Dumb RAM/CPU question

[CrowDog]

Im still unclear how the FSB thing all works out. Can someone explain how RAM, CPU FSB and all that works? I have a Duron 950 an a ECS k7s5a, can I throw DDR PC2100 in and have it work with my duron or do I need an athlon xp on this board to go with pc2100?

 

[jcmkk]

Your RAM will run at the same speed as your FSB. You can put PC2100 in there that is made to operate at 133MHz, but it will operate at 100MHz which is your FSB speed. I don't think you can even buy PC1600 which operates at 100MHz anymore so go with PC2100. It wont hurt anything, it just wont be running as fast as it can.

 

[tenoc]

With that motherboard you can use PC100 or PC133 SDRAM on the two slots
provided for that - as you probably are now - or PC1600 or PC2100 DDR.

Your Duron processor can"t take advantage of the PC133 or PC2100, but will run
just fine with any of the four types.

If you were to upgrade to an XP+, you would need PC133, or better, PC2100
for optimum performance.

 

[AA0]

Not sure about ECS, but most good boards allow you to use PC133 with a duron, almost all of them should. It will use the bandwidth it gives.
It will also use pc1600, but not 2100 fully. The performance hit for pc1600 is pretty big, should get a athlon xp or tbird.