'scuse my ignorance..what kind of RAM mem is this

[djd_201]

looking at motherboards and the way they list them is confusing at times

Is the following a ddr memory type board or an sdram memory type board:

ASUS A7V8X-X AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron Socket A, Processor Mother Board
Chipsets: VIA KT400/8235
FSB: 333/266/200 MHz
3 x DDR DIMM PC3200/2700/2100 DDR400/333/266 non ECC SDRAM (Note: PC3200 Max. to 2 banks only)
Ports: 1 x AGP(8X), 6 x PCI, 6 x USB

some boards come with a choice of both types

secondly:
The following board is a cheaper end board I know! But is the AGP capable of 128Mb SDRAM Video is all I need to know

I'm throwing a couple of lower end systems together:

Biostar M7VIG PRO Motherboard for AMD Socket A Processors
Supported CPU:AMD Athlon XP , Athlon and Duron
Chipset:VIA KM266 / VT8235
FSB:200 / 266MHz system interface speed
RAM:Both 2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM and 2 x 168-pin SDRAM DIMM Maximum 2.0 GB PC2100 (DDR266)
IDE:Ultra DMA33/66/100/133
Slots:3 x PCI 1 x AGP 1 x CNR

[naptownman]

SDRAM is synchronous dynamic random access memory. Synchronous meaning it clocks with the cpu clock. It can come as either single data rate or double data rate (DDR). This board would use DDR.

[djd_201]

thanks...I figured that the way they had it listed it was DDR but wished to check is all (the Asus board)

on the second one...the Biostar I don't know enough about AGP to tell that the 1X speed of the AGP is capable of holding up a card as I am familiar with the 2X and 4X in SDRAM based video cards ...

[rsfnatik]

Originally posted by naptownman
SDRAM is synchronous dynamic random access memory. Synchronous meaning it clocks with the cpu clock. It can come as either single data rate or double data rate (DDR). This board would use DDR.

Just to make that a little clearer for djd... DDR *is* SDRAM. :)

In regards to the video card issue... AGP transfer rates, 1x in this case, are differnet from the version of the AGP slot. You need to determine the AGP version on the Biostar board and the version required by the video card you wish to use. Looking at a picture of the board it looks like a universal AGP slot (AGP 2.0/Pro)... if it is you should be able to use either a 1.5V or 3.3V AGP card that is compatible with either slot. IMO... you really should determine the correct version tho.

Here's a link (http://www.motherboards.org/articlesd/tech-planations/920_1.html) showing the different slots...

[sm8000]

That listing you posted (second board) just says that there's one AGP slot:

3 x PCI
1 x AGP
1 x CNR

Just the number of each type of slot, not their speed. Look up the board at Biostar's website to find out which AGP standard it uses.

[djd_201]

I see what you mean...checked out the board itself at Biostar

ftp://ftp.biostar-usa.com/manuals/M7VIG%20PRO/M7VIGPROmanual.pdf

it seems to be 2x as in pro slot and should handle a decent sdram video card for what it is...still would like the link to the visual way of telling video cards again...I might have seen it before but at 46yrs young I forget more than I remember *jests*

[sm8000]

Trust me, it's not an AGP Pro slot. Those are only found on specialty boards for video and graphic workstations.

[rsfnatik]

I'm think it's an AGP 2.0 slot based on appearance... but I can't find an high res image or any published specs to verify. The best option would be to contact Biostar directly and ask... then slap them upside the head for producing a manual soor poor that it doesn't accurately list the specs of the board.

[lbeachmike]

hey guys -

my question might be along the same lines -

if i purchase a new mobo with an Athlon 64 3200+, does that mean that i require PC3200 memory?

in other words, does the memory speed need to match (or exceed) the processor's rating?

thanks.

mike

(should i have started a separate thread?)

[sm8000]

3200+ does not mean it needs PC3200 RAM, nor does 3000+ mean it needs PC3000 (DDR366) RAM. Two totally different and separate naming schemes. However, Athlon 64s do use PC3200 or PC2700 RAM, for the record.