266MHz FSB and L3

Does 266MHz FSB offer an advantage in terms of communication
with the L3 cache?

More generally, is there any advantage in 266MHz over 133MHz
if one chooses not to go with DDR memory?

Thanks..

Athlons do not include an L3 cache on the motherboard. This was an interim idea - to do something with the unused motherboard cache when AMD put the L2 cache on-die in the K6-III. This was dumped with the introduction of the Athlon.

~ I'm not AMD biased, I just think their chips are better. ~

The 266FSB supports PC2100DDR-SDRAM. The 200FSB only supports PC1600.

According to Tom's <A HREF="http://www4.tomshardware.com/mainboard/01q1/010104/index.html" target="_new">review</A> the 266Mhz bus fares pretty well. The story is <i>still</i> out on DDR though.


The glass isn't half empty, it isn't half full. There just isn't enough in it.

OK, let's jet this straight.

- Athlon 'B' @ 100MHz DDR FSB works with PC100 SDRAM, PC133 SDRAM and PC1600 DDR.
- Athlon 'C' @ 133MHz DDR FSB works with PC100 SDRAM, PC133 SDRAM and PC2100 DDR.
- VIA KT133 supports Athlon B with PC100/PC133.
- VIA KT133A supports Athlon B/C with PC100/PC133.
- AMD 760 and VIA KT266 support Athlon B with PC1600 or Athlon C with PC2100.

Because PC2100 is faster and more common, AMD cranked up the FSB to match (133MHz DDR). However, even when using this better speed with 133MHz SDRAM, there is still a performance increase because the processor has more bandwidth for not just memory, but AGP/PCI transfers which also run along this bus. So even when using PC133 the Athlon C is about 5-10% faster than the Athlon B

~ I'm not AMD biased, I just think their chips are better. ~

A7V is a disaster ATM, check out asus forums, 10 most viewed threads are all about A7V and how bad it sucks.

This problem is not limited to just Asus, I just like the flames there demanding "Fix my damn A7V133 NOW!"
And

Asus replies "We are working quickly as possible to resolve the problem, Due to conditions out of our control at the moment we may recall certain model of motherboards with DDR chipsets."

So 266FSB on AMD is a JOKE!! Keep up the good work!

"Actually the A7V133 is better than any of your [-peep-] Intel mobos." that by far is the funniest thing ever posted on THG forum.

Kudos to you Tempus!

I like to use "lemmings" not puppies.

lemmings follow each other around mindlessly.

Puppies have a choice what tit they drink from.

Big difference.

BTW, it's not my heat problem. deal with it.

Verteron is right 'C' athlons use a 133Mhz "double pumped"
FSB running effectively at 266. just to add that Aces H/W forum describes why there is an additional performance bonus
when using KT133A with PC133 the northside synchronizes both
the FSB and the memory bus so that data transfers straight through without delay. cannot remember offhand which thread

Never mind, I think I found it -- www.aceshardware.com,
right?

I don't like to boast, but my two Athlon systems are also rock steady. I don't like to say too much cos some people don't seem to like AMD-praise (<b>FUGGER</b>, <b>AmdMeltdown</b> and several other lamers).

I once had my T-bird 800 @ 900 (9x with crossed bridges) on a A7V133 for a week running NT (!) without a crash. My T-bird 1.2GHz is non-oc @ the mo, but it still says up for at least 2 to 3 days w/o a crash. With linux they're even better.

Of course, like any system, they crash rather frequently as soon as I start messing with them (like pulling out pci card with the power on).

~ I'm not AMD biased, I just think their chips are better. ~