PC2700 DDR memory....any use?

[lordtyranus]

I bought this stuff about 2 years ago for extemely cheap ($40 for 1 gig after rebate). It comes in 1x512 stick and 2x256 sticks. My processor is currently an athlon xp 2500+ overclocked to 11.5x190 (thats the fastest I could take the memory at 11-3-3-3 stock timings). I am currently looking for an upgrade, willing to spend about $200 at the most. I think I can sell my motherboard and CPU for $100. Will I need new memory in order to use an Athlon 64?

Cliffnotes:
Own 1 GB PC2700 DDR
Want to upgrade CPU, but not memory if possible

 

[BW86]

no you wont need new memory, but depending on your motherboard, some dont like 3 dimms in at the same time.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Just Overvolt and Overclock it and youll have DDR400 in no time.

-Kevin

 

[dguy6789]

overvolting is the most dangerous form of overclocking. increasing clock speeds are pretty safe, but if anyone has ever had something die from an oc thats not heat related, it would be volt related.

 

[lordtyranus]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
overvolting is the most dangerous form of overclocking. increasing clock speeds are pretty safe, but if anyone has ever had something die from an oc thats not heat related, it would be volt related.

The RAM is cheap enough that I'll increase the voltage if necessary.

I just tested the RAM on my Athlon XP. I can get 192 mhz stable in memtest, however, 200 mhz gives errors.

With 192 mhz ram, I am too slow for the FSB of an Athlon 64 processor. Can I run a 5/4 memory divider and 240 mhz FSB? No matter which socket I go, I plan on overclocking any processor I buy.

 

[Spikesoldier]

thats on default voltage right?

as a rule of thumb, bare chips without heatsinks/heatspreaders (those dont make a big difference anyway), are good for up to 2.7v.

if you are running the default 2.5v, give it a kick up to 2.6 or 2.7, 2.8 if you dare.

but as a safety measure 2.7 is the highest i would go.

 

[Lithan]

Depends on the ram. I've run bh5 with no spreaders at 3.6vdimm just fine.



You can also try slackening timings a little to get you 200mhz.

There is no 5:4 on A64's. I assume you meant 6:5 which would be the 166mhz setting. depending on your processors multiplier, @ 240, your ram would likely fall somewhere around 185-210