NForce 2 and RAM combo's...Which is fastest? 266DRR?

[Shockwave]

According to what I've read, the NForce2 chipset runs fastest when paired with 266DDR and set to synchronous operation. The anandtech article on the chipset said that the advantages of faster ram only become apparent when one uses the built in graphics. Is this true?
Should I skip paying out the nose for uber fast RAM and stick with DDR2100? I dont plan to use the graphics (In fact, I dont have the included graphics chip so...) I only want the fastest possible setting between RAM and controller wihtout having to overclock to wicked crazy levels (I'm not a on-the-edge kinda guy so....)
Thanks!

 

[j@cko]

nForce 2 will run DDR400 (PC3200) fine, although it does not officially support it I don't think. The faster the better. So, if yo want performance, then get DDR400 (PC3200).

 

[Shockwave]

Thats what I was thinking too!! But, read this page.....

NForce2 review

That page has me all confused. It sounds like, based upon that page, I'm as well off runnin DDR266 and setting it to synchronous timing...

I'm confused......

 

[Shockwave]

Another good read. Make sure to read and not just look at the graphs. I think I answered my question...

Clicky

 

[OS]

I think in that article, they're using the cpu fixed at 133 FSB and running the memory async for the tests. It's not clear at all though.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Another good read. Make sure to read and not just look at the graphs. I think I answered my question...

Clicky

Ok, yeah the more I read, the more I'm sure they're using a fixed FSB for all the tests. taken from that article;

We ran all tests using an Athlon XP 2800+ with the FSB set to 333MHz

All else being equal (sync bus, same timings), the memory running a higher clockrate should be faster.

 

[mechBgon]

Yep, synchronous operation is the way to go, and if your RAM has the ability, tighten the timings up as much as possible.

But the real fun is in using a Thoroughbred-core AthlonXP, dropping the multiplier and raising the FSB. If you have RAM that does DDR400, then instead of running your CPU at 15 multiplier x 133MHz bus = 2000MHz, you would try for 10 multiplier x 200MHz bus = 2000MHz (using a 2GHz CPU as an example). This fattens the pipe between CPU and RAM without even overclocking the CPU, giving you a return on your investment in extra-fast RAM. Hexus did a review where they moved from the 133MHz bus to 166MHz, keeping the total MHz the same, and saw about a 5%-7% boost in performance on an Abit nForce2 board. review

edit: re-reading what I wrote, if it isn't apparent, some nForce2 boards allow you to do the multiplier adjustments right in the BIOS, without messing with unlocking the CPU by the traditional methods. EPoX 8RDA and 8RDA+ would be examples.

At the moment, newegg is selling Tbred-B 2100+'s that are getting pretty nice overclocks on top of having this unlockability, so that opens up even more cans of fun Wish I had the fundage to join in...