My new ram will olny run at 266Mhz but its DDR400 help!

Happyspy

Junior Member
Nov 10, 2004
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Hi, I am new here and I do have a knowldge of computers so here is my problem.I recently bought a new motherboard its the MSI 865PE Neo2-V and I put on a 2.0 Ghz processer with 2 sticks of 256 DDR 400/3200 RAM running at Dual Channel (I checked it out with the computer store and it is the right stuff for dual channel). The problem is they will olny run at 266Mhz rather then 400Mhz and I want them to run at 400Mhz(which is what they are capable of) I have been looking into alot of things and my current processer has a FSB of 400 and in the manual with the Board it says I need and 800Mhz FSB in order to run them at 400. So I need a way to get the RAM to run at DDR 400, Overclocking is the olny option I can see right now and if so I would need some help on doing that. I dont know if my current CPU is unlocked (I dont think it is though). anyone who can help me please, also my msn messenger email is happyspy6@hotmail.com email me or talk to me over msn if its eaiser or post on the fourm.

-Thanks
 

ToeJam13

Senior member
May 18, 2004
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As per the MSI product page, when the CPU FSB is run at 400MHz, the memory bus is limited to 266DDR. Since your P4/2000 runs with a 400MHz FSB, your mainboard will not run your memory at a faster speed.

You could overclock your CPU since you have more than enough headroom with your memory, but in reality, I think you're stuck. You ended up buying a mainboard with a severe limitation.





 

Happyspy

Junior Member
Nov 10, 2004
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Ok first how is it the mainboards problem? cause could I not just get a new CPU? + if I do decicde to over clock how would I go about it?

-Thanks
 

Gioron

Member
Jul 22, 2004
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DDR is dual data rate, so the number quoted is actually twice the physical clock speed (since it passes data twice every clock). DDR400 runs stock on a 200MHz clock, so at 266 you're already overclocking it by 33%. Even the best MB/RAM/CPU I've seen tends to top out at 290ish physical MHZ on the RAM (at least, with reasonable cooling equipment), so 266 is actually a decent overclock.
 

Mik3y

Banned
Mar 2, 2004
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or it could be that you got jipped on your ram. :) i ordered cheap ddr400 memory from a site one time and when it came, it had a heatsink on it. out of curiosity, i removed the heatsink to see if it was really ddr400 and just to my luck, it says "PC2100" on it. what a bust man. this is pretty much off topic, but i'd just like to share this story. :D
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
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Sep 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: Gioron
DDR is dual data rate, so the number quoted is actually twice the physical clock speed (since it passes data twice every clock). DDR400 runs stock on a 200MHz clock, so at 266 you're already overclocking it by 33%. Even the best MB/RAM/CPU I've seen tends to top out at 290ish physical MHZ on the RAM (at least, with reasonable cooling equipment), so 266 is actually a decent overclock.


unless he already knew that and is actually only running at 133 MHz.... however if he is running stably at 266 Mhz then wowzors like woah!!!

Is there any option within the BIOS for a CPU/FSB ratio? I am not up to snuff on P4 systems but does the ratio matter? If it does he may want to adjust it
 

Gioron

Member
Jul 22, 2004
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Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: Gioron
DDR is dual data rate, so the number quoted is actually twice the physical clock speed (since it passes data twice every clock). DDR400 runs stock on a 200MHz clock, so at 266 you're already overclocking it by 33%. Even the best MB/RAM/CPU I've seen tends to top out at 290ish physical MHZ on the RAM (at least, with reasonable cooling equipment), so 266 is actually a decent overclock.


unless he already knew that and is actually only running at 133 MHz.... however if he is running stably at 266 Mhz then wowzors like woah!!!

Is there any option within the BIOS for a CPU/FSB ratio? I am not up to snuff on P4 systems but does the ratio matter? If it does he may want to adjust it


It didn't sound like it, but yah, it might be he's running at 133. I'd be suprised if a board would underclock it _that_ much, even if it does need a 800MHz FSB to get full speed, but I suppose I could be wrong.
 

ToeJam13

Senior member
May 18, 2004
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Originally posted by: Mik3y
or it could be that you got jipped on your ram.

Nope, its a limitation of the mainboard. If you run your FSB at a lower speed, you can only use lower speed memory. You can not decouple the speed. Its a limitation of this board.


Happyspy,

I'd either dump the P4/2000/FSB400 for a P4/2400/FSB800 or switch to a mainboard that allows you to run your memory at full speed with the older processor.

The cost difference between the processors is less than $20 on Pricewatch, so eBay your old proc and get a new one. Or eBay the mainboard. Or just live with it.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
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Sep 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: Gioron
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: Gioron
DDR is dual data rate, so the number quoted is actually twice the physical clock speed (since it passes data twice every clock). DDR400 runs stock on a 200MHz clock, so at 266 you're already overclocking it by 33%. Even the best MB/RAM/CPU I've seen tends to top out at 290ish physical MHZ on the RAM (at least, with reasonable cooling equipment), so 266 is actually a decent overclock.


unless he already knew that and is actually only running at 133 MHz.... however if he is running stably at 266 Mhz then wowzors like woah!!!

Is there any option within the BIOS for a CPU/FSB ratio? I am not up to snuff on P4 systems but does the ratio matter? If it does he may want to adjust it


It didn't sound like it, but yah, it might be he's running at 133. I'd be suprised if a board would underclock it _that_ much, even if it does need a 800MHz FSB to get full speed, but I suppose I could be wrong.



The reason I said that he may already know is because in his first post he mentions he has a knowledge of computers
 

Happyspy

Junior Member
Nov 10, 2004
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Ok, in reply to the OCing by 33% I am not OCing at all my processer is still locked, and I dont want to buy a new processer cause my next paycheck is going for a new Video Card. (I work at a computer store to clear things up). So what i want to do, is somehow make the FSB run at 200Mhz (or wahatever it needs to) so it can run the RAM at DDR400 (or at least DDR333). After talking to the guys at work its not the boards fault. So how do I overclock my processer to be at what it needs to be at? Is there anyother way?

-Happyspy
 

Abix

Senior member
Oct 19, 2004
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You ARE overcloking it. The RAM is DDR, like the guy said, and that means Dual Data Rate, like the guy said.

DDR400 == 200Mhz actual
DDR400 == Effectively 400Mhz because its DUAL(as in two) Data Rate.

You are doing 266x2=532.
You are effectively running your RAM as DDR532.

Get it that time?

In order for everything to be happy as can be, what you need to do is get your FSB to match the clocks per cycle(hz) that the RAM does. I am going to assume that youre trying to get your system working with a 800Mhz FSB. Intel CPUs do four instructions at the same time. What that means is that with a FSB of 800Mhz, what they're really saying is that it has an EFFECTIVE FSB of 800Mhz. Its actual FSB is 200Mhz.

Did ya catch that?

Idealy, you want the cycles per second(Hz) of the FSB to match the Hz of the RAM. If you got that, everything is gonna be happy!
That would look like this:
800Mhz / 4 = 200Mhz <--Your FSB's actual Hz
400Mhz / 2 = 200Mhz <--Your RAM's actual Hz

What you have is this:
800Mhz / 4 = 200Mhz <--Your FSB's actual Hz
532Mhz / 2 = 266Mhz <--Your RAM's actual Hz

As you can see, your RAM currently does 66Mhz more than your FSB. This results in the RAM having to 'wait' to communicate with the rest of the system. Just change the RAM Hz back down to 200Mhz and be happy with your DDR400 that really runs at 200Mhz.
 

Happyspy

Junior Member
Nov 10, 2004
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OK thanks for the explanation I get it now. But I dont want to have my RAM running at 200Mhz Or 2666Mhz. Cant I just overclock until I got it going at 400Mhz? Cause it was pointless to buy this if it olny works at 200. If I need a new board/processer so be it. Thanks.

-I am an idiot sorry:confused:
 

Stormgiant

Senior member
Oct 25, 1999
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Sorry for jumping in late, but it's all wrong information youre getting.

First, theres nothing wrong with youre board. It's was build to run 800fsb cpu's. But, it is compatible with older cpu's ( 400 and 533 ).

If you check the 865 and 875 chipset, when running cpu's of 100-132fsb, it will set the memory to a 3:4 ratio ( 133 ). If you put the fsb from 133-199 it will give you the change to choose between 1:1 and 4:5.
When running 200-400 it will give the options of 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2.

So, you ARE NOT OVERCLOCKING youre ram. Your running it at 133 ( ddr266 ) far away from it's maxing of 200 ( ddr400 ).

For your situation, either you change it for a more capable cpu and more suited for your board, or you can overclock it to about 125-135fsb, and still getting a nice boost on cpu and memory power.

To the other guys, stop posting garbage as people with less knowledge will "accept" your wrong information.

Happyspy, if you need any more help, PM me.
 

Stormgiant

Senior member
Oct 25, 1999
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Originally posted by: Abix

Idealy, you want the cycles per second(Hz) of the FSB to match the Hz of the RAM. If you got that, everything is gonna be happy!
That would look like this:
800Mhz / 4 = 200Mhz <--Your FSB's actual Hz
400Mhz / 2 = 200Mhz <--Your RAM's actual Hz

What you have is this:
800Mhz / 4 = 200Mhz <--Your FSB's actual Hz
532Mhz / 2 = 266Mhz <--Your RAM's actual Hz

As you can see, your RAM currently does 66Mhz more than your FSB. This results in the RAM having to 'wait' to communicate with the rest of the system. Just change the RAM Hz back down to 200Mhz and be happy with your DDR400 that really runs at 200Mhz.

This is totally garbage.
 

THUGSROOK

Elite Member
Feb 3, 2001
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please ~ if you dont know wtf you are talking about ~ DONT TRY AND ANSWER ANY DAMN QUESTIONS!

there is no way to have a 100fsb or 133fsb cpu be able to run 200mhz memory ~ ever.
motherboards are not capable of it.

if its a very good motherboard youll need at least a 150fsb to run 3:4 200mhz memory.

basicaly ~ you made a very uneducated purchase.
 

Sunbird

Golden Member
Jul 20, 2001
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Here at the office we have a Celeron 2.7 that runs its DDR400 at 266Mhz too in Dual Channel.

The thing is, with any Intel 400FSB CPU the RAM will run at 266MHz, no matter its rated speed. A 533FSB CPU will run its RAM at 333MHz while a 800FSB CPU will run it at its full DDR400 speed.

In any case, don't worry, you didn't actually pay much (if anything) more for the DDR400 RAM. Your 400MHz FSB CPU is being kept fed by the 533MHz bandwitdh your memory is giving it in dual channel, so there will be no impact with the 266MHz speed its giving you and it will be ready for when you upgrade to a 800FSB CPU.

Hope this helps.

Sunbird
 

Lithan

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2004
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Does no one read the first response? That person was right. For the rest of you, thanks for playing, don't call us... we won't call you either.

And yes, Buying a p4c would let you run your memory @ 200 (400).


Edit: Stormgiant is likely also right. I don't know much about MSI 865 board, but what he says sounds feasible.
 

TStep

Platinum Member
Feb 16, 2003
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I'm not familiar w/ MSI boards an Bios, but is there an NB Strap selection? If there is, try to manually set it to 800 and manually set the fsb to the speed you want. This should open up the remaining DDR ratios.

Again, I'm not familiar w/ MSI, but the above works on Abit.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Big picture time: if I were you, I'd consider buying a CPU with an 800MHz FSB. You'll also gain Hyperthreading in the bargain. Need a nominee? Here ya go. Or for that price you could get an Athlon64, although you'd need to get a new motherboard. Your move :)