Yet another stupid RAM question

[CDC Mail Guy]

Why would the memory show as PC3200 in BIOS, and show as PC4300 in cpuz, and I BOUGHT PC4200 RAM???

 

[imported_lavalamp]

If you are running your RAM at 200MHz then it is running at DDR400. With a 64 bit memory bus, that's 64 bits (8 bytes) per clock, which gives a total memory bandwidth of 3200 MB/s.

Just because you have PC4300 RAM doesn't mean that it's operating at 4300 MB/s. That just means that the RAM can run up to DDR533 (PC4300), but since your FSB is set to 200 MHz it's only operating at DDR400 (PC3200). To operate at DDR533, your FSB speed would need to be 266MHz, however don't just go into your BIOS and set it to that, because the chances are your PC wouldn't boot.

DDR RAM that is rated at greater than PC3200 is basically for overclockers, because it guarantees that the RAM will be able to keep up with the FSB increase.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: lavalamp
If you are running your RAM at 200MHz then it is running at DDR400. With a 64 bit memory bus, that's 64 bits (8 bytes) per clock, which gives a total memory bandwidth of 3200 MB/s.

Just because you have PC4300 RAM doesn't mean that it's operating at 4300 MB/s. That just means that the RAM can run up to DDR533 (PC4300), but since your FSB is set to 200 MHz it's only operating at DDR400 (PC3200). To operate at DDR533, your FSB speed would need to be 266MHz, however don't just go into your BIOS and set it to that, because the chances are your PC wouldn't boot.

DDR RAM that is rated at greater than PC3200 is basically for overclockers, because it guarantees that the RAM will be able to keep up with the FSB increase.

Half true, ram rated higher than PC3200 is for overclockers IF it's DDR, but if it's DDR2 then it's most likely low grade or 'value' memory.

 

[Rubycon]

Use CT or CPU info to get real timings. Most of the time the BIOS will round up or down to the nearest "popular" speed rating. Some boards also mis-read serial presence detect information and set timings incorrectly.

 

[imported_lavalamp]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: lavalamp
If you are running your RAM at 200MHz then it is running at DDR400. With a 64 bit memory bus, that's 64 bits (8 bytes) per clock, which gives a total memory bandwidth of 3200 MB/s.

Just because you have PC4300 RAM doesn't mean that it's operating at 4300 MB/s. That just means that the RAM can run up to DDR533 (PC4300), but since your FSB is set to 200 MHz it's only operating at DDR400 (PC3200). To operate at DDR533, your FSB speed would need to be 266MHz, however don't just go into your BIOS and set it to that, because the chances are your PC wouldn't boot.

DDR RAM that is rated at greater than PC3200 is basically for overclockers, because it guarantees that the RAM will be able to keep up with the FSB increase.

Half true, ram rated higher than PC3200 is for overclockers IF it's DDR, but if it's DDR2 then it's most likely low grade or 'value' memory.

Completely true, I said DDR not DDR2. DDR2 RAM wouldn't be rated as PC3200 anyway, it's much more likely to be PC2 6400 or some such.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: lavalamp

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: lavalamp
If you are running your RAM at 200MHz then it is running at DDR400. With a 64 bit memory bus, that's 64 bits (8 bytes) per clock, which gives a total memory bandwidth of 3200 MB/s.

Just because you have PC4300 RAM doesn't mean that it's operating at 4300 MB/s. That just means that the RAM can run up to DDR533 (PC4300), but since your FSB is set to 200 MHz it's only operating at DDR400 (PC3200). To operate at DDR533, your FSB speed would need to be 266MHz, however don't just go into your BIOS and set it to that, because the chances are your PC wouldn't boot.

DDR RAM that is rated at greater than PC3200 is basically for overclockers, because it guarantees that the RAM will be able to keep up with the FSB increase.

Half true, ram rated higher than PC3200 is for overclockers IF it's DDR, but if it's DDR2 then it's most likely low grade or 'value' memory.

Completely true, I said DDR not DDR2. DDR2 RAM wouldn't be rated as PC3200 anyway, it's much more likely to be PC2 6400 or some such.

Huh? The op says hes got ram that is PC4200, there is no enthusiest ram for DDR1 that is 'rated' for PC4200 to my knowledge, PC4000 yes, PC4400 yes, but 4200 no. PC4200 would have to be DDR2.

And yes believe it or not, they DO have PC3200 DDR2 memory
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The bios is running at a slower speed for god know what reason but what we do know is that the OP purchased spec rated PC4200 and the bios is running 3200. THE OP HAS DDR2 unless the OP can prove otherwise.

 

[imported_lavalamp]

Perhaps it wasn't obvious enough, but I wrote PC2 6400, note the 2. The second number wasn't important to the point I was making, so I merely chose the most common memory bandwidth for DDR2 RAM. For DDR2 400 RAM, it would be PC2 3200, however I have not seen any DDR2 RAM at less than PC2 5400.

About PC4200 RAM though, I have 1GB (2x512) of DDR533 PC4200 RAM in my file server.

Edit: That link you posted was to server memory, it could be used in a desktop providing the motherboard supports ECC, but really, no-one would because it's more expensive for a pretty slim gain.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

But still despite what the BIOS reads, CPUZ shows RAM to be PC4300 when I BOUGHT 4200...with max MHz as 266. Which is more accurate, BIOS or CPUZ?

Also, I have a Prescott 3.6 OC'd to 15% (4.15GHZ), making my FSB 230.5, and my Bus Speed 921.8.

 

[imported_lavalamp]

That number is never accurate, it's always rounded to a hundred. Just seems like CPUZ rounded up and your memory manufacturer rounded down.

When calculating memory speed for DDR (and in fact DDR2 onwards as well), it's just frequency * 2 * 8. So your current memory bandwidth is 230.5 * 2 * 8 = 3688 MB/s, and that's all that matters as far as that goes.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

What ever. I guess all that matters is that my PC is running FLAWLESSLY. I get good FPS in Call Of Duty, and I can play F.E.A.R. now. The 2Gigs of (whatever speed) RAM has helped. I can encode and burn a FULL DVD from my DL'ed files in about 45 minutes, so it's all good. It figures that MATH would have to figure into all of this Anyway...thanks all! (again)

 

[imported_lavalamp]

Not particulaly hard maths though, just simple multiplication. Maths features in oveclocking the CPU too, you didn't seem to have any problems with that.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

Originally posted by: lavalamp
Not particulaly hard maths though, just simple multiplication. Maths features in oveclocking the CPU too, you didn't seem to have any problems with that.

I know it's not that hard. I forget I'm typing and no one can hear the sarcasm Anyway, OC'ing the CPU was easy, I just went up by 5% till I got to 15 in the BIOS. Now, if I can just figure this Acronis out...

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: lavalamp
Perhaps it wasn't obvious enough, but I wrote PC2 6400, note the 2. The second number wasn't important to the point I was making, so I merely chose the most common memory bandwidth for DDR2 RAM. For DDR2 400 RAM, it would be PC2 3200, however I have not seen any DDR2 RAM at less than PC2 5400.

About PC4200 RAM though, I have 1GB (2x512) of DDR533 PC4200 RAM in my file server.

Edit: That link you posted was to server memory, it could be used in a desktop providing the motherboard supports ECC, but really, no-one would because it's more expensive for a pretty slim gain.

What are you babbling about?

Text

There you go, PC4200, is that better for you?
It doesn't matter if I say PC2 or PC, it's the same idea, everybody knows that when I say PC6400 memory that I'm talking about DDR2. You're obviously clueless as you believe that because it's server memory that they never had that speed of ram for the consumer desktop sector.

The OP has PC4200 or "PC24200 memory, the bios detects 3200, thats the end of it, the problem with the OP's post is we have no idea what processor and motherboard he has.

Lol, do you even know WHY some memory is PC2 and other is PC? They had to create a distinction because the memory speeds from both DDR and DDR2 over lap, it gets confusing for low end DDR2 and high end DDR modules if you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

Guys...I'm REALLY not worth fighting over! lol