Guide to RAM

[Royicus]

Yea, I can type a little something up about that, hand picked ESs, and I suppose you can edit into the thread. I should have a little time after I get home from class today, so I'll hit ya with a PM about it later tonight (my time )

[WildStyle]

Ok I added it to your middle post. In between brand awareness and conclusion.

Just a quick note that won't really affect anyone, but I'm leaving for a long vacation in a few days and am determined not to visit the forums! So if you should decide to post a question here, I won't reply. Not because I'm ignoring you, simply because I won't know if you've posted. Royicus should be around though, and he knows his stuff.

[Peidof]

hi there i got 2 of these modules 512MB 400MHz DDR Non-ECC CL3 (3-3-3) DIMM and i need someone to help me get more "speed" from my ram please help maybe these pic will help

Attachment 427

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Attachment 430


thanks

[Royicus]

First things first, welcome to Guru3d Forums!

This isn't what you asked for, but I thought I'd mention it. You'll see a performance boost if you run your RAM at the actual 200MHz that it is rated for. You will have to set the timings to 3-3-3-8 though. Those timings are really bad. I'm guessing you didn't do much reading about RAM before you got them. I don't think that RAM will overclock much, if at all. You might be able to get 205 or 210.

If you want to overclock and are somewhat serious about it, you should return that RAM and get stuff with better ICs. I recommend you give the RAM sticky a read. That will kind of inform you about what is out there, and what to get if you want to overclock.

Generally, a set of 2x512Mb of overclocking RAM will run you around $140 or so.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but hey, it's the truth.

So what you can do in the meantime is set your RAM to the proper frequency. That tab in CPUZ that says "memory" has a field called "frequency." That frequency should read 200MHz, twice what it is right now.

[AJ²06]

Oh hey there...
I got a pair of Corsair CMX512-3200C2PRO rated to run at 2.5-3-3-6 on AMD platforms, and I was wondering how far these bad boyz will go when overclocking, like what kinds of chips do they have? I know a lot of factors are involved in overclocking but I just want a rough guess... ALSO I heard running 3 sticks of ram on an AMD64 platform is a NO NO for overclocking stability... is that true? I also have a pair of Kingston PC4000 [512Mb] ram sticks and if I bought another one would it go good with an AMD64 mobo... Im trying to hit 240MHz at least and I want at least 1.5G of ram on my upcoming computer... Hopefully I dont sound too confusing... Anywhoo... Thanx.

[Peidof]

thanks Roycius

[Royicus]

Sure, no problem Peidof. Glad to help.

AJ²06', you are asking a pretty specific question there. I'm not sure exactly what ICs are used on the CMX512-3200C2 Pro, and a quick google search didn't turn up any results for me. Seeing as how they are not listed in the database over at xtremesystems, where I usually go to see what ICs are in what RAM, I don't think they are anything particularly special. With that said, you can usually hit somewhere around 210 - 220 with sticks like that. But since I don't know what the ICs are, I can't say for sure.

Your Kingston PC4000 RAM sounds promising. As for overclocking with 1.5GB installed in 3x512MB sticks, that isn't really recommended. I can come up with a little example. Imagine that you are listening to a song. Now, play another song at the same time. It has become harder to listen to the songs, but you still kind of can. Then, introduce another one. The more songs introduced, the harder they are to listen to. The same is true with memory. There are one sided and two sided RAM sticks. Running 4x512MB of one sided RAM is ok, since you are reading a total of 4 sides. But running 4x512MB of two sided RAM means you have 8 sides to read, and that is a lot. This is what forces the 2T command rate. Running 3x512 of double sided memory, I'm not quite sure. I wouldn't recommend it for an overclocking configuration, on the sole basis of adding more sides of RAM.

By the way, I've seen a single sided 512MB stick, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. After all, it would be just one side of a 1GB stick.

So in the end, yes, it is worse to run a 3x512MB configuration for overclocking. However, they will run fine at normal frequencies, but you might need a 2T command rate, I'm not exactly sure. You'd have to try it and see.

[AJ²06]

Originally Posted by Royicus

Sure, no problem Peidof. Glad to help.

AJ²06', you are asking a pretty specific question there. I'm not sure exactly what ICs are used on the CMX512-3200C2 Pro, and a quick google search didn't turn up any results for me. Seeing as how they are not listed in the database over at xtremesystems, where I usually go to see what ICs are in what RAM, I don't think they are anything particularly special. With that said, you can usually hit somewhere around 210 - 220 with sticks like that. But since I don't know what the ICs are, I can't say for sure.

Your Kingston PC4000 RAM sounds promising. As for overclocking with 1.5GB installed in 3x512MB sticks, that isn't really recommended. I can come up with a little example. Imagine that you are listening to a song. Now, play another song at the same time. It has become harder to listen to the songs, but you still kind of can. Then, introduce another one. The more songs introduced, the harder they are to listen to. The same is true with memory. There are one sided and two sided RAM sticks. Running 4x512MB of one sided RAM is ok, since you are reading a total of 4 sides. But running 4x512MB of two sided RAM means you have 8 sides to read, and that is a lot. This is what forces the 2T command rate. Running 3x512 of double sided memory, I'm not quite sure. I wouldn't recommend it for an overclocking configuration, on the sole basis of adding more sides of RAM.

By the way, I've seen a single sided 512MB stick, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. After all, it would be just one side of a 1GB stick.

So in the end, yes, it is worse to run a 3x512MB configuration for overclocking. However, they will run fine at normal frequencies, but you might need a 2T command rate, I'm not exactly sure. You'd have to try it and see.

Ohhh... I see. THAXN for the help. So the way to go is buying a 1Gig pc4000 ram stick and using it with the PC4000 512 one I have?

[Royicus]

Well, you won't be running dual channel that way, and that will hurt performance. To run dual channel you need the same amount of RAM installed in each memory bank. If you have the money, I'd recommend 2x1GB sticks. If you don't, then perhaps you can hold off until you do. However, it is always better to have more RAM, albiet at a slower speed, then to have faster RAM but use up all of it.

By the way, what platform to you intend to run this on? AXP or A64?

[AJ²06]

Im thinkin of buying this for a future A 64 system... Oh and ya I'll look into the 2x1Gb sticks....

[AJ²06]

Oh earlier in the thread I talked to Wild about some Corsair ram [The one on the left here <<<]... and it wont go past 190MHz at 2.7 volts... Everytime I put it at 200 it fails the memtests... Whats goin on??? Do u think its incompatible in dual channel with my motherboard... more volts... or what?
THANX

[horse]

I've got 4x512 Corsair running in duel channel, but they are only running at a frequency of 161 compared to when I had 2x512 which ran at 200 (as shown in CPU-Z). Is this a common problem with 4 sticks?

cheers,
horse

[Royicus]

Ok, this is for AJ²06's question. Try running each stick seperately at 200MHz. If that works, and they don't work together, then I'm inclined to say that there is a problem with your motherboard. It either doesn't like running that memory in dual channel, or won't run at that frequency in dual channel. This problem isn't unheard of. I had an Epox 8RDA3+ that wouldn't do 200MHz dual channel. Always bonked out at 193MHz, and I could never find out why. Hence, the reason why I got an NF7-S.

So yes, try them seperately and see what happens. I imagine WildStyle already told you that Your RAM should run dual channel with the recommended voltage no problem. I imagine that is 2.6 or 2.7. I can't see them needing any more than 2.8.

[Royicus]

Alright horse, your turn

It is a very common issue to have RAM clock down to 166MHz when running four sticks of RAM. The motherboad automatically sets this. Imagine that you are listening to a song. Then, someone plays another song simultaneously. Then, another, and another. You could listen to two songs at the same time, sorta, but when you play more at once, then you start running into problems. Same type thing with your RAM.

Now, what you could do is set your RAM to run 200MHz and set your command rate to 2T. That should enable you to run 200MHz, but of course you'll have to stability test that to make sure.

[AJ²06]

Originally Posted by Royicus

Ok, this is for AJ²06's question. Try running each stick seperately at 200MHz. If that works, and they don't work together, then I'm inclined to say that there is a problem with your motherboard. It either doesn't like running that memory in dual channel, or won't run at that frequency in dual channel. This problem isn't unheard of. I had an Epox 8RDA3+ that wouldn't do 200MHz dual channel. Always bonked out at 193MHz, and I could never find out why. Hence, the reason why I got an NF7-S.

So yes, try them seperately and see what happens. I imagine WildStyle already told you that Your RAM should run dual channel with the recommended voltage no problem. I imagine that is 2.6 or 2.7. I can't see them needing any more than 2.8.

OK... I have tried testing them single, and it still produces [but significantly less] problems in memtest... SO maybe my mobo just doesnt like them... I shall keep them and see if they like the A64 mobo I guess... cuz it is some sweet ram.
ps. these are rated 2.75v...

[Triple-Q]

sry how can i see what kind of ram i have on aida?

[Royicus]

How can you see what kind of RAM you have on aida? I'm not sure what that is. However, You could open your case and see what writing you find on the RAM in the form of a sticker, or the markings and physical properties of the ICs themselves. What are you trying to determine? Whether kind of RAM you have, like SDRAM, DDR-SDRAM, or RAMBUS? Or are you looking for PCB and IC information?

[horse]

Originally Posted by Royicus

Alright horse, your turn

It is a very common issue to have RAM clock down to 166MHz when running four sticks of RAM. The motherboad automatically sets this. Imagine that you are listening to a song. Then, someone plays another song simultaneously. Then, another, and another. You could listen to two songs at the same time, sorta, but when you play more at once, then you start running into problems. Same type thing with your RAM.

Now, what you could do is set your RAM to run 200MHz and set your command rate to 2T. That should enable you to run 200MHz, but of course you'll have to stability test that to make sure.

Cheers, I'll give it a go.

edit:

Argh, couldn't find the command rate in the BIOS, all of the other RAM options were there though. Attempted to change other settings, this led to windows not booting, had to use system restore.

[Royicus]

Hmm. Let me take a look at your BIOS....

Well, I just combed through the manual for the motherboard in your system specs, and I didn't even see a place to adjust the memory timings, much less the command rate. Interesting...

[G L]

Gigabyte is ever fond of hiding the advanced options with ctrl-F1... not sure if timings end up hiddlen along with overclocking options but if so they wouldn't be in the manual.

[Royicus]

Hmm, that sounds very familiar. horse, that sounds like what you should do, that is, see if you can't find those memory timing options with ctrl_F1.

Thanks for the tip G L. I've not worked with any Gigabyte motherboards, so that idea didn't come to mind.

Interesting that they wouldn't even mention it in the manual. Kind of tricky, methinks.

[Triple-Q]

i need to see what kind of ram i have... im gonna buy one gig ram.

aida is a program so you can see what you have in your system what graphics card and what motherboard but then like in all details. its being used by system administrators .

i wanna know that i have like SDRAM, DDR-SDRAM, or RAMBUS so i can buy a 1 gig ram for my system.

now i have 256 mb ram so you know why i need it dont laugh lol

[Royicus]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,5948,00.asp

From that link, it says that your computer uses DDR SDRAM. So, go out and pick yourself up some 184pin DDR-SDRAM and it should be fine. The speed and timings don't really matter as I'm sure they will run with the PC2100 that you have right now.

[Triple-Q]

ddr sdram?

it says ddr ram lol im gonna get me one gig thx man!

im gonna buy me a new computer but i just like to upgrade this computer

yes 256 is awfully miserable low LOL

and my graphics card isnt that bad i can play doom 3 at highest settings with ofcourse 640 resolution with ofcourse tweaks and rivaturner and nv tweak lol

so is it ddr ram or ddr sdram cause it says ddr ram could you explain to me?

[Royicus]

meh, DDR RAM is fine. Althoug the full name is DDR SDRAM. Anyway, it is 184 pins, and it is pretty common top find. Regular DDRI memory. Don't get DDRII stuff, or regular SDRAM or RAMBUS or something.


DDR RAM = DDR SDRAM