FSB Confusion & The AMD XP3200+

[blueprint]

Hi,
I'm looking at buying an XP3200+ Chip. I have an MSI mobo that supports 400FSB. I think I have to have PC3200 RAM to get the most out of this 400FSB AMD Chip, that right?
Thing is, earlier on 'hardocp.com' I read
"The big announcement that AMD has with the 3200+ is the fact that it now supports a 200MHz Front Side Bus (effectively 400MHz)."
How is a 200mhz ending up at 400mhz? I'm kinda confused with the link between the processors' FSB and the RAM's speed.
Can anyone give me any tips here, particularly about the new 3200+ chip?

Thanks!

[Tom]

DDR.....double data rate.....double the FSB to get the true speed

[blueprint]

I see your sig' pic. How did you overclock it that much! I plan to overclock this 3200+. How is it done? Just in the BIOS by upping the volatge?

[BUFF]

How did you overclock it that much! I plan to overclock this 3200+.

if you are planning to overclock I would recommend getting an XP-M (24,25,2600+) rather than a desktop 3200+.
It will save you a good few £ (spend some of it on a really good cooler) & clock higher.
Similarly you probably want PC3500 or PC3700 memory for higher fsb (if your mobo can take it).
Which MSI mobo have you got?

[blueprint]

[QUOTE=BUFFWhich MSI mobo have you got?[/QUOTE]

I have the MSI K7N2 Delta
Does that determine if I can do it or not?

[Ceefer]

Buff is right, you really shouldn't go spending lots of money on an XP3200+. Virtually all XP2500+ cpu's will run at 11 x 200 = 2.2ghz = XP3200+, and the XP-M's (mobile cpu's) that Buff mentions can run even faster. But before you even think about overclocking you need to spend a bit of time reading up on it, and there is lots of good advice to be found in these forums and on the Hexus site in general. Having said that, no-one here minds you asking even the most basic of questions. So, no, you need to do a bit more than going into BIOS and upping the voltage! Go get your new cpu then come back here for more advice.

PS: Your MSI K7N2 Delta is an excellent motherboard for overclocking, if the reviews are to be believed. It has the nforce2 Ultra 400 chipset which can easily handle 200+FSB.

[blueprint]

ok then then thanks for that! I'm glad iv'e got a good motherboard, i do like MSI. I shall ask away in the Hexus foirums as you suggest.
So your saying that anything above XP2500 will run just as fast as each other? I was actually thinking instead of getting an XP3200, i could just get a 2500 or 2800 and overclock it. Surely that wold be a moneysaving move1 But as you said I gotta read up on it. Hopefully my new Thermaltake volcano 12 will cool whichever CPU i buy. I'm still waitging for delivery. ;o)

Am i right in saying that i need PC3200 ram to overclock or to make full use of 400FSB on the chip?

Thanks for your help!!

[blueprint]

Similarly you probably want PC3500 or PC3700 memory for higher fsb (if your mobo can take it).

isnt that DDR2? I don't think my mobo takes that, its not in it's specs anywhere. Does that mean i can't O/C that processor you mentioned?

[Lee H]

isnt that DDR2?

Nope - its high speed DDR memory

DDR2 is a totally new type of memory mainly designed for the newer chipsets such as the i925 ( well thats the only motherboard that uses DDR2 at the present time )

The main differences apart from the physical size & shape between the 2 types are as follows ;

POWER - DDR2 uses 1.8 volts rather than 2.5V, and also the inclusion of a 4-bit data prefetch. Basically this enables DDR2 to process 4 "sets" of data where DDR would process 2.

DDR2 comes in BGA arrays only.

DDR2 has two additional Extended Mode Registers (EMRS(2) and EMRS(3)) which are currently "empty", but the register values have to be programmed to "0" during power-on, to be compliant with future enhancements and product variations.

Where on DDR1 the write latency was one clock, data could be written to the
DRAM one clock after a write command has been issued.the write latency on
DDR2 devices is always defined as "Read Latency 1". So with an AL = 0 and tRCD = 3, the write latency becomes two clocks, one clock cycle more than on DDR1. - therefore don't expect some XMS Low Latency DDR2 just yet

This is the main differences - all you need to be aware of is that you need and use DDR on AMD based systems at the current time. It looks as if they are looking to wait until the operation speed of DDR2 is high enough to warrrant a switch.

phew - thats my brain cells killed now

Hope this helps

[blueprint]

lol, thats rather technical!

How do you know about that kinda stuff? Read it on the net?

[Lee H]

nope.... I get beaten with a bamboo cane by a rabid ape until I know all this information.

heh - seriously ; that was taken from some cheat sheets I threw together @ work for the staff as we got hammered with calls and emails by people asking whats the difference

Most the info's from the manufacturers and their technical staff so its usually good

[GreenPiggy]

my 2p - please please please don't get a normal Barton. Get the 2400+ Mobile Barton from CPUcity. Not only will it go way further than a 3200+ but the multiplier is unlocked also to give you a lot more freedom with your overclocking fun.

[Flash]

I 2nd that as a XP2500 mobile owner who has had his running at 2590Mhz albeit 53'c on a Aero 7