newb RAM/processor question

[LtPage1]

ok, be forewarned: you may laugh at how newbish this is going to sound. id really like an answer or two, though.

ok. ive got my 2400+ t-bred B running at 133 fsb. ive got a 512 stick of mushkin ddr400. so, why does the bios say that its running at ddr266? is the processor fsb speed linked to the memory speed? would i be getting the same speed out of a stick of ddr266? would i really have to overclock my processor to get full value from my memory? since the cpu and the ram appear to be connected so closely, would i have to mess with my ram timings (i really dont understand that very well, but im almost positive im using the term correctly) to overclock stably?

thanks. sorry about the newbishness.


edit: mobo is epox 8rda+

 

[ScrapSilicon]

133x2=266 ..list your mobo..

 

[Algere]

"is the processor fsb speed linked to the memory speed?"
Yes

"would i be getting the same speed out of a stick of ddr266?"
Yes (memory frequencywise)

"would i really have to overclock my processor to get full value from my memory?"
Yes to take advantage of the higher memory speed but while running faster rated memory (PC3200) @ lower speeds (PC2100), it'll allow you to tighten up memory timings.

"since the cpu and the ram appear to be connected so closely, would i have to mess with my ram timings (i really dont understand that very well, but im almost positive im using the term correctly) to overclock stably?"
Yes if overclocking your FSB past 200 MHz (DDR400 MHz) frequency from stock 133 MHz you'll have to loosen your timings to exceed PC3200 specs. OTOH perhaps you may be able to go somewhat higher above PC3200 specs with manufacturer specified timings but loosening them will allow you to go higher in memory clock frequency.

 

[Fern]

Although I don't disagree with the above good advice, I'll rephrase it. Maybe it'll be helpful.

would i really have to overclock my processor to get full value from my memory?

Not neccessarily. Since you're running fast ram (pc 3200) at slow sppeds (pc2100), you would likely be able to manually adjust the ram's timings to something quicker (low numbers) Example, if it's running at 2.5-3-3-7, you might be able to make it work stabley at 2-2-2-5.

would i have to mess with my ram timings (i really dont understand that very well, but im almost positive im using the term correctly) to overclock stably?

Not really. Your focus on OCing should not neccessarily be with the ram. Rather, the cpu. You wanna raise the FSB of the cpu. You can do so with confidence that your ram is not holding you back (or causing instability).

It is possible to run your ram at it's rated speed of FSB 200, while at the same time your cpu runs at it's rated speed of FSB 133. This is called asynch mode and requires an adjustment in BIOS. But that doesn't help with performance in AMD systems (but can in Intel systems).

Again, to OC you wanna first find out how much you can raise the cpu FSB speed. Only after that would move on to "tightening" ram timings.

Fern

 

[LtPage1]

thanks for the clarifications, guys. that helps a lot.