333Mhz CPU and 400Mhz RAM

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mitchua
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Mitchua

I keep hearing that I shouldn't opt for 400Mhz memory for use with my 333Mhz
Athlon XP 2500+ Barton even though my mobo (A7V600) supports it. Is 333Mhz
memory really going to preform faster?

Thanks a lot,
Mitchua
 
Hi,

After reading your comment I went to Newegg.com to read about 20 or so
customer reviews using the Athlon XP 2500+ Barton chip. Many of the writers
were installing DDR 3200 RAM and did not mention having any problem with
their systems.
 
If you don't plan to overclock your 2500+, then DDR400 won't gain you
anything as you'll want to keep your CPU clock and memory clock synchronous
for optimum performance. However, if you plan to overclock the 2500+ by
increasing the FSB to 200MHz (from 166MHz), you will need the faster memory
so that it too can run at 200MHz (400MHz DDR).

Boff
 
No, the 400MHz RAM will simply run at 333MHz so you will have wasted money
upgrading the RAM.
 
I keep hearing that I shouldn't opt for 400Mhz memory for use with my 333Mhz
Athlon XP 2500+ Barton even though my mobo (A7V600) supports it. Is 333Mhz
memory really going to preform faster?
Click to expand...


Thing is, my PC3200 allowed me to go from CAS2.5 to CAS2.0 as well as
running in sync on DDR333. Which really did seem to cheer up my 3000+.

With PC3200 you have five options:

Run asynchronously at DDR400. (there may be no performance gains from
this, which I suppose is what people are bitching about)

Run synchronously at DDR333.

Try overclock the FSB, and run synchronously at DDR400, or less.

Try more aggressive settings at DDR333.

Keep your ram for your next cpu upgrade.


With PC2700 you have one option.

Run synchronously at DDR333. But ok, you might save a couple of bucks.


ancra
 
I would not spend any more money than you would for DDR333. They are
starting to make and sell DDR-2 RAM now. Next motherboard will
probably be using DDR-2 six months or so from now. One year from now
you may start to see PCI Express AGP Ports. I am guessing they will
be backward compatible, but who knows.
 
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