Memory problem?

[Auron]

Right.. I recently upgraded from a Duron 1.2GHz to an AthlonXP 2000+ (which is running at 2200+ atm)

now with the duron my memory (PC2700 512MB) was stated as set at 166 (frequency?) upon boot, now I was lead to believe that the duron was holding the memory from running at full speed.

Athlon installed and I thought it would change from 166 to whatever its supposed to be (cant remember ) is there an option in my BIOS that I should be changing?

Motherboard = Soltek SL75-FRN-L

[Austin]

Took a while to find the website to find out the chipset the SL75-FRN-L uses. It's the original nForce2 chipset so it has Dual Channel but only unofficial 400FSB.

http://www.soltek.de/English/home/01.htm

Durons use 200FSB (FSB is DDR so 2x100=200FSB) but you do get the option of running the RAM async BUT it's a bad idea unless you use KT333+ as perf tends to drop. So be sure to set the RAM to sync with FSB (eg 200FSB=PC1600 266FSB=PC2100 333FSB=PC2700 400FSB=PC3200 or you may have a ratio like 6:6 or 1:1).

Your XP2000+ is set to use 266FSB by default (rem it's DDR so it's also referred to as 133mhz/FSB). So you want the RAM to run as PC2100 (or 1:1 etc) for optimal perf. If the CPU is unlocked and your mobo is capable you should be able to use 333FSB (rem aka 166mhz) which will improve things a little bit, more so if you o/c the CPU's speed further. To up the FSB you should first drop the multiplier and check it's set. So XP2000+ should be 12.5x133=1.67ghz, you want to keep the actual speed of the CPU as close to stock as possible when you up FSB (to eliminate other factors), so try setting the multiplier to 10x. 10x133=1.33ghz (XP1500+) and if that is set then you can safely set FSB=166 (333 inc DDR), giving you 10x166=1.67ghz. You can then make sure the RAM is running sync which will be PC2700 speed (full speed of your RAM) and then see about raising the multiplier to o/c further. HTH!

EDIT: Typo, thanks TiG.

[TiG]

Originally posted by Austin
Took a while to find the website to find out the chipset the SL75-FRN-L uses. It's the original nForce2 chipset so it has Dual Channel but only unofficial 400FSB.

http://www.soltek.de/English/home/01.htm

(eg 200FSB=PC1600 266FSB=PC2100 333FSB=PC2700 400FSB=PC4000 or you may have a ratio like 6:6 or 1:1).

Not quite Austin, 400FSB is PC3200, but other than that i'd say it was a good post, i think PC4000 is ddr 500 so maybe you just typo'd..

TiG

[Austin]

LOL Yeah thanks, not sure how that one slipped past me!

Might as well use this space to remind people who o/c to ...

* Avoid leaving things too close to the max limits, always best to back off a notch for the long term.

* Don't just guess what you think will be stable. Never assume you'll get anything, it's best to take things very slow and steady using small increases and test thoroughly that you are truly stable.

* When you do use voltage to get that bit higher do consider whether the extra perf boost is worth the added heat and stress, benchmark preferably in what you use the PC for (eg games vs PIfast).