A7V8X RAM/CPU speed problem

[John Simon]

I have an Asus A7V8X m/b with 256 MB of PC3200 DDR RAM. I have bought
a new processor - an XP 2800+, which runs at FSB of 333 MHz.
However....when you set the processor speed to the correct speed of
2.083 GHz in the bios, I have discovered that the memory is running at
333MHz also, not at 400 MHz (using Sisoft sandra software).
Furthermore, if you set the CPU speed to "manual" and you then set the
external frequency to 166/33, then in the memory speed box, you only
have Auto and 333 available, not 400. How can I set the memory to run
at the correct 400MHz and have the FSB running at 333MHz at the same
time? Anyone else have this problem? Many thanks in anticipation.

John

 

[ohaya]

I have an Asus A7V8X m/b with 256 MB of PC3200 DDR RAM. I have bought
a new processor - an XP 2800+, which runs at FSB of 333 MHz.
However....when you set the processor speed to the correct speed of
2.083 GHz in the bios, I have discovered that the memory is running at
333MHz also, not at 400 MHz (using Sisoft sandra software).
Furthermore, if you set the CPU speed to "manual" and you then set the
external frequency to 166/33, then in the memory speed box, you only
have Auto and 333 available, not 400. How can I set the memory to run
at the correct 400MHz and have the FSB running at 333MHz at the same
time? Anyone else have this problem? Many thanks in anticipation.

John

John,

I had several long threads going awhile ago when I had just gotten the
A7V8X-X. Do a search on Google Groups for "a7v8x-x memory speed".

From what I could tell, the A7V8X-X BIOS must have some kind of algorithm
for determining what speeds it allows you to select for Memory Speed.

I was eventually able to "trick" the BIOS into display "200" (see one of
those threads), but I never was able to really figure out what the BIOS was
doing. Basically, what I had to do was manually change to various
Frequency/PCI combinations, which would lower the lower number on the Memory
Speed. Eventually, the BIOS would start showing "200" in my case.

Sorry if this isn't very helpful...

Jim

 

[ohaya]

John,

I had several long threads going awhile ago when I had just gotten the
A7V8X-X. Do a search on Google Groups for "a7v8x-x memory speed".

From what I could tell, the A7V8X-X BIOS must have some kind of algorithm
for determining what speeds it allows you to select for Memory Speed.

I was eventually able to "trick" the BIOS into display "200" (see one of
those threads), but I never was able to really figure out what the BIOS was
doing. Basically, what I had to do was manually change to various
Frequency/PCI combinations, which would lower the lower number on the Memory
Speed. Eventually, the BIOS would start showing "200" in my case.

Sorry if this isn't very helpful...

Jim

P.S. I had tried to get info from Asus, but they weren't very helpful.
Basically, they told me it couldn't be done...

 

[John Simon]

John,

I had several long threads going awhile ago when I had just gotten the
A7V8X-X. Do a search on Google Groups for "a7v8x-x memory speed".

From what I could tell, the A7V8X-X BIOS must have some kind of algorithm
for determining what speeds it allows you to select for Memory Speed.

I was eventually able to "trick" the BIOS into display "200" (see one of
those threads), but I never was able to really figure out what the BIOS was
doing. Basically, what I had to do was manually change to various
Frequency/PCI combinations, which would lower the lower number on the Memory
Speed. Eventually, the BIOS would start showing "200" in my case.

Sorry if this isn't very helpful...

Jim

Many thanks. I found your original question on 7/03/04 in this group,
so will read all the threads.

My problem is a little different as in your case you were trying to go
down to 200, and I need to go up to 400. If I have no joy, I will buy
some new PC2700 memory instead, as I haven't even received the 512MB
of PC3200 memory I bought from crucial yesterday.

 

[Hulttio]

Many thanks. I found your original question on 7/03/04 in this group,
so will read all the threads.

My problem is a little different as in your case you were trying to go
down to 200, and I need to go up to 400. If I have no joy, I will buy
some new PC2700 memory instead, as I haven't even received the 512MB
of PC3200 memory I bought from crucial yesterday.

a7v8x(-x) runs memory only at sync when fsb is 333. with 266 fsb cpu you
can run memory 266, 333 or 400MHz ddr. I still prefer pc3200 memory
because you can probably use faster latency setting with it.

 

[John Simon]

a7v8x(-x) runs memory only at sync when fsb is 333. with 266 fsb cpu you
can run memory 266, 333 or 400MHz ddr. I still prefer pc3200 memory
because you can probably use faster latency setting with it.

After a lot of investigation, I found the same thing. As far as the
faster latencey goes with PC3200 RAM, is that the CL value? With
crucial, for the recommended PC3200 memory, the CL = 3, whereas the
recommended PC2700 memory CL=2.5 - I am therefore going to return my
512 MB of PC3200 memory (when I receive it) and get some PC2700 memory
instead.

 

[Hulttio]

After a lot of investigation, I found the same thing. As far as the
faster latencey goes with PC3200 RAM, is that the CL value? With
crucial, for the recommended PC3200 memory, the CL = 3, whereas the
recommended PC2700 memory CL=2.5 - I am therefore going to return my
512 MB of PC3200 memory (when I receive it) and get some PC2700 memory
instead.

i think crucial pc3200 is cl 2.5 when runnin memory at speed 333.

 

[Creeping Stone]

a7v8x(-x) runs memory only at sync when fsb is 333. with 266 fsb cpu you
can run memory 266, 333 or 400MHz ddr. I still prefer pc3200 memory
because you can probably use faster latency setting with it.

After a lot of investigation, I found the same thing. As far as the
faster latencey goes with PC3200 RAM, is that the CL value? With
crucial, for the recommended PC3200 memory, the CL = 3, whereas the
recommended PC2700 memory CL=2.5 - I am therefore going to return my
512 MB of PC3200 memory (when I receive it) and get some PC2700 memory
instead.

Theres no particular benefit of swapping the mem for *lower rated* stuff
(dont bother
Commonly pc3200 and PC2700 sold, can be indestinguishable from each other,
PC3200 usualy just means it has been tested to run that quick (at ddr400)
but it can run much slower too.
Its better to get pc3200 for this board - because it can run cooler and run
quicker timings and all other things equal, it doesnt cost much more.
Id just use cl2.5 for it and the defaults at 333 MHz

hth,