Help: XP 2100+ .. PC2100 or PC2700?

[ltm]

I haven't put together a new system in a few years, so have a question about CPU and memory speed.

I am buying a motherboard that supports a FSB of up to 333 and figure the Athlon 2100 XP is the right price point for me. The 2100 runs at 266 FSB.

Here's my question .. What memory to buy? PC2100 that runs at 266, or PC2700, at 333? I can't seem to figure if you need to match CPU and RAM speeds.

The price between PC2100 and 2700 is only a few bucks ... I may, when the Athlon 2800+ comes down in price, upgrade. The 2800+ uses an FSB of 333. I guess I prefer to buy the faster RAM if it will work.

So .. Will PC2700 work with an Athlon 2100?

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, PC2700 can also run at the lower PC2100 speed until you're ready to get your 333-based CPU, go for it I would recommend Crucial, Corsair, Kingston as good brands, or genuine Samsung-built modules.

 

[NesuD]

I have the identical situation except i am using a 2000+ cpu. I went with pc 2700 and it works very well on the 266 bus. Actually you should be able to run more aggressive memory timings on the 266 bus setting with the higher grade of ram. I am running 5-2-2-2 on mine right now. benches similar to a kt333 board with pc2700@333.

 

[ltm]

Man, I can't believe I had to wait a whole 44 minutes for 2 answers.

Thanks a lot, guys!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: ltm
Man, I can't believe I had to wait a whole 44 minutes for 2 answers.

Hehe, faster service here than at CompUSA, right?

 

[KingofFah]

Yeah, and you do not get to talk to someone who has no knowledge about computers.
"Do you have RJ45 connectors?"
Best Buy 'Helper': "What are those?"

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: KingofFah
Yeah, and you do not get to talk to someone who has no knowledge about computers.
"Do you have RJ45 connectors?"
Best Buy 'Helper': "What are those?"

LOL! "RJ45 connectors... OH! THOSE! So you still have a turntable, wow! Vinyl, man, it's real, yeah!"

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

i once had a futureshop employee (in canada) who didnt know the difference between a videocard and a soundcard.....he was trying to pass of some isa 2.1 soundcard (with just 3 connectors) as having no monitor connections, only rca connections which was better....

 

[DKNG]

LOL that video card and sound card was funny! I remember going to futureshop once when I asked the sales guy if the AIW 8500 128MB had firewire and what other connectors did it have. Hes like let me just grab the box and read the back of it for you and he actually read it for me. I'm like wtf I can read it myself. I dont know where they find these ppl.

 

[Bovinicus]

If the PC2700 isn't more expensive, or the difference is negligible, you may as well go with the PC2700 to ensure smooth operation. Don't bother running the system asyncrhonously (133FSB/166Mem). Synchronous operation will usually yield similar results. Plus, as others said, you can run the PC2700 at more aggressive timings at 133MHz.

 

[Gondo]

Don't even get me started on CompUSA...

Needed a HSF for my system, and they assured me that the only one they had that could handle
my proc, was the P4 Dragon 478... So I bought it, well after 2 weeks of slowly loosing my sanity,
and my hearing, with what seemed to be a jet engine idling in my apartment, even on medium
speed....

I went back and bought a copper core (thier branded) HSF for 20 bucks, that did not state a CPU
speed setting, and wow.... I now get the same CPU temps under max load, and I can't even hear
the thing. I am a happy camper now.

 

[chocoruacal]

Get the 2700 RAM. You're system will be a bit faster, and it leaves you room to upgrade in the future

 

[KingofFah]

"The ethernet connectors."

"Oh yeah, we have the wires over there."

"No, just the conn.. the ends."

"Just the ends?"

"Yes."

"Uh, we might have them, over by the wires."

At least the employees smile. It makes them have a dumb look on their face when you talk about stuff above their head.