What is my actual ram speed? HELP!

[Shoda]

What is throwing me off is the "max bandwidth 667" in CPU-Z when I look at each individual RAM. On the memory tab it shows my RAM running at 800mhz, which I know is normal, but yet, when I ran 3dMark11 it says that my ram speed is only 667mhz?

I am using 2 Mushkin Enhanced Radioactive 1600mhz 2 x 4GB kit.

So, what really is my RAM speed?

 

[N4g4rok]

Is that supposed to be two sets of DDR3 1600?

 

[Rvenger]

CPU-Z misread or you might just have overclocked 667 chips. I am running My el cheapo Gskill 1333 @ 1600 with no issues.

 

[Shoda]

Is that supposed to be two sets of DDR3 1600?

What do you mean? Looking at the screen shots you're saying that they are running at 1600 like they are supposed to?

 

[Shoda]

CPU-Z misread or you might just have overclocked 667 chips. I am running My el cheapo Gskill 1333 @ 1600 with no issues.

Sorry, forgot to mention that they are 1600 rated kit. So, they are running correctly then?

 

[N4g4rok]

What do you mean? Looking at the screen shots you're saying that they are running at 1600 like they are supposed to?

I was a little confused at the max bandwidth and the readout on JDEC #2 and 3.

What does your BIOS report your speed at? It looks like it might just be a bug with CPU-z, but it never hurts to check.

 

[razel]

RAM speed is 1600 (800mhz) and everything looks normal and appears to be working correctly.

The standand SPD (JEDEC) rated timings for your chips are a max of 667mhz. There are also XMP-1600 (800mhz) SPD rating timings which is what your RAM is currently running at. 3dmark was probably reporting the max SPD read off the chips.

Think of XMP timings as manufacturer approved and tested 'overclocks.' It was actually started by Intel.

 

[Shoda]

I was a little confused at the max bandwidth and the readout on JDEC #2 and 3.

What does your BIOS report your speed at? It looks like it might just be a bug with CPU-z, but it never hurts to check.

BIOS is reporting a speed of 1600mhz.

RAM speed is 1600 (800mhz) and everything looks normal and appears to be working correctly.

The standand SPD (JEDEC) rated timings for your chips are a max of 667mhz. There are also XMP-1600 (800mhz) SPD rating timings which is what your RAM is currently running at. 3dmark was probably reporting the max SPD read off the chips.

Think of XMP timings as manufacturer approved and tested 'overclocks.' It was actually started by Intel.

Yeah, I was thinking that since i have XMP Profile enabled that it really must be running correctly. However, I notice that when I changed from my XMP profile to a manual setting of 1600, some of the timings went down by 1? So, I am keeping it at a manual setting of 1600.

 

[razel]

However, I notice that when I changed from my XMP profile to a manual setting of 1600, some of the timings went down by 1? So, I am keeping it at a manual setting of 1600.

It's been awhile since I have overclocked RAM in the BIOS of a desktop system, but if some of the timings went down by 1, meaning it's more likely running with lower timings (faster). Since it's out of spec in an unstable way, it's a good idea to test your RAM for stability. 1 pass of Memtest is awesome at quickly finding instabilities. And if it's stable, you can continue to lower timings and re-Memtest until errors occur.

 

[Shoda]

It's been awhile since I have overclocked RAM in the BIOS of a desktop system, but if some of the timings went down by 1, meaning it's more likely running with lower timings (faster). Since it's out of spec in an unstable way, it's a good idea to test your RAM for stability. 1 pass of Memtest is awesome at quickly finding instabilities. And if it's stable, you can continue to lower timings and re-Memtest until errors occur.

Just got done running Memtest. No errors.