Motherboard Advice Needed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gareth Edmondson
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Gareth Edmondson

Dear Group,

It has been a while since I purchased individual components for a computer
system, usually I buy stocks of systems for the ICT department where I
teach. Therefore I wonder if someone could offer advice on the following
combination:

Abit AN7 nForce2 (SoA) motherboard fitted with an AMD Athlon "Barton"
XP2800+ 333 FSB processor. (not forgetting the headsync).

The whole lot to run with 512Mb DDR400 memory

Are there any pitfalls to this combination? There are so many different
types of motherboard and chip combination available it is hard to know what
to choose. I have had my MSI board and Athlon 1300 for a few years now with
no problems. I have a choice of chips - the XP2600+ or the XP2800+ - will I
see much of a difference when pushing the computer with Photoshop and
Premier?

All help is appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,

Gareth
 
Gareth Edmondson said:
Dear Group,

It has been a while since I purchased individual components for a computer
system, usually I buy stocks of systems for the ICT department where I
teach. Therefore I wonder if someone could offer advice on the following
combination:

Abit AN7 nForce2 (SoA) motherboard fitted with an AMD Athlon "Barton"
XP2800+ 333 FSB processor. (not forgetting the headsync).

The whole lot to run with 512Mb DDR400 memory

Are there any pitfalls to this combination? There are so many different
types of motherboard and chip combination available it is hard to know what
to choose. I have had my MSI board and Athlon 1300 for a few years now with
no problems. I have a choice of chips - the XP2600+ or the XP2800+ - will I
see much of a difference when pushing the computer with Photoshop and
Premier?

All help is appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Click to expand...


The only problem I can see is that DDR400 memory restricts you to 2 slots on
the 3 slot MoBo. Download the manual and read it.

QUOTE:

"Supports 2 DIMM DDR 400 (Max. 2GB)"

It could also mean that the third slot would default a DDR 400 to DDR 333
but it doe's not state that in the manual.

If you use DDR333 on the other hand up to £GB of memory can be accommodated.

HTH
--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds
 
If you use DDR333 on the other hand up to £GB of memory can be accommodated.

HTH
Click to expand...

Not only that, but system performance will improve with DDR333, as the
system won't be running asynchronously. Why do so many people who don't
plan to overclock choose to buy RAM that is not properly matched with their
chosen CPU? I can understand thinking of faster must be better, but unless
the CPU is running at a higher FSB (ie OVERclocked), then the exact opposite
is true. That is, faster RAM will slow you down unless you speed up the CPU
to match it, which is not recommended. -Dave
 
Dave C. said:
Not only that, but system performance will improve with DDR333, as the
system won't be running asynchronously. Why do so many people who don't
plan to overclock choose to buy RAM that is not properly matched with their
chosen CPU? I can understand thinking of faster must be better, but unless
the CPU is running at a higher FSB (ie OVERclocked), then the exact opposite
is true. That is, faster RAM will slow you down unless you speed up the CPU
to match it, which is not recommended. -Dave
Click to expand...


I certainly agree, but didn't like to comment. I use DDR333 that's what the
boards designed for! The difference between DDR333 & 400 is negligible and
as you say could run slower etc.

--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds
 
CB said:
I certainly agree, but didn't like to comment. I use DDR333 that's what the
boards designed for! The difference between DDR333 & 400 is negligible and
as you say could run slower etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice guys. Just what I was looking for. The DDR333 RAM is
cheaper, however if I can get away with it, I will be using my current RAM
for a while - spread the cost a little

Many thanks once again,

Gareth Edmondson
 
Gareth Edmondson said:
Thanks for the advice guys. Just what I was looking for. The DDR333 RAM is
cheaper, however if I can get away with it, I will be using my current RAM
for a while - spread the cost a little
Click to expand...


If you've 2 sticks of DDR400 then go for it. It's a pretty decent board IMO.
It will certainly run them at DDR400 no problem. I was just pointing out the
loss of a slot! Bit strange that IMO.

--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds
 
Not only that, but system performance will improve with DDR333, as the
system won't be running asynchronously. Why do so many people who don't
plan to overclock choose to buy RAM that is not properly matched with their
chosen CPU? I can understand thinking of faster must be better, but unless
the CPU is running at a higher FSB (ie OVERclocked), then the exact opposite
is true. That is, faster RAM will slow you down unless you speed up the CPU
to match it, which is not recommended. -Dave
Click to expand...

No need to buy slower DDR. Just run the PC3200 at DDR333. Buying
faster ram doesn't cost much more and is more flexible. You might have
use for that stick of ram, for a different PC or different CPU, in
some future.
Also, based upon my experience of marginal mobo-ram combinations
working just fine when underclocked, my guess is that it's more stable
as well. Look at prices on PC2700 and PC2100 for instance. Why buy
PC2100? Doesn't make any sense to me.

ancra
 
No need to buy slower DDR. Just run the PC3200 at DDR333. Buying
faster ram doesn't cost much more and is more flexible. You might have
use for that stick of ram, for a different PC or different CPU, in
some future.
Also, based upon my experience of marginal mobo-ram combinations
working just fine when underclocked, my guess is that it's more stable
as well. Look at prices on PC2700 and PC2100 for instance. Why buy
PC2100? Doesn't make any sense to me.
Click to expand...


But reading the MoBo manual if you do use DDR400, you loose a slot! Unless
the manual is wrong;-)

--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds
 
But reading the MoBo manual if you do use DDR400, you loose a slot! Unless
the manual is wrong;-)
Click to expand...

Well until I can raise the extra cash, the board will be running PC2100 RAM
for now. I assume it can come down to that level. Eventually I will go up to
the newer RAM.

Many thanks for yoru advice again,

Gareth
 
I think it is depend on what you wnat it for, if you want to edit video or
multimedia use, P4 probably better, and if you are interested in
"overclocking" why not go for an Abit IC7 G or even Max3?

I have just compiled a spec for someone who wants a high-end PC for
transferring video to DVD. It cost around £700 including the case, this is
just for your consideration, I am not saying it suits what you want :-)

Pentium 4E 3.0 1MB S478 800FSB - £169 Dabs.com
Abit IC7 G - £119 Dabs.com
2 x 512MB RAM DDR400 PC3200 (Crucial CT6464z40B) - £112 Dabs
Sapphire Radeon 9800SE 128MB DDR AGP8x DVI-I TV-Out Lite Retail Box - £117
ebuyer.com
Seagate ST3160023AS 160GB 7200rpm Barracuda 7200.7 SATA - OEM -£84.45
ebuyer.com
Pioneer 8x DVD DUAL R/RW IDE Burner - OEM (patch it to 12x!!!!!!) - £115.61
ebuyer.com

Just one last thing - Don't buy your components from overclockers.co.uk -
poor customer support.

Cheers!
 
Hank said:
You don't lose use of a slot your just limited to a max of 2 gig. For
example, running 3 512 sticks of DDR400 is fine.Sure works for me anyway.
Click to expand...


Never trusted pigeon English that most comp.Vendors use anyway in manuals:-0
Especially Asian! If it works for you fine. But I read as is :-( I'd assume
that the third slot or all slots have defaulted to DDR333! in your case Have
you run a bench test :-0

Time to look at FAQ on the Abit site:-0

--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds
 
anyway.


Never trusted pigeon English that most comp.Vendors use anyway in manuals:-0
Especially Asian! If it works for you fine. But I read as is :-( I'd assume
that the third slot or all slots have defaulted to DDR333! in your case Have
you run a bench test :-0

Time to look at FAQ on the Abit site:-0

--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds
Click to expand...

Bench tests you bet, time and time again. I can run all 3 at 430 FSB Dual
Channel but usually only run two sticks. One of them doesn't OC quite as
good as the other two and with out it I can ramp up the FSB higher. A gig
and a half is overkill for what I do anyway. As far as that goes 1024
probably is too. I've seen this debated more than once. I don't know maybe
some Nforce boards will do it an others won't. As for those Asian manuals,
aren't you supposed read them right to left instead of left to right?

Hank
 
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