xp3000+ and FSB

[adams901]

OK a question I probally should know the answer to but...

To my knowlege the xp3000+ CPU has an FSB of 333, after doing a bit of googleing and reading various forums I have noticed a lot of people mention "I hope my Motherboard can handle 200 FSB".

Why do they hope their motherboard can handle 200 FSB when the chip runs at 333?.

 

[Testin da Cable]

200 DDR

 

[Jonty]

Hi adams901

As TdC points out, you have to effectively double the front side bus (FSB) to take into account the double data rate (DDR). So, for example, a board with support for a 200Mhz FSB, when doubled, becomes 400Mhz (although the only CPU which supports this is the AMD AthlonXP 3200+). For your needs, you need a motherboard with 166Mhz FSB support, which becomes 333Mhz

Kind Regards

Jonty

P.S. Just for reference, Intel's latest kit is effectively quadrupled, so 200Mhz FSB becomes 800Mhz and so on.

 

[Testin da Cable]

'quadrupled' doesn't sound dodgy at all

 

[Jonty]

Originally posted by Testin da Cable
'quad-pumped' sounds terribly dodgy imo

LOL Sorry. I read it in an article, and I guess it has implanted itself in my memory. Changed to 'quadrupled', now, a far less provocative term

Kind Regards

Edit ~ Blame it on The Inquirer

 

[adams901]

ok, excuse my stupidity (its been a long day at work).

Edit:// Guess what im trying to say is... If I know a motherboard supports the MhZ do I need to worry about the FSB? The Asus website says it supports pc2700 so with the correct CPU I can expect the memory to run at full speed?

I guess I would only need to worry about FSB if I was going to overclock.

 

[(Shovel)]

We wish!

Sadly, when AMD switched to a 333Mhz Bus, they released new versions of existing chips. There are at least two versions of the 2500+, two of the 2600+, same for 2700+. A 266Mhz and 333Mhz. So no, you can't rely purely on a "Supports XP 2700+".

Though, if you have one that says "Supports 3000+" then you can be sure it has 333 support. And if "Supports XP 3200+" then 400 Support.

Some Mobos will support 400 with a BIOS update.

 

[xane]

Originally posted by adams901
Edit:// Guess what im trying to say is... If I know a motherboard supports the MhZ do I need to worry about the FSB? The Asus website says it supports pc2700 so with the correct CPU I can expect the memory to run at full speed?

I think you'll find most of the modern motherboards can run CPU FSB and RAM FSB speeds independently.

At least that's what I am hoping, I've just ordered an A7N8X Deluxe for my older Athlon and PC2100 RAM, although they are both 266Mhz FSB at the moment I am hoping to upgrade each independently.

 

[(Shovel)]

Yes, RAM FSB and CPU FSB can be run independently. Here we have a 266 XP2100 and 333DDR RAM.