Question about specs for a A7N8X-DLX Rev 1.04

  • Thread starter Thread starter Arnie Berger
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A

Arnie Berger

First, I did RTFM which is why I'm posting the question. Also, I've
read similar postings, but I haven't found the exact answer I'm
looking for. Anyway, I currently have an XP 2200+ running at 1.8GHz
clock with 1 GB of PC2100 RAM. The system is boringly stable and has
been for a while. This can mean only one thing. Time to upgrade!

Anyway, according to the manual for my board, it can use PC3200 memory
and use the XP processors with the 333 MHz front side bus, which I
assume is actually a 166MHz clock. However, here's the inconsistency,
and my questions:

1- Can I use this rev 1.04 MB with a 200MHz (400MHz DDR) front side
bus clock processor, such as a Barton core?
2- If I use a 333MHz FSB chip, such as the Thoroughbred core, why
would I want to use PC3200 memory? The only way to run the memory at
400MHz and the FSB at 333MHz is to run the busses out of synch, and
the ASUS boards don't deal with that very well.

TIA.

Arnie
 
According to asus site v1.6 mb or earlier requires bios update to support
400fsb
Bios for v2.0 is not compatible with v1.6 or earlier
Barton 2500 is 333fsb
 
First, I did RTFM which is why I'm posting the question. Also, I've
read similar postings, but I haven't found the exact answer I'm
looking for. Anyway, I currently have an XP 2200+ running at 1.8GHz
clock with 1 GB of PC2100 RAM. The system is boringly stable and has
been for a while. This can mean only one thing. Time to upgrade!

Anyway, according to the manual for my board, it can use PC3200 memory
and use the XP processors with the 333 MHz front side bus, which I
assume is actually a 166MHz clock. However, here's the inconsistency,
and my questions:

1- Can I use this rev 1.04 MB with a 200MHz (400MHz DDR) front side
bus clock processor, such as a Barton core?
Click to expand...

Not officially although most people seem happy to O/C 2500+ chips to
200Mhz
2- If I use a 333MHz FSB chip, such as the Thoroughbred core, why
would I want to use PC3200 memory? The only way to run the memory at
400MHz and the FSB at 333MHz is to run the busses out of synch, and
the ASUS boards don't deal with that very well.
Click to expand...


Well I installed my XP2800 166FSB in my A7N8X Dlx E board with some
400Mhz memory which the board ran by SPD at 400 automatically with no
problems. All I've done since is to set the CPU FSB to 200 to match
and lowered the muliplier to 11x so its running as a XP3200 quite
happily.
 
Arnie said:
First, I did RTFM which is why I'm posting the question. Also, I've
read similar postings, but I haven't found the exact answer I'm
looking for. Anyway, I currently have an XP 2200+ running at 1.8GHz
clock with 1 GB of PC2100 RAM. The system is boringly stable and has
been for a while. This can mean only one thing. Time to upgrade!

Anyway, according to the manual for my board, it can use PC3200 memory
and use the XP processors with the 333 MHz front side bus, which I
assume is actually a 166MHz clock. However, here's the inconsistency,
and my questions:
Click to expand...

Yes 333FSB is 166MHz DDR.
1- Can I use this rev 1.04 MB with a 200MHz (400MHz DDR) front side
bus clock processor, such as a Barton core?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you cross your fingers and upgrade to the latest BIOS. If not...
then you're likely be limited to maybe 180MHz FSB at a bare minimum - which
is what, 10% down on 200MHz.
2- If I use a 333MHz FSB chip, such as the Thoroughbred core, why
would I want to use PC3200 memory?
Click to expand...

On that board? No reason. Unless you want to overclock.
The only way to run the memory at
400MHz and the FSB at 333MHz is to run the busses out of synch, and
the ASUS boards don't deal with that very well.
Click to expand...


It's got little to do with Asus and more to do with the nForce. I
thoroughly recommend running FSB and RAM in synch, as do nVidia on this
chipset.

I suggest you buy a Barton 2500+, some PC3200 and see how far you can
stretch the FSB (with RAM in synch) if you feel like overclocking. XP cores
are now generally multiplier locked... the 2500+ is thus the same as the
3200+, but with a different FSB (and either untested at 2.2GHz or failed at
2.2GHz) - which you are free to change.

Ben
 
Arnie said:
First, I did RTFM which is why I'm posting the question. Also, I've
read similar postings, but I haven't found the exact answer I'm
looking for. Anyway, I currently have an XP 2200+ running at 1.8GHz
clock with 1 GB of PC2100 RAM. The system is boringly stable and has
been for a while. This can mean only one thing. Time to upgrade!

Anyway, according to the manual for my board, it can use PC3200 memory
and use the XP processors with the 333 MHz front side bus, which I
assume is actually a 166MHz clock. However, here's the inconsistency,
and my questions:

1- Can I use this rev 1.04 MB with a 200MHz (400MHz DDR) front side
bus clock processor, such as a Barton core?
2- If I use a 333MHz FSB chip, such as the Thoroughbred core, why
would I want to use PC3200 memory? The only way to run the memory at
400MHz and the FSB at 333MHz is to run the busses out of synch, and
the ASUS boards don't deal with that very well.

TIA.

Arnie
Click to expand...

I'm running an XP3200+ with 512MB OCZ PC3200 with the 1004 bios, no
problems. You have to use 1004 (or higher) for a 200mhz bus processor
and if the BIOS needs upgrading you have to do it *before* installing
the new processor. My rev. 1.04 board runs at 200mhz no problems and
in my experience you'll always see your best results running the memory
speed in synch with the processor.
 
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