Am I getting the most out of my RAM?

[Akumos]

Hello

I was looking through CPU-Z and found that it gives you information on you memory as well. I noticed it showed my RAM speed as being 533MHz when it's advertised as 1600MHz and the motherboard has a 1600MHz FSB... Is this normal? Thanks!!

 

[n-ster]

533mhz is really 1066mhz... all you have to do is set it to 1600 (800mhz) in the BIOS with the correct voltage and timings

 

[Akumos]

Cool thanks for the quick reply n-ster, i'll do that now!

 

[n-ster]

After you finish putting factory speeds/timings/voltages, it is time to Overclock! If you are scared of overclocking or something, you could always overclock only on stock voltages...

 

[Akumos]

Already done my processor. Got a Q6600 @ 3.00GHz on 1.4v.

Can't find anything in the BIOS to directly change memory frequency though..i get these options:

System Memory Multiplyer (SPD) with options such as Auto, 2.50A, 3.00A, 4.00A, 2.00D, 2.66D... etc

then about 10 options regarding timings but no idea how to do that!!

 

[n-ster]

What's your FSB atm? 9x333

If you change the multiplier, does it change anything on th line after? (mem frequency)

If so, can't you change it until it says 1600?

 

[Akumos]

na, 362.5, multiplyer is on 8 so got a processor speed of 2.9 atm...

this affecting the ram?

 

[crazy pyro]

Yep, FSB affects the speed of your RAM, if you double your FSB you get the actual speed of your RAM (well, you do for DDR2 anyway), you can use RAM dividers to allow a lower FSB to have a higher speed.

 

[n-ster]

It changes the ration DRAM:FSB.... If you change the multiplier, does it change anything on th line after? (mem frequency)

If so, can't you change it until it says 1600?

 

[hat]

Yeah, 533MHz is the base clock speed that your ram is running at. You double that to get the DDR speed of the ram (which is 1066).

 

[Agility]

The multiplier is FSB X ( Your options. Either 2.00,2.33 .etc)

So if your FSB 363 (Round up), try 2.33. You should be getting 845Mhz ( Which is 1700mhz for your ram). Play around with your FSB or ratio.

Just remember. Your FSB X (Multipler) then X 2 again to get the exact Mhz your ram is running.

If you still don't understand, try this website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_divider

 

[pbmaster]

It's DDR3, which 533 x 3 = 1600..which is exactly correct.
Technically 1599.9...but close enough

 

[hat]

I don't think DDR3 uses an x3 multiplier.

 

[Agility]

DDR = Double Data Rate (Something like that. Correct me if i'm wrong).

The extra number after DDR is just the version of what type its running. So DDR4 or 5 is still X2. Unless you're talking about TDR? (Triple Data rate?) which isn't even planned yet.

 

[pbmaster]

Oh well. Made sense to me lol

 

[hat]

Well, GDDR5 uses an x4 multi... and if his RAM is running at 533MHz base clock and it's 1600MHz ram you might have something there pbmaster.

Any DDR3 memory gurus want to chime in?

 

[Agility]

GDDR is meant for graphics card. Our rams are using DDR. GDDR was never meant to be on the mobo.

GDDR = Graphics Double Data Rate specifically for graphics card.

 

[hat]

I know that, I was just saying that it may be possible for DDR3 to use a x3 multiplier because other memory (GDDR5) has an x4 multiplier.

 

[Agility]

Well, our DDR is always 2X. Try this. (Look at the diagram)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR3_SDRAM
Should clear your doubts =)

 

[Mussels]

all thats happening is that his ram needs to be manually set.

It probably runs 1066 on stock voltages, but needs to be overvolted to do 1600 - since ram cant automatically raise voltages, it defaults to 1066 so you dont get a no-boot scenario when you first plug it in.

 

[newtekie1]

You are looking at the wrong tab in CPU-z.

The SPD tab shows you the information that is flashed to the SPD chip by the manufacturer. Nothing on that tab tells you what speed the RAM is actually running at.

The "Memory" tab shows you what speed and timings the RAM is actually running at.

 

[hat]

It would seem that you have 1066 ram due to the PC rating. For example PC6400 is DDR800. Divide the PC rating by 8 to get the DDR rating. PC6400/8 would be DDR800, and PC8500/8 would be 1062.5 (pretty much 1066)

 

[Mussels]

It would seem that you have 1066 ram due to the PC rating. For example PC6400 is DDR800. Divide the PC rating by 8 to get the DDR rating. PC6400/8 would be DDR800, and PC8500/8 would be 1062.5 (pretty much 1066)

his ram also has SPD timings for 1400MHz, which is why i think those are just "default" safe values.

I've got samsung DDR2 here, which is 1110MHz ram, but since it requires 2.1V it wont boot in most PC's unless you raise the voltages before putting it in. If that ram booted at 800MHz, it would be stable, allowing you to manually set it to 1066/1110 later.

 

[newtekie1]

It would seem that you have 1066 ram due to the PC rating. For example PC6400 is DDR800. Divide the PC rating by 8 to get the DDR rating. PC6400/8 would be DDR800, and PC8500/8 would be 1062.5 (pretty much 1066)

He has 1333 RAM, it has SPD tables for up to 1333, that is why you see an entry for 686 in the SPD tables. The max bandwidth is set lower for compatibility with boards that wont boot at higher than 533 without adjustments.

his ram also has SPD timings for 1400MHz, which is why i think those are just "default" safe values.

I've got samsung DDR2 here, which is 1110MHz ram, but since it requires 2.1V it wont boot in most PC's unless you raise the voltages before putting it in. If that ram booted at 800MHz, it would be stable, allowing you to manually set it to 1066/1110 later.

Correct. As long as it has a SPD or EPP entry for the higher speeds, it doesn't matter what is in the Max Bandwidth field.