Cpu/ram/fsb

[mcseguy9]

Okay, I want to make sure that I understand things correctly. Let's say I get a mobo that has a 800/533 MHz FSB. Let's say it supports a Pentium 4 CPU 533 MHz FSB and dual channel DDR2 667 MHz RAM. So I put the 533 MHz FSB CPU in the mobo and I put a dual channel memory kit (DDR2 667 MHz 2x512) into the memory slots. For optimal performance do I need to have the memory clock back to 533 MHz? Also, does the mobo FSB usually clock back to what the processor will support, or might I need to force it to run at 533 MHz as well? Is having all of the FSB options and memory speed running at the same speeds (in this case 533 MHz) the optimal solution?

[judge john]

not 100% sure on all the technical jargon but your memory does not have to be the same speed as your CPU. In fact it will almost certainly be running at a different speed. for instance my FSB is at 980MHz and the memory is at 822MHz.

[mcseguy9]

Thanks for the reply judge john. I know that it can run at different speeds, but I'm wondering if it is optimal for everything to be running at the same FSB speeds or if it matters at all?

[judge john]

it dosn't matter. like i said there is a technical reason for it to do with the fact that the FSB on the CPU is different from the memory bus i think.

[mcseguy9]

Okay. So it seems like everything running at its own max speed (DDR2 667 MHz running at that speed, a P4 800 MHz FSB running at that speed, etc.) should provide optimal performance. Thanks for the help.

[photolady]

My memory is set to be exactly what my fsb is. Memory in mine is DDR266 so is my fsb.