Processor

[spider]

Thinking of upgrading my xp1600 266 fsb processor for a xp2500 333fsb barton ,
do i need to change my 266 ram for 333 as well , or will the 266 be ok ?

 

[LTR12101B]

Firstly, does the motherboard support 333FSB ?

If you don't switch to DDR333 (PC2700) RAM, you have 3 choices.

1. Run at 266FSB (this will lose you 25% speed)
2. Run with async memory timings (333FSB/266RAM) - some chipsets handle this well, others perform VERY badly with async timings.
3. Overclock the RAM - with a slight slackening of timings, you may get away with it.


I'd say you're spoiling it if you don't upgrade the RAM.

 

[spider]

Yes it Does Support up to 333 FSB also supports pc2100 / pc2700 ram
Its a MSI KT3 Ultra2 Mobo with VIA 333 chipset.
Dont know too much about clocking the ram and i aint running a 2500 barton at 266,
so i will have to upgrade the ram i guess !!!?!?!?!

 

[malbolgia]

what brand of ram do you have

 

[LTR12101B]

A via chipset may be able to pull off async timings without too much loss - but at BEST, the memory bandwidth will be no worse than at 266/266 (so the Barton would run full speed, but lose out a little if memory bandwidth rather than raw CPU power proved critical (though with a 512k cache, it should be less dependent on memory performance)

If you wanted to go for the CPU first, that would be something you could check with some of the benchmark software, before and after - there was a review somehere, I'll drop the URL in if I find it.

 

[catachresis]

Spider, if you plan only to get a processor upgrade for the foreseeable future, this might be an O.K. idea. But the XP series is being phased out, and you might find that for an investment of only €200-325 you could have a very competitive mainboard, processor and 512 megs of pc2700 memory. Wait another two months and the price will be even lower. Now is a spectacular time for building a new AMD budget rig. Get a cheap case and create a second pc with the old materials.

 

[scarecrow]

For about 200 grand you can also buy a SiS 655TX mainboard (supporting P4 and P5- whenever they will appear), all kinds of DDR RAM, as well as a P4/2.66G CPU (best buy currently) with a stock fan. You can later replace the CPU with any P4 or P5 CPU at a bargain price.

 

[catachresis]

J3sus, scarecrow! -- for 200 grand I would certainly hope that you could get a SIS mainboard and a heap of Intel gear. I'd hold out for a couple of Itaniums at least.

IMHO it doesn't matter hugely whether one invests in Intel or AMD equipment, so long as one is satisfied with the purchase. I merely thought that the financial constraint would better suit an Amd rig.

 

[LTR12101B]

It would appear the KT3 Ultra2 does not have "official" 333FSB support, but provides it as an "overclocking" type of option.

 

[spider]

Sure it does.... Bios update from MSI,

MS-6380 (KT3 Ultra2, KT3 Ultra, K7T266 Pro2-A)
"Current Ver. 5.70
Notes 1. This is AMI BIOS release.
2. This BIOS fixes the following problems of the previous version:
-Support AMD Barton XP3000+ (FSB333) CPU (For KT3 Ultra2 Only)
-Add "CPU Halt Command Detection" item in the BIOS Setup.
-Fixed ATI 8500 AGP card cannot be used.
3. 2003/02/24"

 

[dx]

J3sus, scarecrow! -- for 200 grand I would certainly hope that you could get a SIS mainboard and a heap of Intel gear.

I gotta believe that was a typo bud... as Scarecrow did not mean $200,000. Unless grand=1000 is different in his home country.

 

[catachresis]

Hey DX, I figured Scarecrow meant 250 to a grand. I just had to rib him a little -- he's usually so on-top of every issue (and I'm just an Eng-lit dilletante, doncha-know I'm a member of the scarecrow fan-club.