Re: Finally Decided on a System Upgrade

[Delta_]

Sounds very good, what GFX card you looking at for it, also did you mean DDR400 not DDR200 for the RAM.

[Iroquois]

Sounds very good, what GFX card you looking at for it, also did you mean DDR400 not DDR200 for the RAM.

I don't have a lot to spend hense the slow RAM. I'm basically using all my old components except RAM so I'll be using a FX5200 with it.

[congo]

You'll need at least PC3200 DDR RAM for that rig Orenda, otherwise you're wasting your money. I'm sure that's what your getting though, right?

DDR 400 mhz RAM runs at 200mhz, but it's Double Data Rate, ie. effective clock is 400mhz, this is also given the designation, PC3200.

The computer you propose above uses a front side bus speed of 200mhz, also the Athlon 64 CPU uses the 200mhz Front side bus speed as well, but these use it in DDR mode, effectively giving a FSB speed of 400mhz.

The PC you plan should run in SYNC mode, ie. the CPU, FSB and RAM speed are all 200mhz or DDR 400mhz. This "sync" is one of the reasons these systems perform well.

The P4 crowd will scoff at this, saying they have a 800mhz FSB system, but it's very similar, being based on a real FSB clock of 200mhz, but the P4 architecture offers 1 more 2x multiplier to obtain their amazing FSB speed.

[Iroquois]

You'll need at least PC3200 DDR RAM for that rig Orenda, otherwise you're wasting your money. I'm sure that's what your getting though, right?

DDR 400 mhz RAM runs at 200mhz, but it's Double Data Rate, ie. effective clock is 400mhz, this is also given the designation, PC3200.

The computer you propose above uses a front side bus speed of 200mhz, also the Athlon 64 CPU uses the 200mhz Front side bus speed as well, but these use it in DDR mode, effectively giving a FSB speed of 400mhz.

The PC you plan should run in SYNC mode, ie. the CPU, FSB and RAM speed are all 200mhz or DDR 400mhz. This "sync" is one of the reasons these systems perform well.

The P4 crowd will scoff at this, saying they have a 800mhz FSB system, but it's very similar, being based on a real FSB clock of 200mhz, but the P4 architecture offers 1 more 2x multiplier to obtain their amazing FSB speed.

So RAM speed effects FSB speed. That doesn't make much sense because I'm running PC-133 at 133mhz but the FSB is running 266mhz. Nobody mentioned this on Guru3d. I'm getting conflicting info now so I better talk to my computer guy before buy any memory.

[Delta_]

What will happen is you will get a bottleneck from the RAM.  The FSB will run at 400MHz and the RAM at 200MHZ.  This will cause a signicant performance loss.  Using DDR400 with the FSB of 400MHz will give you a ratio of 1:1 with the RAM and FSB.  This will mean nothing is bottlenecking the other and the performance will be optimal.

[Iroquois]

[quote]What will happen is you will get a bottleneck from the RAM.

[Iroquois]

Got my RAM today for the new system. 512mb PC-333 DDR. Couldn't find any PC400. I have to wait until May 7 before I can get my new mobo and CPU. Got a big calculus exam on that morning so I got a lot more to worry about than computers.

[4_Series_Scania]

The P4 crowd will scoff at this, saying they have a 800mhz FSB system, but it's very similar, being based on a real FSB clock of 200mhz, but the P4 architecture offers 1 more 2x multiplier to obtain their amazing FSB speed.

Scoff scoff!

Yup I have an 800fsb system.......

Muhaa!  ;D

[congo]

Got my RAM today for the new system. 512mb PC-333 DDR. Couldn't find any PC400.

AAARRGGHH !!!

You can lead a horse to water.........

[Iroquois]

AAARRGGHH !!!

You can lead a horse to water.........

I guess I'm supposed to pull it out of thin air. Nobody sells it around here and I don't have a credit card to buy it online.

[congo]

That's too bad. It's strange too, because PC3200 DDR RAM (400mhz) is current technology and should be stocked more than any other type of RAM module.

Makes me think the guys around are getting rid of old stock before re-ordering.

[Iroquois]

[quote]That's too bad. It's strange too, because PC3200 DDR RAM (400mhz) is current technology and should be stocked more than any other type of RAM module.

Makes me think the guys around are getting rid of old stock before re-ordering.

[congo]

I disagree, I see it as a major problem.

Here you are starting out an upgrade with an inferior mainboard for a start, not to mention a system that could never be tweaked to run "in sync" so it's potential can be reached.

You may as well go for a 32 bit CPU on an nForce2 chipset, at least that way you'll have a cheaper system that is operating effectively.

The more you talk to the sales guy, the more he's messin' with your head.  :(

[Delta_]

Computer sales people really don't know a lot about computer parts and how they work.  

Running an AMD processor in-sync with the RAM is imperitive for optimal performance.

The 64-bit processor will use 2x200 fsb and the RAM will need to be 400MHz in-order them to keep up with each other.  The weakest will slow itself to stay with the other.  Hence the bottleneck.  Bottlenecks are not worth saving a little bit of money on, because when they happen it is very disappointing, it can damage your experience of programs because it is slowing down significantly as they are being pressured by the program.

[Iroquois]

How do I even know if you guys are telling the truth? You see the thing is, I haven't even been talking to the sales guy. All he said was the 755-A2 is not available here, is there something else you'd like me to price. Don't jump to conclusions. That's rude.