How do I find out the REAL speed of my ram?

[Silicon04]

I just got my system, MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum, AMD 64 4000 and what i thought was 2 x 1GB Kingmax DDR 400 Ram. It was put together by a pc tech.

Thing is when I check my BIOS it shows the DDR speed as 166, not the 400 I expected.

The 2 x 1 GB sticks are put in the 1st and 4th slots (out of 6) of the mobo.

I'd appreciate any feedback as to why the BIOS shows the DDR speed as 166.

Thanks.

 

[ElFenix]

try setting the speed to 200. if it works, then you're running at DDR400/PC3200

 

[Matthias99]

Something like Everest or SiSoft Sandra can tell you the SPD settings of the RAM (that is, what the RAM *thinks* it is). Occasionally, manufacturers have released RAM with the wrong preprogrammed settings.

However, if you know it is DDR400, you should be able to force that speed in the BIOS if it defaulted to DDR333.

 

[Silicon04]

The only option in the BIOS related to DDR speed is Max. Memclock, which the BIOS describes as "Places an Artificial Memory Clock limit on the system. Memory is prevented from running faster than this freq."

 

[Silicon04]

The only indication that the speed is DDR400 was the writing on the memory sticks themselves, but why would the BIOS show the speed as lower than what it actually is?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Silicon04
The only indication that the speed is DDR400 was the writing on the memory sticks themselves, but why would the BIOS show the speed as lower than what it actually is?

Your motherboard, lacking a visual cortex, can only go by the SPD data embedded in the DIMMs. If that data is wrong, it will default to the incorrect settings.

I am almost certain that the K8N Neo Platinum allows you to set the memory speed to whatever you want. You may need to dig around in the 'advanced' menus (which, in some BIOSes, are hidden and you have to hit some key combination I can't remember to access them... CTRL+F1, maybe?). It's wherever your CPU/RAM overclocking options are.

 

[PurdueRy]

If there is a sticker on the ram it usually says on there.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Silicon04
The only indication that the speed is DDR400 was the writing on the memory sticks themselves, but why would the BIOS show the speed as lower than what it actually is?

because the board's bios forces the ram to run at a particular speed, not the other way around.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Silicon04
The only indication that the speed is DDR400 was the writing on the memory sticks themselves, but why would the BIOS show the speed as lower than what it actually is?

because the board's bios forces the ram to run at a particular speed, not the other way around.

Exactly. The mobo is the brains of the entire computer. It is what is reponsible for all the clock speeds. So you might have to set it to the rated speed if it doesn't automatically recognize it.

 

[imported_dakota81]

For some reason I've been seeing a ton of Athlon 64 motherboards autodetecting to DDR333 speeds. Since it's widespread, not just one manufacturer (nVidia, VIA, and ULi boards), I'm guessing it's the Athlon's onboard memory controller misidentifying the ram?

 

[The J]

Try putting the sticks in the 1st and 2nd slots.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: dakota81
For some reason I've been seeing a ton of Athlon 64 motherboards autodetecting to DDR333 speeds. Since it's widespread, not just one manufacturer (nVidia, VIA, and ULi boards), I'm guessing it's the Athlon's onboard memory controller misidentifying the ram?

Yes. Older revisions of the A64's Memory controller couldnt' handle more than 4 DIMMs and had to revert to DDR333 and 2T command settings. The newest version can do 4 DIMMS at DDR400, but I'm fairly certain the 2T command rate limitation still applies.

I would suggest you try putting the ram in different slots.

 

[Silicon04]

Originally posted by: The J
Try putting the sticks in the 1st and 2nd slots.

That solved it! The BIOS now shows the speed as 200, which is DDR400.

Thanks for the help.