I have a couple of simple "upgrade" questions

[Andy22]

1. Buying some parts to upgrade my system and have settled on the MSI K7N2 mobo and a 2800+ Barton. MWave lists their OEM XP 2800+ but it doesn't specifically mention that it's a Barton although the Mwave part number starts with BA. Is it safe to assume it is a Barton?

2. I am also planning to buy 400mhz Kingston DDR RAM. Do the RAM and CPU speed have to match? (i.e. 333 mhz for each)?

It's been a year and a half since I last upgraded so go easy

 

[araczynski]

I haven't been following the AMD world in a few years, but i think the OEM XP 2800 is the Athlon XP. The Athlon MP is the Barton, which the one above (in the link) IS NOT. the barton costs about 70 or so more then the xp. I'm guessing they put the BA in their part name for exactly the reason you're here, to make people assume and get them to buy what they don't want, then offer to replace it, less the overpriced shipping/handling/restocking fees....

if its like in teh intel world, the 400 memory will work as 333, just not the other way around.

good luck.

 

[Lonyo]

They only make the 2800+ as a Barton.
MP is multi-processor, like Intel Xeons, and that's why it's more expensive.

Any 2800+ is going to be a Barton, IIRC.

 

[WobbleWobble]

If I remember correctly, the 2800+ Throughbred was announced, but it was a paper launch so you could assume it's a Barton.

RAM rated for 400MHz means they are certified to run up to 400MHz. So yes, you can run it at 333MHz and should keep the CPU FSB and memory speed in sync.

 

[Matthias99]

Newegg only carries the 2800+ "Barton", which means it's a pretty safe bet that it's the only one out there. They also have T-Bred and Barton versions of the Athlon MP, but any XP 2800+ *should* be a 333Mhz Barton.

 

[JackOfHearts]

As far as I know there is no Non-Barton core that carries the that they could call a 2800+. I think the t-bred cores stop at 2700. Also buy DDR 400 but run at 333 with aggressive timings like 2-2-2-6. Running your ram and FSB out of sync can cause the CPU to have to waste cycles waiting for the ram/FSB to cycle. On the subject of the Motherboard, if you have full tower don't get that board. I have one and the IDE placement is horrible(way down at the bottom). Go with an ASUS if you can, or maybe Soltek.

 

[Andy22]

Thanks guys...you rock!