DDR333/DDR400 for DDR266 motherboard....POSSIBLE??

idoc

Distinguished
Jul 17, 2004
27
0
18,530
My old Gigabyte 7DXR is rated for DDR200/266. I'm replacing my 2x256 Crucial PC2100 with 2x512 for total of 1 Gb for video editing. Was planning on getting Crucial 512 Mb PC2100 but I found out that the cost is almost the same as faster DDR being sold. Here is current pricing at NewEgg:

Geil Value 3200 CL2.5 $83
Corsair Value Select 3200 CL2.5 $85
OCZ 2700 CL2.5 $88 3200 CL2.5 $90
Crucial 2100 CL2.5 $85 2700 CL2.5 $89 3200 CL3 $87
Kingston ValueRAM 2700 CL2.5 $86 3200 CL3 $88
Kingmax 2700 CL2.5 $80 3200 CL2.5 $81 3500 CL2.5 $86 3700 CL3 $86 4000 CL3 $105

Looking at these prices, it would seem foolish to be getting PC2100 if the faster DDR can also run in my board. I have heard of some people who had this old board and were using DDR333, even DDR433. I would like to ask if this is really possible, and if so how? I have absolutely no knowledge about manually adjusting the DRAM settings in the BIOS. Is this going to be necesary to make the faster DDR run on the 7DXR? Or is it a simple matter of installing them in the slots?

I'm considering getting the faster DDR for use in a possible future motherboard upgrade, and maybe for better performance. It does not matter to me that DDR400 will still have to run at 266 MHz speed. ONLY AS LONG AS IT WILL RUN STABLE. Otherwise, I'll just have to settle for same-priced DDR266. Help will be greatly appreciated.

idoc

P.S. I run my 2400+ at stock FSB of 133. Memory settings set to AUTO.
__________________
Gigabyte 7DXR/F10 BIOS
XP 2400+/SLK900A/Panaflo H1A 92mm
2x40Gb MAXTOR D740X (RAID 0)
2x256 Crucial PC2100 DDR
Hercules Radeon 9800 Pro 128
PCI Firewire card
LG 52X CD-ROM/Yamaha 16x10x40
CD-RW
Enlight 7237/HEC 475W PSU
On-board Audio/Altec Lansing ACS54
Windows XP Pro SP1
 

xeenrecoil

Distinguished
Jan 7, 2003
842
0
18,990
heya idoc;

Ok well first let me say your making this more complicated then it really is.

In your bios under advanced chipset options you have a option called "Configure by SPD" or something close to that wording.

If you allow the memory to be timed by SPD, it takes a look at your Front side bus speed and adjusts the timings accordingly, like for instance im running a 533 FSB, however im running pc3200 modules, and even though they are rated for 3-3-3-6 @ 400Mhz, the SPD sets them to 2-2-2-6 because it realizes it can run at faster timings since im underclocking the modules.
Basically just set it to time the modules automatically by SPD (Default), and you dont need to worry about it.

So the answer to your question is yes buy the Crucial pc3200, oh and btw there is a $8 discount right now for buying a second module with your first one at crucial.com right now, oh and free FedEx Second Day Air as well.
 

idoc

Distinguished
Jul 17, 2004
27
0
18,530
Xeenrecoil:
How i wish it were that simple. But my 7DXR is 3 yrs old and has limited BIOS options. The only options for DRAM is <b>DRAM Timing by: AUTO/MANUAL</b> If set to AUTO, settings under that (<b>PH Limit, Idle Limit, Trc Timing Value, Trp Timing Value, Tras Timing Value, Cas Latency,Trcd Timing Value</b>) are all grayed out. They become available when DRAM Timing set to Manual. What can I do here? Thanks again