PeterStone

iTrader: (1)

Have decided to rebuild old machine with new m/b,processor,memory,etc.The m/b and processor combo i managed to pick up cheap on e-bay.It's a Fic AZ31 m/b with AMD 900 processor.My question is which type of memory should i fit.Had a look at crucial and was confused by the choice.I know i want SDRAM DIMMs.The FSB is switchable between 100 + 133 mhz.Does this mean i need PC100 SDRAM if i set the fbs to 100 mhz and PC133 SDRAM if i set it to 133mhz or doesn't it make any difference?

TIA

Pete Stone

PeterStone

iTrader: (1)

Have decided to rebuild old machine with new m/b,processor,memory,etc.The m/b and processor combo i managed to pick up cheap on e-bay.It's a Fic AZ31 m/b with AMD 900 processor.My question is which type of memory should i fit.Had a look at crucial and was confused by the choice.I know i want SDRAM DIMMs.The FSB is switchable between 100 + 133 mhz.Does this mean i need PC100 SDRAM if i set the fbs to 100 mhz and PC133 SDRAM if i set it to 133mhz or doesn't it make any difference?

TIA

Pete Stone

Adam_K

you can use 133mhz memory at 100mhz, which is what the 900mhz processor will be running at.

obviously u can't use 100mhz memory to run at a 133mhz bus speed, so at the end of the day u are best off buying some 133mhz memory just for upgradabilitys sake.

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Your board uses a Via KT133 chipset, which is capable of running the fsb of your RAM asynchronously to your CPU. This means that the CPU runs at 2x100Mhz, whereas the RAM can be run at 133Mhz, giving a nice little boost to the memory performance.
Add Crucial RAM and you can quite happily bump the RAM performance to Turbo and CAS2 in the BIOS settings. These are the fastest poss settings for your RAM to run at.
This part code CT32M64S4D7E on crucial's site will show you the particular RAM module that I am talking about to use the above settings. If you don't want the 256mb variety, then get the 128MB version.
Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Nick

PeterStone

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info.Have ordered the memory you suggest.Does this mean i should change the fsb speed from the default of 100mhz to 133mhz?

Cheers

Pete

Adam_K

no, don't run your processor at 133mhz, its just your memory that u wanna run at 133mhz.

Adam_K

although thinking about it, athlons were always good for overclocking

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

The settings to change are as follows:

Once built, enter the BIOS and go to the Advanced Chipset Menu.

Find the Bank DRAM Timing option and as long as you are usig only that crucial RAM, alter each bank to run at Turbo settings.

Next, find the DRAM Clock option and make sure that it is set to HCLK+33M, this meaning to run the SDRAM at 133Mhz and the CPU FSB at 100Mhz.

Next, find the SDRAM Cycle Length option and set the latency to 2. Normally you can only choose between 2 and 3.

If you find a setting in your BIOS that says something similar to DRAM BANK INTERLEAVING and has some of the following options, such as off, 2-way or 4-way. If you do, then select 4-way interleaving.
I don't rthink that your BIOS on that FIC has it though, as it isn't a really thoroughbred board. It just helps to bump Memory performance a little more. 4-way interleaving only applies to DIMMS that have chips on both sides, a la' the Crucial RAM that you have just ordered. If you use single sided DIMMS or mix in with the stick that you have just bought, then drp back to 2-way.

With all current AMD-based systems, they produce a lot more heat than comparable Intel-based systems. Have a case fan or 2 in there for good measure.

Hope this helps.


Cheers,

Nick

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

If the Duron is running a stockish heatsink and fan, then any real overclocking is not advisable at all. A lot more heat is produced by these puppies when you overclock.
Also, your board is based on the KT133 Chipset, not the KT133A chipset. The 133 is not capable of running 266fsb-based AMD chips correctly. The A series is.
With the 133 chipset, when running a 2x100mhz cpu fsb, the PCI clock is set to 1/3, or 33.3Mhz. IDE channels, modern soundcards, etc all run on the PCI bus.
If you set the cpu fsb to 133Mhz, the PCI multiplier is not capable of dropping down to 1/4, so the PCI bus speed is bumped to 44.3Mhz, not good for hardware at all. Virtually not PCI based hardware works properly( as in without going bang. Also, the USB ports will jump up from their default 48Mhz accordingly.
With the KT133a chipset, when you alter the cpu fsb from 100Mhz to 133Mhz, the PCI multiplier drops from 1/3 to 1/4, therefore keeping the correct PCI speed. The USB stays at 48Mhz also.


Hope this helps.


Cheers,

Nick

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

Just put any SDram in 100 or 133 you wont see the difference, at least 256mb, dont adjust any settings it should do it all itself, put em all in and switch on. dont bother over clocking, if you want to do that get a bigger one cos you will only damage or shorten its life, not worth it.


[Edited by LeeMac - 5/17/2002 1:28:02 PM]

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Sorry, but disagree on the RAM side of things. So running RAM at settings where it can transfer around 400mb/s is no better than running top grade RAM at it's correct settings which can transfer at about 550mb/s+??(haven't used SDRAM for a while now, so I can't remember the exact details) Graphics performance, everything really, benefits from running faster RAM I have found that by relying on use SPD for speed settings isn't always best. Fine for CAS latency, for not really for setting DRAM bank timing.

I still have an old KT133-based machine at home running 2 of those Crucial DIMMS. I am quite happy to benchmark the RAM at 100Mhz CAS3, 133Mhz CAS3, 100Mhz CAS2, 133Mhz CAS2, DRAM timing slow, DRAM timing turbo, 4-way interleave and off.

If you want me to do that, then just say the word .

Why not use the performance that the DIMMS are perfectly capable of

Cheers,

Nick

StuntMonkey

I totally agree with Mr FootLong.
Why buy RAM that is capable of running at the fastest settings and then 'slap' it into a board that you don't even bother configuring???!!!

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

Thought he just wanted to use cheapest memory he could get his hands on, and seeing as he dosent know the difference in memory then he wont notice anything, seems to me he wants to upgrade an old machine then either 100 or 133 will do.

Mr Footlong

I think you need to go and have a rest

[Edited by LeeMac - 5/18/2002 11:56:14 AM]

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Well, I am jetlagged to b*ggery now that you mention it.....

Your view is fair play mate, but with the most of the current VIA chipsets (bar the KT266) the memory bandwidth performance is very good, so it is a really good idea to exploit that chipset performance, just my liddle ol' opinion .
You can go with the PQI stuff etc, but then I would indeed like you run the default/slowest speeds, as in mine and Stuntmonkey's experience (Sorry, for most that don't know, I work with Dave), that stuff is pretty unreliable. We have had more of those turn up DOA than we care to mention when we have dared to sell on cheaper RAM to bump profits.

Cheers,

Nick

PeterStone

iTrader: (1)

Got the memory today (great service).However when offering up the new m/b to the case i notice that the old m/b is quite a bit bigger(more of a rectangular shape).The fixing points don't line up and are fixed so do i need to buy a new case?Are there 2 types of case/board or indeed more?I assumed they were standard(stupid i know ).

TIA

Pete

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

New cases these days should take the M/B no problem, make sure 300w power to be on the safe side.

[Edited by LeeMac - 5/18/2002 7:10:51 PM]

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Yeah, there are 2 types of main Mobo/case/PSU standard for home-class systems. AT format and ATX format. Many older machines, especially machines prior to PentiumII's used the AT format motherboard/PSU/case design. When the PII's came out, the ATX format was quickly adopted as the preffered format. For a year or 2 after ATX's introduction, budget/hybrid boards were produced which fitted AT style cases, but could take either AT or ATX, but were mostly made for the AMD/cyrix market, as they were seen as being more sought after by the budget-conscious upgrader/buyer. Anyways, like Leemac says, to cut a long story short.

Cheers,

Nick

Edited to say that your new FIC board is ATX format

[Edited by Mr Footlong - 5/18/2002 8:20:24 PM]