Memory Timings Questions...

[bob4432]

i have 2x512MB PC3200 Kingston DDR DIMMs, according to the kingston site, they are 3-4-4, CL3.

what does the 3-4-4 mean?

the board i am using is a msi k7n2delta and when i select auto for the FSB/DRAM Ratio in the bios, the memory is by default, set to 200MHz, but i am using a 333FSB/2500+Barton chip.

i manually put the memory to the same speed as the chip - 166, but under that the T-(RAS) is 7, T-(RCD) is 3, T-(RP) is 3 and CAS is 2.5. i can manually change them, but what are they supposed to be based on the memory i have?

 

[bob4432]

^^^bump^^^

 

[bob4432]

^^^bump^^^

 

[boyRacer]

Text... Memory Subsystem section

 

[bob4432]

thanks for the info.

i talked to kingston tech today and here is what they told me:

again, this is for my particular case:

if you are running stock memory settings, and since i have the valueram i am, they want you to select "STD" in the bios for the memory settings and since i have ddr400 memory, that is what it will show up as. i read somewhere, i think on the msi website to run memory at the same speed as chip, but i guess not. they also told me that with the nforce 2 chipsets, they are pretty finicky about memory and suggest one of the kits, where the memory is matched. they suggestd these for me, which is the kitted version of what i have so i am RMAing the other sticks back to them. they said different motherboards will be more/less sensitive but this is what they are recommending with the nforce 2 boards. extremely nice people, definately buy from them again.

just an fyi

weird, my biostar nforce 2 board has different sizes and no problems whatsoever....that is when they told me about certain baords and their sensitivity.

 

[boyRacer]

cool... here's another article if you want some more info...

matched sticks aren't really necessary... but they do eliminate any potential headaches. good luck.

 

[modestninja]

That is a horrible price for that RAM. There are much better deals on faster RAM (like Buffalo pc3200 or TwinMos pc3200) both of which are way faster than Kingston value, cost less, come with lifetime warranties and are highly compatible with the nforce2 chipset. Newegg sells the Buffalo and Marmaduke here at the forum does too. I would definetely recommend these two brands (they have Winbond chips) over kingston value.

Also, the matched pair thing is just a way to sell the same ram for more money.

Lastly you should run your fsb and ram in sync. You lose a lot of speed when you run your ram and fsb a different mhz. Clocking the ram lower won't hurt it (it'll actually put a little less stress on it) and should improve performance.

 

[boyRacer]

If you have a Fry's near you... they have the Corsair 1GB XMS3200LL (512 x 2) for $179 after rebate.

 

[bob4432]

That is a horrible price for that RAM.[/q}

first of all, i didn't pay that much for them, kingston was cool just to rma them for me, i paid less.

matched sticks aren't really necessary... but they do eliminate any potential headaches. good luck.

we will see about that

Also, the matched pair thing is just a way to sell the same ram for more money.

they are not making anymore money off me, and when i have looked online the prices for 2x the stick came out to what it would be if i had bought the matched pair. if i need 1GB, i will buy 2 512 sticks anyway. your comment is not correct

Lastly you should run your fsb and ram in sync. You lose a lot of speed when you run your ram and fsb a different mhz. Clocking the ram lower won't hurt it (it'll actually put a little less stress on it) and should improve performance.

the information is straight from kensington tech support. i too have read articles that suggest what you are saying, but according to them this is the answer i received.

i just thought people would like to know so they don't need to spend the time i have when dealing with this. when i get the ram and put the computer back together i will see if that fixes the problem.... like i said in my other post, just an fyi