I've been reading the reviews about the KT400 motherboards. I want one that's the best for overclocking my cpu. But besides overclocking, there's one thing that jumps out at me. Most of the board reviews i've read so far on the new KT400 have one thing in common - They all don't truly run any better, or even worst when PC3200(400mhz) ram is installed. So what kinda of ram should i buy anyways. The PC2700 or PC3200. I was thinking that if the board makers would release bios updates that would resolve the problems with DDR400 ram. none of them have done that yet. Or if i were to buy PC3200 ram could i lower some setting or something that would make it run like PC2700 ram?

There are no offical standards yet for DDR400. As for the KT400 chipset if you will do a little more research you will find that at present it is just a warmed over 333, and not really a new revolutionary upgrade at this time. It may become one in the future or VIA may do another slick job on everyone like they have done in the past, come out with something like KT400A and leave everyone with the old chipset hanging. The KT333 chipset's are supposed to support the 2700+ and 2800+ CPU's with their 166/333mhz FSB, with a BIOS upgrade. And you are right about one thing, the KT400 sure don't out perform the KT333.

But i need 8x for my Radeon 9700 card. And i read the differences between the KT333 and KT400. PUtting the DDR aside, i still think it has enough benefits over KT333.

back to the original Question about the type of ram i should get. Bench marks at Anandtech show that a soyo dragon kt400, does poorly when having ddr400. but it performs excellent with ddr333. I want to know, if i were to buy PC3200(400mhz), will i be able to lower some setting to make it run as though i had PC2700(333mhz). I reason for asking is because there's only a $5 difference between the two.

Always buy the best and fastest RAM you can get. Never buy the cheap stuff. Several companies make good RAM, but they also make a less expensive RAM too. NEVER buy the less expensive item. I perfer GEIL. It has been my experence, and that of some friends, that GEIL RAM always runs faster than the speed it is sold as. They advertise that all their RAM is hand picked to make each stick. It is a little more expensive, but worth it to me. I recently bought a 256Mb stick of PC3000 for $72 plus shipping. Less expensive PC3000 RAM was seling for $60 plus shipping at the time. Plus GEIL has this great looking polished copper heat spreader.

Read somewhere, that KT400 have instability problems with more than one stick of ram. Better check up before you splash the cash mate!