abit memory upgrade question.

[corky]

I have a system with an abit kx7-333 board and it takes PC1600/2100/2700 DDR
memory. I currently have a single 512M(not sure what kind yet) and need to
add more. Will it matter what kind I add or can I mix the types or DDR
without problems?

 

[Paul]

I have a system with an abit kx7-333 board and it takes PC1600/2100/2700 DDR
memory. I currently have a single 512M(not sure what kind yet) and need to
add more. Will it matter what kind I add or can I mix the types or DDR
without problems?

Ouch. That is one complicated board.

Could you run a copy of CPUZ, and tell us what processor
you are using ? The idea here, is to find out what FSB
the processor is using. Motherboards of that vintage,
give the best performance when FSB speed equals DDR
memory operating speed. So knowing what speed the CPU
FSB is, and how fast the existing DDR memory can run,
are important to the planning process.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

In addition, the memory you are currently using, will have
some parameters you can see in CPUZ. For example, the
motherboard can use registered DDR or can use unbuffered
DDR, can have ECC or non-ECC. But all the memory should be
consistent in those features. You shouldn't mix ECC and
non-ECC memory, or mix registered and unbuffered. (The
BIOS is usually clever enough, to not POST if you break
the rules. You'll hear warning beeps and get no video.)

That motherboard is KT333 and is unusual in that it has
four slots. The four slots will be almost useless to you,
if you have a decently fast processor. Only the slowest
of processors, would make it profitable to fill the thing
with memory.

Chances are, two sticks would be an ideal maximum.

The manual says, effectively

PC2100 unbuffered - 3 sticks max
PC2100 registered - 4 sticks max (total cannot be exactly 4GB, but a little less)
PC2700 unbuffered - 2 sticks max
PC2700 registered - 3 sticks max

So you're going to have to dig out more info about
the system as you've built it. Then, state what your
"must have" memory quantity is, and your "nice to have
if technically possible" amount would be.

If you're going from 512MB to 2x512MB = 1GB total, yes,
that would probably work. If you're planning something
more ambitious, then give more details.

Paul

 

[Paul]

Ouch. That is one complicated board.

Could you run a copy of CPUZ, and tell us what processor
you are using ? The idea here, is to find out what FSB
the processor is using. Motherboards of that vintage,
give the best performance when FSB speed equals DDR
memory operating speed. So knowing what speed the CPU
FSB is, and how fast the existing DDR memory can run,
are important to the planning process.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

In addition, the memory you are currently using, will have
some parameters you can see in CPUZ. For example, the
motherboard can use registered DDR or can use unbuffered
DDR, can have ECC or non-ECC. But all the memory should be
consistent in those features. You shouldn't mix ECC and
non-ECC memory, or mix registered and unbuffered. (The
BIOS is usually clever enough, to not POST if you break
the rules. You'll hear warning beeps and get no video.)

That motherboard is KT333 and is unusual in that it has
four slots. The four slots will be almost useless to you,
if you have a decently fast processor. Only the slowest
of processors, would make it profitable to fill the thing
with memory.

Chances are, two sticks would be an ideal maximum.

The manual says, effectively

PC2100 unbuffered - 3 sticks max
PC2100 registered - 4 sticks max (total cannot be exactly 4GB, but a
little less)
PC2700 unbuffered - 2 sticks max
PC2700 registered - 3 sticks max

So you're going to have to dig out more info about
the system as you've built it. Then, state what your
"must have" memory quantity is, and your "nice to have
if technically possible" amount would be.

If you're going from 512MB to 2x512MB = 1GB total, yes,
that would probably work. If you're planning something
more ambitious, then give more details.

Paul

This is a list of Athlon processors, so you can look at
the list while you're using CPUZ, and see if what it says,
makes any sense. Note that this is not a comprehensive list,
as it is missing stuff like Durons, but it'll give you
some ideas about "P.R. rating" versus actual core clock
speed. The CPUZ program may display the current core frequency,
which you can compare to the list. The model number (10 = Barton
and so on), might also be shown in CPUZ. And your FSB would
be twice the field in this table that is labeled "CPU Clk".
200MHz CPU Clk equals FSB400. 166MHz CPU Clk equals FSB333 etc.

Family Core P.R. Pkg CPU Cache Mult Core Tmax Power
Freq Clk Volts

XP Model 10 2200 (3200+) OPGA 200 512 11x 1.65V 85oC 60.4W
Barton 2100 (3000+) OPGA 200 512 10.5x 1.65V 85oC 53.7W

XP Model 10 2167 (3000+) OPGA 166 512 13x 1.65V 85oC 58.4W
Barton 2083 (2800+) OPGA 166 512 12.5x 1.65V 85oC 53.7W
1917 (2600+) OPGA 166 512 11.5x 1.65V 85oC 53.7W
1833 (2500+) OPGA 166 512 11x 1.65V 85oC 53.7W

XP Model 8 2167 (2700+) OPGA 166 256 13x 1.65V 85oC 62.0W
Thoroughbred 2083 (2600+) OPGA 166 256 12.5x 1.65V 85oC 62.0W

XP Model 8 2133 (2600+) OPGA 133 256 16x 1.65V 85oC 62.0W
Thoroughbred 2000 (2400+) OPGA 133 256 15x 1.65V 85oC 62.0W
CPU ID 0681 1800 (2200+) OPGA 133 256 13.5x 1.60V 85oC 57.0W
1733 (2100+) OPGA 133 256 13x 1.60V 90oC 56.3W
1667 (2000+) OPGA 133 256 12.5x 1.60V 90oC 55.7W
1533 (1800+) OPGA 133 256 11.5x 1.60V 90oC 55.7W
1467 (1700+) OPGA 133 256 11x 1.60V 90oC 55.7W

XP Model 8 1800 (2200+) OPGA 133 256 13.5x 1.65V 85oC 61.7W
Thoroughbred 1733 (2100+) OPGA 133 256 13x 1.60V 90oC 56.4W
CPU ID 0680 1667 (2000+) OPGA 133 256 12.5x 1.65V 90oC 54.7W
1667 (2000+) OPGA 133 256 12.5x 1.60V 90oC 54.7W
1600 (1900+) OPGA 133 256 12x 1.50V 90oC 47.7W
1533 (1800+) OPGA 133 256 11.5x 1.50V 90oC 46.3W
1467 (1700+) OPGA 133 256 11x 1.50V 90oC 44.9W

XP Model 6 1733 (2100+) OPGA 133 256 13x 1.75V 90oC 64.3W
Palomino 1667 (2000+) OPGA 133 256 12.5x 1.75V 90oC 62.5W
1600 (1900+) OPGA 133 256 12x 1.75V 90oC 60.7W
1533 (1800+) OPGA 133 256 11.5x 1.75V 90oC 59.2W
1467 (1700+) OPGA 133 256 11x 1.75V 90oC 57.4W
1400 (1600+) OPGA 133 256 10.5x 1.75V 90oC 56.3W
1333 (1500+) OPGA 133 256 10x 1.75V 90oC 53.8W

For example, I have a 3200+ that runs at 2200MHz core clock.
The bus runs at FSB400 (clock input is 200Mhz). I use DDR400
memory with it. You cannot put too many sticks of that stuff
on one of the older DDR memory busses, without a problem.

HTH,
Paul

 

[corky]

Ouch. That is one complicated board.

Could you run a copy of CPUZ, and tell us what processor
you are using ? The idea here, is to find out what FSB
the processor is using. Motherboards of that vintage,
give the best performance when FSB speed equals DDR
memory operating speed. So knowing what speed the CPU
FSB is, and how fast the existing DDR memory can run,
are important to the planning process.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Nice program! Looks like I have PC2700 installed. It seems that the PC####
rating referres to the speed rating for the memory. So, the PC3200 could
work at the lower clock speed(133mhz for 2700). This should do her Lloyd! I
like you, Lloyd. I always liked you. You were always the best of them. Best
goddamned bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine. Or Portland, Oregon,
for that matter.

 

[Paul]

Nice program! Looks like I have PC2700 installed. It seems that the PC####
rating referres to the speed rating for the memory. So, the PC3200 could
work at the lower clock speed(133mhz for 2700). This should do her Lloyd! I
like you, Lloyd. I always liked you. You were always the best of them. Best
goddamned bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine. Or Portland, Oregon,
for that matter.

If you want to use a stick of PC3200, with the stick of PC2700 you
have, that should be fine. A fast stick can run slower. And the
BIOS will pick settings that both sticks can work at. If one
stick was CAS2.5 and the other CAS3.0, the BIOS will use 3.0
as the value for both.

In terms of buying RAM, the only warning I've got, is don't buy
1GB DDR memory from Ebay. Buying other sizes should be OK, so
if you wanted to get a 512MB stick from Ebay, just the normal
level of risk would apply. But for the 1GB size, yes, the Ebay
RAM might be $20 cheaper, but those sticks use x4 chips. And
you don't want those. Branded RAM, like Kingston, Crucial,
Corsair, OCZ and the like, will use proper x8 wide chips when
they make a 1GB DDR module.

HTH,
Paul