Since there isn't a thread for memory topics (closest being the OC threads) I decided to post this here. Would it be a waste to run PC2700 RAM with an AthlonXP 2000+ or would OCing the CPU make up for the diference is bus speeds?
Just curious because a friend of mine is willing to give me a deal on some Corsair XMS (he just got Mushkin Level II with the BH-5 chips and was gonna put the Corsair on eBay)

edit: Forgot to mention this is on a Shuttle AN35N Ultra mobo.

Definitely!

Just picked up this board at christmas..and has plenty of room for you to stretch the FSB

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Which CPU are you using? I noticed you had the V-core raised as well as the FSB (was the FSB 166 (333/2) stock?) I am currently reading the Oveclocking 101-103 and trying to make sense of it again. No whole integer multiplier makes sense for 1.67Ghz.(edit: with a FSB of 266)

..well that all depends on if you think running at 1:1, 210fsb with 2.8vDimm at 2.5-3-3-11
2310mhz, is a waste...What are you running now?

I have the mobo now but will not have the 2000+ until either next week or the week after (sending out payment on Friday), I am just trying to plan ahead. I am about to also pull out the mobo manual and see if the Shutle can lock the PCI and AGP bus speeds but I suspect it cannot. I will soon find out though. Being as that my current rig is a Slot A variety, I am a n00b at OCing but I am definately gonna be hitting it hard and learning as much as I can before the CPU gets here. I am going back through all the pertinent AMD OCing threads to learn as much as possible in the meantime.
Of course, after I get this down, I think I may try my hand at water cooling but that is a ways off I think. Sometimes it sucks being an information junkie.... I can't learn everything at once.

edit: Doh! I just realized (after re-reading OCing 102 that the 266MHz is derived from the external freq) where I made my mistake in calculation. Now I guess my question is how do I go about changing the clock divider? After looking through the BIOS part of the mobo manual it doesn't have setting for tha, unless they go by a different name.
BTW, Zennzzo, my RAM voltage settings only allow for auto, 2.6, or 2.7 and what are you referring to with the 1:1 ratio?

edit2: Ok, Here is what I am thinking so far, am I correct here?
One of my 256 sticks is a Crucial with 2.5 CAS latency and the other 256 is a PDP Systems Delta Omega line (read: generic) that can either go 2.5 or 3 CAS.
For both the T(RP) and the T(RCD) I should probably set them at 3 with the CAS at 2.5?
Also, is the T(RAS) setting used for the multiplier as I noticed this value can be set between 1-15 or is the multiplier setting achieved in the CPU/Voltage control menu? How should I set my memory frequency, by SPD or otherwise? For memory timings should I go with agressive, turbo, or expert? And, last question....how should the FSB and AGP spread spectrums be set? My BIOS is the Phoenix Award variety.
Sorry for all of the questions but as I said I am a n00b at OCing and need this explained in layman's terms, if possible. All the research I have done thus far has yielded nothing but technobabble.

bumpity bump, bump

I don't understand your question. If you are simply asking whether or not there is any reason to pair 166 ram with your 133 processor ....... the answer is a resounding yes!

Consider that my 1700+ has a stock fsb of 133, I currently run at 180. Try doing that with PC2100!
I have defective PC3200 that won't do 200. Once my replacement (RMA) stick arrives, I will try to push that little 133 MHZ FSB processor up to 220MHz.

I would argue that if yuo really want to pursue the oc, you should get 3200 or even 3500. But a good set of 2700 will be a great improvement over generic 2100.

Cool, thanks for the info! Now I guess my only questions left (that I know of so far) remain in edit2 of post number 5 in this thread.

Not to get off topic, but how do you guys Get your screen onto a pic on your CPU Z specs?

hit the print screen key and then paste into MS Paint.

Quicky:


http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/...-8S655FX-L.htm#

Gigabyte Ga8s655fx-l [$107]

Would this be anygood for overclocking a 2.4c?

I dont see anything wrong with 166 RAM paired with a 133 chip, I got a Duron 1.4 Thornton with DDR400 RAM, but it runs at DDR266 speeds

Quote: Originally Posted by JimsZR2 Not to get off topic, but how do you guys Get your screen onto a pic on your CPU Z specs?

Hit F5 within CPU-Z for an automatically generated bitmap that captures only the
CPU-Z window itself. The bitmap is saved within the directory that CPU-Z is in.

Quote: Originally Posted by TYCOON2 http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/...-8S655FX-L.htm Would this be anygood for overclocking a 2.4c?

No, SiS chipsets are known to be pretty limited in the overclocking department, pair that
with an already O/C feature-limited Gigabyte board and you have a recipe for low O/C.

You can get the IS7-E for around $120 CAD, I would definitely go with that.

Alright thanks tek, I am just looking at a price list for the local mom and pop shop downtown, how about this mobo... I donÂ’t know much about The ATi Chip set

ASUS P4R800-VM, ATi9100 (onboard graphics I wont use).... its 122$

<---------------------------OR--------------------->


Abit IS7 "no -E" Is the "E" on that on a must or just some added features its 133$

Quote: Originally Posted by TYCOON2 Abit IS7 "no -E" Is the "E" on that on a must or just some added features its 133$

Just some added features, any IS7 is a good board.
Don't even bother with that ATi board, it is seriously lacking performance.

i would suggest the IC7 non max or -g.......120 ameircan and clocks for days!

Now to go buy this thing... oh im so exited Im going to pair it with TwinX 512-3200c2 (2x256)

Thanks to BA i can use my normal account, now at least I will have a backup one..

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot Which CPU are you using? I noticed you had the V-core raised as well as the FSB (was the FSB 166 (333/2) stock?) I am currently reading the Oveclocking 101-103 and trying to make sense of it again. No whole integer multiplier makes sense for 1.67Ghz.(edit: with a FSB of 266)

I am using a XP2400+ (2.0ghz stock) that originally was 266FSB part.

On this Shuttle board using a lower multiplier (8x) I have pushed it as far as 490FSB(Effective-245FSB actual is the bios setting) Most of the AMD XP's I have seen on this board will reach over 400FSB with no problem.

It might take some time to learn all the settings in the bios, and how they can effect each other, When a overclock becomes unstable, it takes a little time to figure out wich adjustment you need to make..

Example using 10x multiplier in the Bios:

At 230FSB(2300Mhz) I can use memory timings of 2.5-4-4-7 and 1.8v core, if I go to 235FSB (2350Mhz) I need to use a "Looser" memory timings of 2.5-4-4-8 and 1.825 v core to become stable. Anything above 240FSB (2400MHZ) I must use 3-4-4-8 and more than 1.9v..not very practical for every day use because the temperatures start climbing over 50c under load with air cooling.

I needed to adjust both settings to become stable, but I tested it very carefully..I started by going from 230 to 231, test for stability using Super PI and Folding, then went to 232.
It became unstable at that point, so I raised the vcore to 1.825, it then passed a stability test.
233 and 234 were fine but when I got to 235, it started crashing again, so loosening the memory timings to 2.5-4-4-8 fixed it, and setting it too 3-4-4-8 lets me go above 240FSB.

I also use 2.7v to the memory and 1.6v to the NB chipset at these speeds.



That is the hard part of overclocking..finding that balance of voltage, memory timings and a ton of other variables..read everything you can find, and when you make changes, write it down..knowing what worked at what setting will help you to see a pattern..

I would guess 2Ghz (10x multiplier, 200FSB with 1.7to 1.8v core, 2.7v memory,1.6v NB and memory timings of 2-3-3-6) would be a reasonable goal with your combo and the new memory.
You might do better or worse, just trying to give you an idea of what should be possible.

As far as memory timings with your current memory try 2.5-4-4-7, if that doesn't work try 3-4-4-8. Make sure you have the memory voltage at 2.7 and the NB voltage at 1.6v

You can try the different settings like Turbo, but they are usually too agressive for generic memory, mine will set for 2-3-3-6 and the max I can go is 204FSB with those timings.

You need to use the "Expert Settings" to adjust the FSB speed and memory timings in the Bios manually.

Thanks for the informative explanation there Solid! Between your explanation and the FSB & AGP spread spectrum answers I found on my own, that only leaves me with 2 small questions that I can try to figure out on my own but I don't have the CPU yet so a week or so will "kill" me waiting. So since you have the same board maybe you can answer them.

1) Should the memory frequency be set to the "by SPD" setting or at one of the percentage values?
2) For the memory timings (since it will be OCed) which setting would you recommend: Aggressive, Turbo or Expert?

That should about wrap it up, thanks to you, J-Dogg, Putwig, and Zennzzo for "staying the course", so to speak.

edit: I noticed you edited your post while I was typing so just disregard that second question.

Quote: Originally Posted by putwig I don't understand your question. If you are simply asking whether or not there is any reason to pair 166 ram with your 133 processor ....... the answer is a resounding yes! Consider that my 1700+ has a stock fsb of 133, I currently run at 180. Try doing that with PC2100! I have defective PC3200 that won't do 200. Once my replacement (RMA) stick arrives, I will try to push that little 133 MHZ FSB processor up to 220MHz. I would argue that if yuo really want to pursue the oc, you should get 3200 or even 3500. But a good set of 2700 will be a great improvement over generic 2100.

Try that with PC2100? How about memory ratio 1:1 fsb to 215 (430 DDR) on PC2100 putwig? Hows that for overclocking with PC2100?