Over 400Mhz possible for A64, MSI K8N?

[Linxor]

Here's an interesting comment posted on a review of <A HREF="http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=0&item=20-141-423" target="_new">Kingston ValueRAM PC-3200</A>. Not sure if it's accurate, but it makes sense.

Just thought I would give some knowledge to the masses...if you already know this then ok...if not then now you do. If you have a motherboard that excepts 400 mhz DDR but you are running a processor that is not 400 Mhz FSB...for example an AMD Athalon XP +2800 which runs at 333 FSB...then your bios will automatically sync your memory to your CPU and will run the memory at only 333 mhz. If you over ride this make sure you cut the cpu down to 200 mhz FSB and then the memory will run smoothly at 400 mhz...if you try to run the cpu at 333 and try to override the sync and make the memory run at 400...it will actually run slower and be less stable then if you had just left it alone. So, in closing, if you want to get the full potential of the 400 mhz memory, get a 400 mhz FSB cpu!

What that seems to say is that the CPU's FSB is directly related to the speed of the memory. My question is, does that mean you can lower the FSB on an Athlon64 3200+ and get a better RAM speed (over 400Mhz)?

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~ Digital Cowboy Extraordinaire ~

 

[CrucialLabs]

That really does not make must sense. If you drop the FSB of the processor and increase the speed of the memory then yes the memory would run faster but the processor would run slower. This would defeat the whole purpose of trying to improve the speed of the computer.

Crucial Performance Lab

www.crucial.com
The Memory Experts(SM) at Crucial Technology is now on board to give you straight answers to your memory-related questions.
cpl@micron.com

 

[Linxor]

I was more wondering about it for the theoretical purposes rather than actually trying to do it. =)

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~ Digital Cowboy Extraordinaire ~

 

[Crashman]

DDR400 matches an XP processor's 400MHz bus. Both use Double Data Rate technology, both are based on 200MHz clock rate, both are 64-bits wide. The same goes for the P4's quad data rate 400 bus, but it's 4x100 instead of 2x200. This is the reason P4's with "800MHz bus" work best with DDR400 in dual channel mode.

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