Does Athlon run with PC66-memory?

[NiQ]

Does anyone know if, and under what circumstances you can use old PC66-SDRAM with a Duron/T-bird (socket-A) motherboard?
I need new server-hardware for myself (maximum performance is not very important), and I already have plenty of PC66-RAM. I could of course go with a Celeron, but I prefer not to...

//NiQ

 

[loosbrew]

nope, always locked my computer up. during boot up, or like 5 mins after boot up. just get some cheap pc100 from somewheres, cause pc66 wont work for an athlon.



loooooo

 

[johnjk]

I beleive the manual for my msi k7t pro (something like that) said it would take pc66, so I wouldn't totally rule it out.

 

[Dexion]

Well, the new KT133 and KT133A require at least PC-100 RAM. Trying an older PC-66 would attempt to overclock the ram to 100mhz, however if its an OLD RAM, it would most likely not make it. However if you recently purchased it last year or so, it might just do it. Don't expect to, I would suggest you to purchase some PC-133 RAM since they are very cheap as of recently.

 

[Zephyr]

The MSI K7Tpro2 can be set to run the RAM at 66MHz (use PC66) through the bios

 

[DaddyG]

All variations of the KX133 chipset, including KT133(A) can set the RAM speed asynchronous to the FSB. This includes FSB (100) FSB + PCI (133) and FSB - PCI (66). The problem may be getting the mobo up and running the first time. You might need a stick of 100 ram for first boot, them set the RAM timing to FSB - PCI, remove the 100 and install the 66. Another possible option is to leave the FSB at 100 and set the RAM timings to absolute slowest, 10ns maybe. If the 66 RAM has an SPD chip on it, the mobo may set 66 without intervention from you.

 

[Peter]

DaddyG, sorry, no. Those options are available on VIA's socket-370 series chipsets.

Their Athlon chipsets are different - available CPU/RAM bus options are 100/100, 100/133 and 133/133 (KT133A only).

That means no PC66 SDRAM, and also no PC100 SDRAM with one of those new 133 MHz bus Athlons either.

Regards, Peter

 

[Zephyr]

Peter

I'm afraid you are mistaken... if I may direct your attention to the MSI K7pro2 manual pg. 3-13 it states that you can set DRAM clock to 66MHz trough the bios.

 

[NiQ]

Thanx for your help, guys!
Although opinions amongst you may differ, it seems as the MSI K7Tpro2A would be worth a try.

Regards, NiQ

 

[Peter]

OK, all of you who think I'm wrong please have a look into the KT133A datasheet - yes, it's "confidential" but available to everyone from the KT133A product page http://www.viatech.com/products/prodkt133a.htm ...

http://www.viatech.com/datasheets/DS8363A010.pdf

namely PDF page 33 (document page 27), register 69, "DRAM clock select". No other options than 100/100, 100/133, 133/133.

VIA's 694X/Z chip (for Pentium-III CPU) is more flexible - it can run the RAM on the CPU clock at 66, 100 or 133MHz, or on the AGP clock at 66 regardless of CPU clock, or on CPU+PCI for CPU/RAM combinations 66/100 and 100/133, or on CPU-PCI for 133/100 or 100/66.

To summarize the CPU/RAM clock options, KT133 allows 100/100 and 100/133, KT133A adds 133/133.

694X/Z can do CPU/RAM clock modes 66/66, 66/100, 100/66, 100/100, 100/133, 133/66, 133/100, and 133/133. 66/33 and 133/166 are technically possible but discouraged for obvious reasons and 66/133 (PC133 SDRAM with a Celeron) is impossible.

Which of those are actually offered is at the choice of whoever writes the board's BIOS.

Regards, Peter

 

[cbwolf]

i wouldn't bet on it

 

[BadMuleS]

only one way to try bra, anyways ram so cheap nowadays, and i know not everyone has teh luxury of extra money, case and point myself but u can get pc100-133 ram real cheap nowadays