Asus A7N8X Memory Question...

[wolfx7777]

I have the asus a7n8x - delux motherboard, right no wi have 512mb of 333mhz ddr installed.

it says on the box Dual-channel ddr400 (pc3200) support.

but is says AMD 333mhz FSB athlon XP ready...

then i read somewhere that this board can take the 400MHz ddr ram...

Can my ASUS a7n8x delux support DDR400 ram?

i have the Athlon xp2400+ which has 333fsb if i remember... so im really confused if i can install the faster ddr400 ram on my system...

or do i have to get a new cpu witha fsb of 400 to support the faster RAM ?

sorry, but i bought this system quite a while ago, and havent been keeping up with pc specs lately, but i want to upgrade for HL2 and DOOM3, and just for future games etc...

 

[WobbleWobble]

Yes, your A7N8X supports 400MHz RAM and can run at those speeds independent of the CPU 333MHz FSB speed. However, for optimal performance you should run your RAM at the same speed of your CPU FSB so 333 for 333 and 400 for 400.

DDR400 (PC3200) can run at lower speeds. Think of that rating as the maximum speed it is designed to run at, so running your RAM at slower speeds won't be a problem.

On the side note, it would not be worth it upgrading to a 400MHz FSB CPU. I would just sit tight and go for a bigger CPU/motherboard upgrade or upgrade something else like the video card.

 

[wolfx7777]

thx for your response...

so if i got 512mb of ddr400 would it run at that speed? or would it run at 333mhz?

i already have the 9800pro 128mb so video car dis fine for now.

was thinking baout getting something in the 2800+-3000+ range, just a small upgrade.

 

[WobbleWobble]

If the settings are default, your RAM would most likely run at 333MHz. That's not too bad as AthlonXP's don't scale with FSB as well as Pentium 4s do. I don't think you'd notice much of a boost going to a XP2800-3000. If you do want to upgrade, my suggestion is to buy a mobile AthlonXP 2500+ chip and have some overclocking fun with it if you're up to it.

 

[wolfx7777]

oh.

i just ran 3dmark 03 and it said my fsb was 133 mhz... now im really confused

i had a store build my pc, so i just assumed everything was in place and working right, it had 512mb of ram and my 2400+ etc..

but why is my fsb running at 133mhz.? i have the XP 2400+

 

[WobbleWobble]

Sorry, I completely forgot. XP2400+ is a 266MHz FSB CPU (133MHz dual pumped) so you're set up correctly.

 

[Gurck]

Isn't faster ram backwards-compatible, generally?

 

[SneakyStuff]

I'm running pc3200 right now

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Isn't faster ram backwards-compatible, generally?

yes it is.

 

[CraigRT]

You could run PC5000 in there if you wanted as long as the slot, and voltage, etc were the same.

memory is backwards compatible, you can run PC133 in a Pentium 1 system (50 or 66 FSB) if its motherboard supports SDRAM.

 

[wolfx7777]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Sorry, I completely forgot. XP2400+ is a 266MHz FSB CPU (133MHz dual pumped) so you're set up correctly.

so my 333mhz ram i have installed is only running at 266mhz?

thats a bummer, i thought i was getting a good system...

ok #1 HOW can i run my pc with DDR-400 ram...

do i need a new cpu? AND OR a new motherbaord to go with it?

if so which one(s)

basically, ill be selling my old part to buy something new(sell my processor if i need a new one ram for ram etc) to save a few bucks.

i want to run ddr400mhz ram, so if i need a new cpu+mobo pls direct to me the right ones( preferably ASUS)

 

[wolfx7777]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
You could run PC5000 in there if you wanted as long as the slot, and voltage, etc were the same.

memory is backwards compatible, you can run PC133 in a Pentium 1 system (50 or 66 FSB) if its motherboard supports SDRAM.

bump,pls i need an answer to my last post

 

[Markfw]

Just get the mobile 2500, and OC it a little. Your ram is running at 266 now, and will run at at least 333 when you put the new cpu in (and OC it, since I think the mobile barton defaults to 266?)

 

[Regs]

Since I doubt you messed with the RAM/BUS settings in the BIOS, your memory is set to auto detect to whatever your CPU is running at. So with PC3200, all you would have to do is swap the Xp2400 with a xp2500 and everything would work properly without a hitch.

If need be, check your manual for BIOS settings. Chaning the CPU Clock is the only one you need to be concerned about.