obtain information on their products.



Installation and use
Last known issues

Latest BIOS and Drivers
Refer to the current drivers and BIOS version for the Intel® PD440FX motherboard.

Processors Supported
The Intel® PD440FX Motherboard supports Pentium® II processors at 233, 266, 300, or 333 MHz. Also see the additional information on processors supported.

System Memory
Only EDO memory is supported on the PD440FX, but either 36-bit ECC or parity SIMMs may be used. The PD440FX motherboard can use either 36-bit ECC or parity SIMMs. Older 40-bit ECC memory cannot be used due to different pin connections. Since the memory is organized in 64-bit wide path, the eight bits normally used for parity lines can be used for single bit correction, double bit detection ECC or parity error detection. When using parity SIMMs, the BIOS setup utility offers the error detection options of disabled (no error detection), parity or ECC.

CD-ROM or Second IDE Hard Drive Issues

There are two known issues involving CD-ROM or secondary hard drives:
  • The retail version of Microsoft Windows* 95 may not recognize the Intel® 82371AB PIIX4 IDE controller used on Intel® motherboards causing the secondary IDE channel to be disabled. This can result in IDE devices (such as CD-ROM drives) not being detected or disappearing after the system is rebooted. A utility is available to update the MSHDC.INF file and resolve the issue.
  • Windows* 95 also may fail to recognize a CD-ROM drive that does not comply with the ATAPI specification.


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