My laptops RAM isn't running at optimum speed.

[state 08]

Well, here are my CPU-Z screens:

PIC

According to that, it should run at 166 MHz.

I go into my bios, but there is nothing that lets me OC the ram.

My laptop model is Gateway 4542GP. Is there any other way I can set the ram to run at 166 MHz?

 

[inhotep]

That is normal. My old 4520gz also ran at 266mhz. Yes they did state " 333mhz ram" but they never said it will run at 333mhz. I don't think the 855gm/gme in gateways will run at 333.
I hope that answers ur Q

 

[phaxmohdem]

Yes your processor is the older Pentium M witha 400MHz FSB. therefore the memory controller will only run at DDR2100 speeds (133MHz DDR=266MHz) I believe you have to have a DOthan chip to support DDR333 fully

 

[inhotep]

he got a 1.6a dothan I think. Most importantly, his chipset is one of those 855s that don't run at 333mhz, like my old gateway. I bet if he run sisoft sandra or something, it will tell him he has a "855gm/gme" but not either or, or both.

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Intel doesn't give the 400 FSB Pentium M's ability to run DDR333, although it would be beneficial up to DDR400. Marketing.

 

[inhotep]

Originally posted by: IvanAndreevich
Intel doesn't give the 400 FSB Pentium M's ability to run DDR333, although it would be beneficial up to DDR400. Marketing.

It is all about the chipsets. 855GM does not support 333. 855GME support 333. It has nothing to do with the CPU. It is beneficail to sale the older 855GM systems yes. This marketing tactic is very misleading.

I have a 1.7a (dothan 400mhz) and my ddr2 ram is running @400mhz.

 

[fbrdphreak]

There are a lot of misconceptions floating around here, with only a little bit of true facts.

*The processor choice (Banias vs Dothan) has nothing to do with your RAM speed, chipset only
*855GM chipsets DO NOT support DDR333 RAM, they only support DDR266 (133MHz actual clock * 2 = 266MHz effective)
*855PM & most 855GME chipsets support DDR333
*Just because you have a 400MHz FSB doesn't mean you can/should have 400MHz RAM.