Motherboard FSB spec is 800/1066/1333 but compatible memory spec is 800 MHz

[pwrmx24]

Can I use higher clock memory in the ASUS IPIBL-LB? HP web site says FSB spec is 800/1066/1333 but compatible memory spec is PC2-6400 800 MHz.
I probably don't know what I'm talking about but why have a bus that interfaces w/the memory at higher than the memory spec. I thought they would be the same.
Thanks.

 

[4745454b]

why have a bus that interfaces w/the memory at higher than the memory spec.

Because it doesn't. The FSB is the speed at which the CPU and the NB talk to each other. The NB to RAM speed is 800MHz. You are talking about two different bus's. (buses?)

 

[Calculagator]

The front side bus relates to how fast the CPU can run (at least it used to). For the Core 2 series CPUs the memory controller was integrated on the motherboard instead of the CPU and was thus independent (sort of) from the speed of the CPU/FSB.
Your motherboard may actually be able to handle faster RAM, but it won't be supported. Even if it cannot, DDR2 was pretty good at down-clocking to match motherboard specs.