P4P800-VM Only Running 2.4GHz P4 @ 200MHz FSB

[GoldSpider]

I just upgraded to make sure the processor I had was an 800MHz FSB
chip, but it's only running at 200MHz FSB.

I have 2x512MB PC3200 DDR-RAM modules installed, so everything should
be running at 800MHz FSB. What can I do to make sure I'm getting my
$$$'s worth out of this hardware?? I'm really starting to get
frustrated here

Thanks for any advice you may have.

 

[Philip Harding]

I just upgraded to make sure the processor I had was an 800MHz FSB
chip, but it's only running at 200MHz FSB.

I have 2x512MB PC3200 DDR-RAM modules installed, so everything should
be running at 800MHz FSB. What can I do to make sure I'm getting my
$$$'s worth out of this hardware?? I'm really starting to get
frustrated here

Thanks for any advice you may have.

You'll find that everything is running as it should, the 800mhz FSB comes
from 4x200mhz, which is what you are running at, so nothing to worry about
there.

 

[Paul]

You'll find that everything is running as it should, the 800mhz FSB comes
from 4x200mhz, which is what you are running at, so nothing to worry about
there.

The clock fed to the chips is 200MHz. The memory data bus transfers
data twice per clock cycle, and in this case is termed DDR400, meaning
"double the clock rate and happening up to 400 million times per second".
The bus between the processor and Northbridge, termed the "front side bus",
to distinguish it from the backside bus which used to go to external
cache chips, transfers data on the Pentium four times per clock cycle.
This is termed "quad pumped", and the shorthand FSB800 is an imprecise
term meant to recognize the 4 x 200 number.

Note that not all processors are quad pumped, so when discussing Pentiums
and Athlons, the FSB "transfer factor" is implied by the processor type.
FSB800 doesn't mean anything, unless you know the name of the processor
and its resultant bus type.

You can get a copy of AIDA32 or CPUZ to review the characteristics
of your system, if you don't believe what the BIOS is telling you.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Sept1967]

Yeah, what he said. Intel FSB numbers are from "Quad Pumped" technology.
So P4 FSB's are...

Original 400MHz FSB (100MHz x4)
533MHz FSB (133x4)
and now 800MHz (200x4)

 

[GoldSpider]

OK that makes sense. Glad it didn't turn out that I wasted my money.

Now any ideas on what I can do for cooling? I just have the standard
Intel-provided HSF, and this thing still gets hot as hell on maximum
CPU load (topped 70C today). I've been leaving the case open, but I'm
thinking I may need to get some more active cooling for the case
(2x80mm fans) as well as a more effective fan for the CPU (maybe some
Thermaltake model).

Any recommendations on how I can cool this beast down? Thanks!

 

[Unknown]

,;OK that makes sense. Glad it didn't turn out that I wasted my money.
,;
,;Now any ideas on what I can do for cooling? I just have the standard
,;Intel-provided HSF, and this thing still gets hot as hell on maximum
,;CPU load (topped 70C today). I've been leaving the case open, but I'm
,;thinking I may need to get some more active cooling for the case
,;(2x80mm fans) as well as a more effective fan for the CPU (maybe some
,;Thermaltake model).
,;
,;Any recommendations on how I can cool this beast down? Thanks!

I understand that a lot of engineering effort goes into case design to
maximize air circulation and improve cooling.

It would appear that leaving the case open would defeat their design
efforts.

 

[GoldSpider]

I think you may be right, but I also found out that I didn't have
great contact between my CPU and the HSF. I fixed that and closed the
case, and now I'm idling at 34, maxed (so far) at 50. I can live with
that. Thanks for the help.