Basic RAM question

[curbie]

I'm building my first system. My CPU FSB is 533. I've purchased 1GB of RAM (pc3200) that is compatable and can run at 400. On the back of the Kingston box it says that a "system running 533 FSB RAM willl run at 333MHz". Is this "the law" that I must accept because of my CPU FSB or is it a function of this RAM? Would I be better off getting different RAM? Would I even know a difference?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ShortyNumber45]

It doesn't matter, that RAM should work fine on your 533 FSB CPU but in order for it to run stably you can tweak that RAM frequency out to match that of the CPU frequency in the Bios. That CPU only runs at 133MHZ so you should set the RAM frequency to 266MHz.

 

[mpjesse]

Actually the RAM should be set to 166mhz, not 266. (166mhz times 2 equals 333mhz). But don't worry about it, your motherboard should automatically do it for you.

-mpjesse

 

[PJ101]

I atcually have to jump in on this thread...
I have 512 ram @ 333 to match my 533FSB
I also have 1024 ddr400
The only this is i cant get it to work... how do i notch down the speed and still keep my overclocking settings? Also should i just give up my oc and take the ram ... or what


as an add on.. when my dad and i put this comp. together we put the ddr400 in after we loaded the OS and it would just get to the XP load screen and freeze or reboot (cant remember)

 

[Crashman]

The RAM can run at any speed up to its max speed. Synchronous speed for your CPU would be for the RAM to run at PC2100 speed (133MHz, DDR266). Synchronous clock and data speeds would be PC2100 in dual-channel mode.

If your board doesn't support dual-channel mode, your best option would be to pick the highest RAM speed allowed by your chipset, up to the full 3200 value (200MHz, DDR400)