RAM Question

[Krez]

Hey all, I've got a question about RAM before I go buy some for my laptop. I'm trying to get a 2GB stick of DDR2 for my gateway laptop. My question is, what would be better, 2GB of 667 with a CAS Latency of 5, or 2GB of 533 with 4 CAS Latency?

What exactly does RAM speed mean? For example, what's the difference between 533 and 667? What's does CAS Latency mean? Finally, timings? I know that lower = better for CAS Latency and RAM timings and higher = better for RAM speeds, but what is the real world difference? These sound like noobish questions I know but I've never really understood the difference.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Quiksilver]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2190613&enterthread=y

 

[DSF]

The cliff notes version is that it doesn't really matter.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Krez
Hey all, I've got a question about RAM before I go buy some for my laptop. I'm trying to get a 2GB stick of DDR2 for my gateway laptop. My question is, what would be better, 2GB of 667 with a CAS Latency of 5, or 2GB of 533 with 4 CAS Latency?

What exactly does RAM speed mean? For example, what's the difference between 533 and 667? What's does CAS Latency mean? Finally, timings? I know that lower = better for CAS Latency and RAM timings and higher = better for RAM speeds, but what is the real world difference? These sound like noobish questions I know but I've never really understood the difference.

Thanks for your help.

If it'll take DDR2-533, just get that. The faster sticks are for processors that run at higher FSB speeds. Basically you don't need the extra speed because you'll not use it anyway. CAS Latency means very little nowdays.