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If your motherboard is rated at DDR2 800, you should be able to (barring stupid manufacturing technicalities) run any DDR2 memory up to DDR2 800 at full speed.  It also should (read: should) run DDR2 800+ at DDR2 800 speeds (400MHz).  If you can't get this to work, you can always adjust your memory (say, perhaps DDR2 1200) to run at 400MHz (via undervolting).  (This is actually a way to future-proof your builds, by purchasing newer memory, knowing that you'll be replacing the motherboard before the memory.)

I hope my incoherent babbling helps! :)

TheLarrikin:

If your motherboard is rated at DDR2 800, you should be able to (barring stupid manufacturing technicalities) run any DDR2 memory up to DDR2 800 at full speed. It also should (read: should) run DDR2 800+ at DDR2 800 speeds (400MHz). If you can't get this to work, you can always adjust your memory (say, perhaps DDR2 1200) to run at 400MHz (via undervolting). (This is actually a way to future-proof your builds, by purchasing newer memory, knowing that you'll be replacing the motherboard before the memory.)

I hope my incoherent babbling helps! :)

Yeah, it makes sense. I had always thought that (what you had said) but I have experienced the "should" before. 

|o.O|

 

This is a nice article that is easy to understand and vivid. Do you have any plan to continue the tutorial for other basic theroy of PC?

root:

TheLarrikin:

If you can't get this to work, you can always adjust your memory (say, perhaps DDR2 1200) to run at 400MHz (via undervolting).

Yeah, it makes sense. I had always thought that (what you had said) but I have experienced the "should" before. 

|o.O|

I only say 'should' because I've never tried it - though, technically, it's completely possible and compliant.  Undervolting would be the way to go to be sure, though (so don't put blazing fast memory in your eMachine. ;)

Ynot:

This is a nice article that is easy to understand and vivid. Do you have any plan to continue the tutorial for other basic theroy of PC?

At this point, there are only three: this one on Northbridge/Southbridge, one on Case Airflow, which you've read :), and the middle child, concerning RAM latency.

I originally planned on putting one out every two weeks, but it seems as if they'll come every week to three, depending on the complexity of the subject and the availability of my schedule. :)

Anything you'd have me cover?

I've been mystified by PSU's, even after lowboy/lukeimyourfather tried to explain them to me.
 Perhaps the TL can accomplish the impossible?

 

 

Well, he can surely attempt it, at least. ;)

He guesses that can be his next article.

(He doesn't think he's ever referred to himself in third person for the length of a post...)

Ok, well then on to cooling solutions.

I am a personal fan of zalman and plan on going with their north bridge sink. Although, I really like copper, and will have copper everything else...any ideas?

 Is it worth it to upgrade the sink on the southbridge?
 

It depends on what all you're using.  Going to have a PCI or AGP graphics card?  Probably not, I would imagine.  Or if you're doing like an 8-drive RAID system?  That's usually a no, too.  Umm... multiple firewire or USB external Harddrives hosting frequently updated Databases?

The thing I'm trying to say is, usually Southbridge heatsinks are unnecessary, in my opinion.  If it comes with the board, cool.  Usually, it means the board will get hot, probably because they're expecting you to use it with dual SLI video cards or something, not necessarily because the Southbridge is going to be used so much.  Northbridge cooling has been around for a while, but Southbridge cooling is fairly new.  In fact, there are very few Aftermarket Southbridge Coolers on the market.

I personally don't think they're necessary, and can imagine them never being so.

As for the Northbridge heatsink, I'd usually read the reviews, but take them with the understanding that, after reading my article, you probably know more about it than most (if not all) of them.  Usually, though, a good cooler is a good cooler, independent of one's technical knowledge of the subject.

If you want a purdy case, go with your copper. :) Otherwise, whatever should suffice (as long as it doesn't have bad reviews in general, that is).

Hope this helps!

That helps very much thanks.

No graphics card as this is an ultra slim HTPC I'm building. But I see what you say about the southbidge work being unneccessary.

 Definitely going with the copper then, because looks are nice, and I find the stock sink on the mb to look a bit clunky.
 

No problem!  Glad I could help! :)

I think you can put a motherboard from one company with a video card from another company. For instance, I have a ASUS sli motherboard, (nforce 470), running with a gecube 1600 pro video card.

Well yes. What you are talking about is interface compatability. For the most part you can select whatever components you like best (mb and vidcard) as long as the mb is equipped with the mathcing interface.
 

True! :)

Also, some motherboards are optimised for certain technology.  What does not matter, especially when it comes to video cards, is the name on the front (yeah, they ensure quality, etc. but the underlying technology is not theirs).

As long as you have what you have supports each other, you'll be fine.  But if you have techs optimised for each other, you'll be more than fine. ;)

I have a question:

from some people i hear that the north and south bridge on a motherboard can act as a processor chip, is this true?  such as, if  you have a motherboard that does'nt come with a processor, but just the cpu...or gpu?  idk, it can run just a little slower, but still work, so does this mean that the north and south bridge can act as a "processor"? 

The CPU is the processor, so if your motherboard comes with it, it will work just fine.  But without some sort of CPU, the motherboard will not function.

These people (define 'some', if you could) could be mistaking an integrated processor with the North or Southbridge.  If I'm not mistaken, VIA tends to make integrated processors included on some motherboards.  These motherboards might also have a processor socket, and in a situation where a CPU is installed into the socket, the socket processor will take over.  These boards can run without installing a processor, but it doesn't mean they don't have a CPU (it's integrated).

That's my explanation.  It's the first I've heard about this, but I can see where the confusion might come from...  If there's anything else anyone has to add, please do.

Hope it helps!

noodlesgc64:

Thank you, you dumbed it down for me enough that I understood what you were talking about :)

 

I agree!

Thanks for the support, Mr. Spock.  I've always been a big fan of yours. ;)  Live long...

hi TheLarrikin,

I have a question on the BIOS/Motherboard problem.  I have the intel bad axe 2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121059.  The problem is that whenever I boot up my machine after the bios screen I always encounter this message "internal error (9)" on the motherboard, so I call Intel and they told me is the ram (Patriot DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 at 2.2V) they said the motherboard only support 1.8v-1.9v ram.  Then later I buy this ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098 G.Skill and the same problem occurred again. After seeing that message I put all 4 rams in, but the problem wasn't solved any ideas?

My PC specs:

1. MS Windows XP home sp2 ( I know it only support 3 Gig of ram) 32-bit                                                                               

2. Antec 900 case

3. EVGA 8800 GTS 320mb superclocked (I didn't overclocked)

4. Intel Q6600 G0 2.4GHZ ( can't get it to overclock with the motherboard no idea y?)

5. Intel bad axe 2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121059 

6. WD 750AAKS HDD

7. Sony DRU-830A optical drive

8. BenQ 20.1 monitor

9. Thermalright ultima 90 heatsink w/ silverstone 120mm 110cfm fan (keep my cpu in the low 30s, don't think is the reason y my cpu can't overclocked).

10. Patriot 2GB ram and the G.Skill 2 GB ram.