Few questions

[dawnbug]

Ok, so I'm getting on the tbred B train and I've got a couple questions

1. Assuming I'd never be overclocking, I got 512mb mushkin basic 2100 for my current system. I'm on a budget and really don't feel like getting new ram for new system. I want to get the most out of this ram. It's doesn't have a heatspreader on it. Would getting a heatspreader kit help me get a higher fsb in my overclock?

2. I'm getting an 8rda+. Just wanted to make sure I have the following things correct about this board:
The PCI and AGP can be locked at 33/66
Multipliers 13 and up will be unlocked (also, how high do the multipliers get upto, and what is the increment .5?)

3. Do I need to flash my BIOS at all? I've never done that... is it still done with a floppy? I'm scared I'll mess it up. Also, what drivers should I install? The ones that come with the board, or some from nvidia, or someplace else?

Thanks for answering all my dumb questions in advance.

 

[Camay123]

1. Heatspreader are for esthectic rather then performance.
2. I dont know, im not an AMD person.
3. Always good to flash bios in my opinion.

 

[cowdog]

2. PCI lock. From the epox website FAQ on the 8RDA+

What speed is the PCI bus running at?
The PCI bus is locked at 33MHz.

2. AGP lock. From what I've read (sorry if I don't express this 100% accurately) you can set the agp bus in the bios. AGP frequency is adjustable from 50 to 100MHz (default auto = 66Mhz). I have also read somewhere that the NForce2 mobos have separate controllers for FSB and agp? I assume that means the agp bus locks.

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

1.no, just put the timeings to aggressive either manually or by some preset options and you are set
2. pci can be locked...ive heard mixed things about agp on nforce2 however....
if you get xp1700+ tbred b, the lower mults will be unlocked
if you get xp2100+ tbred b, the higher mults will be unlocked ( i think...)

3.i dont think you will have to
the ones with the mobo will probably do...