Can I have a processor and a motherboard that have different FSB speeds?

Question

For example, will a CPU with 533 FSB work with a motherboard that runs at 400mhz FSB, or will it just freeze at startup? If it does work, will the processor work at a slower speed?

Yeah I figure that the processor is going to run slow. For example, the processor I'm looking at is a P4 2.6 ghz with a 533 mhz FSB. Now, the FSB calculations for a 400mhz processor running on a 400mhz motherboard are like this:

100mhz * 4 = 400 mhz since the FSB is quad pumped.

While the FSB calculations for the 2.6 533mhz FSB are like this:

133mhz *4 = 533, again since the FSB is quad pumped.

Now, to find out what the 2.6 will run at on the 400 mhz, we divide the processor speed (2600) by the FSB (133), which gives us about 19.5, which should be CPU's multiplier. Now, we take the multiplier and multiply it to the system's FSB (100):

19.5 * 100= 1950

Therefore, my processor should run at about 1950ghz.

What I wonder is this: will the system lock up because of the slower system bus speed?

Basically I'm asking, will it freeze up because the difference in FSB speeds?

"EDIT: I believe the speed you are looking at is 2667Mhz, which with the 533FSB would yield a multiplier of 20, Intel generally uses only whole numbers as multipliers. Anyway, it shouldn't freeze, if it works, but you will obviously not get the full benefit of the processor."

You're right, my mistake.

Answer 1

If it did work it would run slower, and not just the FSB speed, but the entire speed of the processor would be slower. The reason is that the speed of the processor is based off the speed of the FSB, so slowing the FSB speed would also slow the processor down. There is also a chance it would not work at all.

EDIT: I believe the speed you are looking at is 2667Mhz, which with the 533FSB would yield a multiplier of 20, Intel generally uses only whole numbers as multipliers. Anyway, it shouldn't freeze, if it works, but you will obviously not get the full benefit of the processor.

Answer 2

just check that voltage and "socket" are OK. then I figure out that the proc is going to work slower. This internal speed will remain, but exchange with mother board will go slower.
In computer science the slowest element of a chain give its pace to the whole chain, in this case your mother board is the slowest.

Answer 3

Why interior the everloving hell might you waste money on a board with AGP? AGP is extremely previous and extremely previous. do no longer even hassle putting your money into that relic. only save up for a greater moderen pc.