AMD 2400+ FSB questions

[JohnnyNapalm]

My ram is 2700, so it's running at 166x2 so 333 effective. The default fsb for the cpu is 133...and i can get it running at 166 and 200 as well...wouldn't it make more sense to run my cpu at the same fsb (166) so it's matched up with the ram? I've never had a board that let me do so much with my fsb and multipliers, and i'm scared i'm gonna mess something up. Also, would running my 2400+ (2ghz) at a fsb of 200 x 10 multiplier hurt anything? Thanks!

[wallie_x]

A 2400 Athlon XP is not designed to runn at 166x2. It most likely wouldn't boot at that FSB setting. Some chipsets run well asynchronous i.e. 133FSB CPU/166 FSB memory. Or you can experiment increasing the FSB synchronous with the memory and bench mark it to see what sort of munbers you get.

[rpertusio]

Neither should 'hurt'.

In fact, many suggest that running the CPU and RAM in 'sync' FSB speeds, they get better performance.

I have not proved that to be true on my particular system, but many people swear by it.

Remember that a higher FSB could overclock the rest of your components, depending on your motherboard. This could be bad or good thing. Overclocking other components will give them a boost in performance too. However, some are sensitive to higher frequencies, and will be the stumbling block in your way to a good overclock.

My CPU was designed for 133fsb, but I have it overclocked to a stable 172mhz. I can get it above 200mhz, but not 'stable'.

- rp

[JohnnyNapalm]

i've got the shuttle an35n ultra, which "locks" the pci frequency, allowing a FSB increase to only effect the CPU. Posted below is what 3d mark is telling me, after i put the fsb at 166 and multiplier at 12.

AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+ 2.0 GHz
Manufacturer AMD
Family AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+
Internal Clock 2.0 GHz
Internal Clock Maximum 2.0 GHz
External Clock 166.0 MHz
Socket Designation Socket A
Upgrade ZIF Socket
HyperThreadingTechnology N/A
Capabilities MMX, CMov, RDTSC, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE
Version AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+
Caches
Level 1 128 KB
Level 2 256 KB

[rpertusio]

You might also want to lock the AGP frequency if you have that option

[JohnnyNapalm]

bumped the mult. to 12.5, and now the chip is detected as a 2600+...is this normal?

AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+ 2.1 GHz
Manufacturer AMD
Family AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Internal Clock 2.1 GHz
Internal Clock Maximum 2.1 GHz
External Clock 166.0 MHz
Socket Designation Socket A
Upgrade ZIF Socket
HyperThreadingTechnology N/A
Capabilities MMX, CMov, RDTSC, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE
Version AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Caches
Level 1 128 KB
Level 2 256 KB

[JohnnyNapalm]

bumped the mult. to 12.5, and now the chip is detected as a 2600+...is this normal?

AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+ 2.1 GHz
Manufacturer AMD
Family AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Internal Clock 2.1 GHz
Internal Clock Maximum 2.1 GHz
External Clock 166.0 MHz
Socket Designation Socket A
Upgrade ZIF Socket
HyperThreadingTechnology N/A
Capabilities MMX, CMov, RDTSC, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE
Version AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Caches
Level 1 128 KB
Level 2 256 KB

[JohnnyNapalm]

bumped the mult. to 12.5, and now the chip is detected as a 2600+...is this normal?

AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+ 2.1 GHz
Manufacturer AMD
Family AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Internal Clock 2.1 GHz
Internal Clock Maximum 2.1 GHz
External Clock 166.0 MHz
Socket Designation Socket A
Upgrade ZIF Socket
HyperThreadingTechnology N/A
Capabilities MMX, CMov, RDTSC, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!, SSE
Version AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Caches
Level 1 128 KB
Level 2 256 KB

[rpertusio]

yes. that's normal.

The CPU is determined by its multiplier. When you change the multiplier, then it sees it as a different CPU.

- rp

[beppodmime]

Yes, it's normal. The BIOS bases which name string to give the CPU based on the clock speeds in the different models of chips.

As far as the question of running the RAM and CPU FSB in sync goes:

In almost every case, with nForce2 boards, running the RAM and CPU clocks in sync will net you better performance, and better benchmark scores than you will get from running your RAM faster than your FSB. This definately holds true for people running the CPU FSB at 166MHz and the memory clock at 200MHz, although I'm not too sure about 133MHz CPU and 166MHz memory. Best way to check this would be to run a series of benchmarks between the two setups, and see for yourselves.