DDR speed related to CPU

[Tom Del Rosso]

I just ordered a A8N SPI Premium and an Athlon X2 4400, with DDR-400 ECC.
I would like to know why pages like the Kingston memory configurator
matches memory to the mobo but doesn't mention the CPU. To save time I
simply got the fastest DDR in the compatibility list for the mobo, but how
do you know which memory speed is optimal for the CPU type?

 

[Bob Knowlden]

All Socket 939 CPUs that I know of use a bus frequency of 200 MHz, with an
integer multiplier to set the CPU frequency. (For example, the 4400+ runs at
2.2 GHz, so it has a multiplier of 11. The single-core 3500+ and 3700+ also
use the 11 multiplier.) The DDR is double, rate, so that corresponds to
DDR400 (PC3200). Slower ram can be used through memory multiplier settings,
but there may be some performance penalty for doing that.

Overclockers may buy higher-rated memory, although I think that the
frequencies above PC3200 may not conform to an industry standard. Another
option is low-latency memory, but that tends to be expensive.

You got the right memory, although Kingston's prices may not be the best.


Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[Tom Del Rosso]

Thanks a lot Bob.