relationship between DDR ram and video cards

[snowfall]

is there a relationship between the two?

if so, is it significant? ie, can it improve how programs and games run?

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Sorry, but the question is unclear.

If you mean DDRRAM, then any system running over 1.5Ghz CPU will benefit from the extra memory bandwith it provides, anythin below that wont see much of a difference.

If you mean DDR-RAM video cards, you shouldnt even be considering anything other than one of these today, unles syou just want to use the machine for plain ol surfing and word proc

--Jakk:t

[cbh]

What about 512MB DDRRAM PC2700 and Xelo GeForce 4 128MB DDR MX 440? Any difference? :)

[snowfall]

i meant DDR as in the main memory not the video card memory

i have a GF3ti200 and 256DDR ram, if i stuck in another 256 would i see any inmprovement? i have a p4 1.5ghz@1.89

i apologize for the confusion

[Plaster]

You'd see an improvement in load times. Less HDD thrashing during games as well. When it comes to any type of RAM more is almost always better. The exception being Win9X.

[snowfall]

thanks for the info

my mobo is Asus p4b266, do u think it can be compatible with PC3200 400mhz DDR ram?

[Plaster]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. It won't run at full speed unless you overclock the FSB. Your chances of hitting 200FSB aren't too good. Higher rated RAM will increase your ability to overclock more but only if it's the RAM that's holding you back.

[snowfall]

cool
:)

the FSB you mentioned is relating to overclocking of the CPU i suppose and not OC of the ram.

[Plaster]

They usually go hand in hand unless your board is capable of running the RAM and FSB asynchronously. For example my nForce 2 board is currently running at 333 RAM(DDR) 266 CPU(DDR). If you can change the RAM speed asynchronously then you can overclock the RAM without overclocking the FSB. I'm not too familiar with your board so you'll have to check the BIOS. See if it has a 5/6 4/5 3/4 etc. setting for RAM speed. to get a true DDR 400 (200MHz) RAM bus you'd need to have a 1/2 divider for a 100MHz FSB CPU. If your CPU uses a 133MHz FSB you'd need a 2/3 divider.

Don't confuse those with 6/5 5/4 4/3 etc. Those dividers will run the RAM slower than the CPU's FSB. Of course this all assumes your board has these options. ;)

[cbh]

Wow! What is an FSB??

:(

[snowfall]

i just went out and bought myself a 512 DDR PC2700 samsung ram. Thanks for the help :t

things do seem to be a little faster

[cbh]

How much is Kingston??

[snowfall]

you can check it out at www.pricewatch.com

[cbh]

Thks

:D

[Bigjakkstaffa]

What is an FSB??

Front Side Bus, the frequency in MHz that teh ram and CPU runs at, in the case of DDR RAM this frequency is then double pumped, e.g. 166FSB RAM = 333Mhz, and with CPU's the FSB is multiplied by the errr, multiplier, to give the overall clock speed, e.g. 166MHz FSB x 10multiplier - 1.66GHz

--Jakk:T

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by Plaster
They usually go hand in hand unless your board is capable of running the RAM and FSB asynchronously. For example my nForce 2 board is currently running at 333 RAM(DDR) 266 CPU(DDR). If you can change the RAM speed asynchronously then you can overclock the RAM without overclocking the FSB. I'm not too familiar with your board so you'll have to check the BIOS. See if it has a 5/6 4/5 3/4 etc. setting for RAM speed. to get a true DDR 400 (200MHz) RAM bus you'd need to have a 1/2 divider for a 100MHz FSB CPU. If your CPU uses a 133MHz FSB you'd need a 2/3 divider.

Don't confuse those with 6/5 5/4 4/3 etc. Those dividers will run the RAM slower than the CPU's FSB. Of course this all assumes your board has these options. ;)

You do know all benches proved ALL Nforce2 mobo's loose performance running asynch dont ya? It increases the latency at northbridge. The DCDDR helps allieve it some but not much at all. It'd actually be faster at 266/266mhz. Better to drop yer multi- and run synch with your higher fsb isnce nf2 auto unlocks cpu (tbred's). Thats what I did. Much higher bandwidth. 11x166mhz (2200+ cpu) and 166mhz at mem. NO bottleneck this way!

"Your chances of hitting 200FSB aren't too good"

A Duron will hit 200fsb even if you multi-unlock it. Best oclocking is always from lowering the multi-and getting fsb as high as yer mobo and mem will allow. Oh and dont do this on a non-pci locked mobo. Which the nforce2 does have.:t

[Plaster]

Originally posted by $1500-P4 gamer


You do know all benches proved ALL Nforce2 mobo's loose performance running asynch dont ya? It increases the latency at northbridge. The DCDDR helps allieve it some but not much at all. It'd actually be faster at 266/266mhz. Better to drop yer multi- and run synch with your higher fsb isnce nf2 auto unlocks cpu (tbred's). Thats what I did. Much higher bandwidth. 11x166mhz (2200+ cpu) and 166mhz at mem. NO bottleneck this way!

"Your chances of hitting 200FSB aren't too good"

A Duron will hit 200fsb even if you multi-unlock it. Best oclocking is always from lowering the multi-and getting fsb as high as yer mobo and mem will allow. Oh and dont do this on a non-pci locked mobo. Which the nforce2 does have.:t

Well, I'd love to unlock the multiplier but I have an 1800+ Palamino. I don't feel like going through the hassle involved in unlocking the chip.

As for my comment on him hitting the 200MHz FSB, I'll stand by that. He has a stick of PC1600 if I'm not mistaken. I think it might be a little much expecting 200MHz out of 100MHz RAM. Although he did purchase a stick of PC2700 today, it would still be a less than 50/50 chance of hitting a stable 200MHz (400DDR) with PC2700. ;)

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Depends, I can run my fsb higher than my mem if I want to.;) Its got asynch ratios. I can set the mem to 100mhz if I want and still set the cpu fsb to 200mhz. Independent busses ya know. But yeah-the right way, without latency issues in northbridge would be some ddr400. My point was it isnt the cpu-all of the cpu's can do a 200fsb if convinced to.

"Well, I'd love to unlock the multiplier but I have an 1800+ Palamino. I don't feel like going through the hassle involved in unlocking the chip"

I dont blaim you there. If mine wasnt auto unlocked I would have never fiddled with the multi's at all. I dont like the idea of Hard modding to get them unlocked.:t

[Plaster]

Yeah, I know my CPU can hit the 200 FSB with multiplier adjustments, I have an Athlon 1GHz running at 7.5x133. In this person's case there's probably no way. He's got a P4 1.5GHz with it's 15x multiplier and no way to change it. No way he'll hit 200. I'd love to see the 1.5GHz CPU that can hit 3GHz. I wish mine would. :D

[TiGgErDbC]

my 1700 t-bread is at 12.5x166. if only i had pc3200 ram then i could try for 200fsb :| i think my cpu could do it too... my rams not so great though cause it really wearid.... its 333 ram cl 2.5 witch is what i have it running at, YET, if i move the fsb to 165> or 167< or try to change the ram timings or ANYTING to the smallest degree it crashes on boot every time. yet at 12.5x166 i NEVER EVER get a crash(knock on wood). so i dont play with it anymore, not untill i use this kingston memorie cupon i got with my new game.. hehehe 50 bucks of 512 ram :)(i think pc3200)

[$1500-P4 gamer]

"He's got a P4 1.5GHz with it's 15x multiplier and no way to change it."

Ahhhh I missed the P4 asus part that he didnt post till later! Yep- on intel williamette thats about- well not about its impossible to hit 200mhz fsb.You right. As the multi-s are locked. I had the 1.5gig (hence my name!) most it would do was 1.8gig but still a modest 300mhz oclock, cant complain but it could have done alot more-without locked multiplyer. Dontcha love intel.:rolleyes: That multi- lock is my only big complaint with Intel cpu's. They have so much more potential in oclocking that just cant be reached EVER:t