RAM and FSB

I am looking at purchasing some more RAM for my system, however I am not quite sure what kind to get exactly.

If my motherboard has a 266mHz FSB (front side bus), then is there any point in purchasing 400mHz RAM?

I figure that the RAM would only be going at 266mHz because that's all the motherboard can handle.

I have a A7A 266 ASUS motherboard

-Would I be better off just getting 266mHz RAM then? since almost all AMD motherboards have a 266mHz FSB?

 

It depends on what your mobo takes
SD Ram or DDR Ram or both.
If you are stuck with SD Ram its PC 133 if you are able to use DDR Ram than that is the way to go. Your FSB does not come into it in that way.
I use IWill mobo 266 FSB but can only use PC133 Ram no DDR bad luck for me.
hawk22

 

I try to buy most of my RAM from Crucial if you know what motherboard or if you have a mass produced PC (Compaq, Dell, HP, etc...) then they can tell you what kind of RAM you can use. I've always had good luck with them. Also they have some good info under the support section.

Bubba169

 

The Asus A7A266 takes DDR.
Check www.pricewatch.com or simply go to www.newegg.com and get the Kingston value ram (works nicely on that motherboard).
You want PC2100 or PC2700 (DDR266 and DDR333 respectively).
The 2100 will be cheaper, but if you're going to upgrade any time soon, get the faster.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...147&manufactory=1183&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1
The sixth item down: KINGSTON KVR266X64C25/256 256MB 32x64 PC2100 DDR RAM CL 2.5- OEM $34

 

thanks

going on the asus website I looked up on the specs of the motherboard...it appears the pc2100 (266) is the highest type of RAM you can put on it...hence the "A7A266" description of the mobo...meaning up to 266mHz of RAM. I guess I answered my own question

thanks a lot for your feedback guys

 

The board will take a CPU with an FSB of 266mhz, but will handle DDR up to 400 mhz (PC3200). Don't confuse the two.
If you look in BIOS, you can set RAM timings separately from CPU, and actually run DDR3200 at 400mhz independant of the CPU FSB of 266mhz. Nice speed increase if the RAM can handle it.
That's why I suggested buying the faster ram, and then you'll have it for your next upgrade, as well as being able to run it faster now.
Most quality DDR will run one full setting faster than it's rated anyhow.

 

Hey Reboot

I'm not quite following.

here is the link to the specs on the mobo:

http://www.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7a266/specification.htm

it says here it can go up to 2GB of RAM pc2100/pc1600

I really want to buy the faster RAM but I have 2 problems:

1) it will conflict with my pc2100 RAM now

2) I'd probably have to get a new mobo.

 

The latest flash allows for faster RAM.
Buy what you can afford, it will underclock to run at the same speed as your current PC2100 with no trouble. Actually, it will run at whatever speed you set it to in BIOS, 200mhz or 266mhz.
It will NOT conflict with what you have now.