PC2100 DDR RAM with AMD Semprom CPU? 2

[CraigHappy]

Hi Guys

Quick question......

Can I run PC2100 DDR Ram (266Mhz) with a AMD Sempron CPU (333Mhz)?

I just brought a new mobo ECS L7VTA2, as My old one started playing up, now my AMD Athlon XP2000 has gone down as well, my fault, I over heated it, by not putting on the heatsink (silly me) it was only off for 2 or 3 seconds!!! 'went up in smoke'!

I now need to get a new cpu, but finding it hard to find new Athlon's at a good price!

Many thanks

Happy.

 

[cdogg]

No, it's never a good idea to run slower RAM than what the FSB requires. It might be possible, but your CPU would be underclocked automatically. So instead of running at 2GHz, for example, it may run at 1.6GHz.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CraigHappy]

Thanks for the info.
It sounds like the best option for me, would be to find a new/second hand Athlon XP (266Mhz FSB) cpu.

I don't need the system to be lightning fast!

Many thanks again.

 

[cdogg]

You could do that for as little as $70 or less going with an Athlon XP 2400+ (266MHz) for example.

However, the decision should depend more on the version of your motherboard. The ECS L7VTA2 revision 2.0 and higher support up to 400MHz FSB and memory speeds. That means if you fall in this category, you could spend an extra $100 ($170 total) and get an Athlon XP 3200+ and 512MB of DDR 400MHz for a decent performance boost. Check ECS's website to help identify the board revision that you have.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[dakota81]

If you're on a limited budget, yes that combination should work without any problems. I had set up a Barton 2500+ (333fsb) once, then noticed a couple months later that the PC2700 memory was actually being detected by the bios & running at 266. I just manually set 333 for the memory in that situation. Regardless, it showed me that yes it did work with underclocked memory.

And - it's cheaper I think to buy new PC3200 ram than it is to buy a used 266fsb Athlon.

 

[paparazi]

I would go for something like the XP2.4+ which is the most common/fastest 266fsb XP processor
This way you can still properly utilize your PC2100 ram.
See this with warranty.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44935&item=6776586818&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[CraigHappy]

Hi paparazi

Many thanks for that.
Yes, this is the cause of action I have decided to take. The one on Ebay looks just the one I'm after!
Sadly, I'm in the UK and they don't delivery outside the US! :-(

I have been looking on Ebay over here, there are a few, but much more expensive than the US!

Cheers, Happy.

 

[ceh4702]

I would not get a XP2400+. This is one of the hottest running processors for that core. A Barton Core Processor may run slower with PC2100 but it will also run cooler and have more Cache memory.

I have worn one XP2400+ out through normal use. It might just be me or the retail cooler I was using or just the dust that got to the Cooler that made the processor run hot enough to ware out. I replaced it with an old Athlon 1.2 Gig Processor and it is still running fine.



If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[CraigHappy]

Hi

Thanks, That's a very good point and would make sense that the higher end of the Thouorghbred cpu's run hot, when they are trying to squeeze the very last bit of speed out of them.

I did think about a lower end cpu, like the Athlon 1.2, it would do the job, the system is only being used as a backup system linked to a network.

I'll have a look on our Ebay site for lower end cpu's and get an idea of price.
It was just that it seemed a shame to have a higher end mobo that wasn't going to be put to good use!

Cheers, Happy.

 

[cdogg]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with the above. The Thoroughbred 'B' versions that ran on the 266MHz FSB up to 2400+ actually had a lower power dissipation rating than the Barton cores and even many of the Thoroughbred 'A' cores.

See the chart here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041221/images/cpu_history_big.gif

Some are even rated as much as 10 watts lower, which is a noticeable difference in favor of the Thoroughbred. Remember, the Barton has a much bigger die size (101 mm) than the Thoroughbred, but both used the same die process of 130nm. So you're squeezing more transistors into the same amount of space which causes more heat overall.

Here's what Tom's Hardware had to say about the Barton vs. Thoroughbred:

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040728/sempron-03.html#barton_was_too_big

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[teash]

Why don't you just change the FSB on the motherboard so that it doesn't run the ram as fast?

It would save money, and well.. unfortunatly save CPU power too...

 

[cdogg]

Teash,

That was discussed above. Underclocking the CPU is always an option, but remember, he hadn't purchased one yet at the time the question was asked. So what would be the point of buying a faster CPU to underclock it?

To me, it would make the most sense to take the opportunity now and upgrade this system to its full potential with cheap RAM and Athlon XP prices. Plus, the Barton just gets harder and harder to find over time, why wait?

The XP 3200+ Barton cost as much as $600 two years ago. Now it can be had for a measly $130. What a steal!

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CraigHappy]

Thanks guys, it very helpful to hear everyone's point of view, especially when it backed up by hard facts.

In answer to your question teash, I was told it's not a good idea to run a cpu with a different ram speed.

But are you saying if I was to set a faster cpu, say a barton chip (333Mhz fsb)to a 266Mhz fsb, which is done by jumpers on the board, that would be stable enough?

 

[CraigHappy]

sorry cdogg

I was writing my reply post at the same time as you.

The only reason I talk about running the barton chip with the PC2100 Ram now, is that I can't afford both in one go!

 

[cdogg]

Ah, ok then. Yes, what you are thinking will work fine in the meantime until you upgrade your RAM later. It should be no problem at all running the RAM and FSB at 266MHz.

The only thing you lose is clock speed, not stability.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CraigHappy]

That sounds like it's the way to go then.
My mobo will take a max of 333Mhz fsb, so it's off to hunt down the fastest Athlon chip in that fsb range!
Though the manual says the memory will take 400Mhz, which is strange, but I reckon I should get a nifty cpu with 300 fsb!

Thanks again everyone who's helped me with this!

Cheers, Happy.

 

[paparazi]

CraigHappy
UK like myself! (Nottingham)
I tend to point towards US sites as the majority of users here are from over the pond.
I'm just about to advertise several XP CPU's 1.8/2.0&2.2
but obviously we don't sell on TT

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.