The Syntax K7SV266AD motherboard uses a VIA motherboard chipset.
It uses a VIA KT266A for the Northbridge, and a VIA VT8235 for the Southbridge.
About the motherboard chipset;
Chip and Chipset are slang terms for I.C.
Integrated Circuit,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuitThe Northbridge chip handles the faster capabilities of the computer.
It handles the Processor, Ram Memory, and High-speed graphics.
High-speed graphics is AGP or PCI-Express
A graphics card inserted into a PCI slot is Not high-speed graphics.
Neither is Integrated Graphics.
(Integrated Graphics is also referred to as OnBoard graphics.
ON the motherBOARD. The graphics chipset is soldered directly to the motherboard, and not to a graphics adapter card. {Graphics card}
The graphics chipset is a GPU.
Graphics Processing Unit,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPU The Southbridge chip handles the slower capabilities of the computer.
It handles the IDE, and SATA capabilities of the computer.
It also handles the USB ports, Ethernet, and Audio, plus anything connected to a PCI slot, and Integrated Graphics, to list a few examples.
Motherboard Diagram,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Motherboard_diagram.svg[For further information you may wish to search on Wikipedia,
A) Northbridge (computing)
B) Southbridge (computing)
C) Bus
D) PCI Local Bus
E) AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
F) PCI Express
G) Front Side Bus ]
Looking at the motherboard with the Processor to the top, and Ram Memory to the right, the VIA KT266A northbridge chip is below the Processor.
The aluminum finned Heatsink covers it.
The VIA VT8235 southbridge chip is down towards the lower right corner.
Looking at the specs for the VIA KT266A chip we can see,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VIA_chipsets#Slot_A_and_Socket_A1) It supports either DDR Sdram ram memory at 200MegaHertz, or 266MHz.
PC-1600 or PC-2100, respectively.
(DDR Sdram is clocked twice. Therefore the 133MHz Front Side Bus {FSB} support will handle 266MHz ram memory)
2) The Maximum ram memory it will support is 4GB. If you have the motherboard manual, you will know what the maximum amount of Ram Memory is, that the motherboard will support.
3) Will support Processors with either a 100MHz, or 133MHz FSB. (Front Side Bus)
AMD processors are 'Double-pumped'.
The VIA VT266A chip will handle AMD processors with up to a 266MHz FSB.
It will handle AMD Athlon, or AthlonXP, or Duron processors, with a maximum FSB of 266MHz.
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets/legacy/kt266a/The best processor will be an AMD AthlonXP with a 266MHz FSB, that fits in a Socket A (Socket 462) processor socket.
Watch the Voltage used. Look up the AMD processor you have installed now, and see what voltage range it uses. The new processor must use voltage in this range also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_XP_microprocessorsFor additional questions please post in a Comment. (Upper right of your page)
Regards,
joecoolvette
