Re: ACTUAL RAM SPEED
- From: VanguardLH <V@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 01:49:44 -0600
kandinsky63 wrote:
my bios is stating the following
" DIMM1 - 512MB/166MHz (DDR333)
DIMM2 - 512MB/166MHz (DDR333)"
The CPU-z memory tab shows '166.7 MHz'. However, the SPD tab(under timings)
states '200MHz'. What does this mean?
Depends on whether you have the BIOS use the SPD settings (what the
memory reports as its validated speed specs) or the BIOS is configured
to use a selected speed set. Just because SPD settings are listed
doesn't mean that is what the BIOS is actually using. You could, after
all, be overclocking your 166MHz memory by running it at 200MHz. If you
want to use the actual specs for the device (by reading AND using the
SPD specs) then you need to configure the BIOS to use the SPD values
(i.e., select "SPD detect"). Overclocking should only be done by those
intimate with their hardware, willing to burn out parts (and possibly
have to replace other charred parts), and willing to endure prolonged
testing to determine where stability suffers when overclocking is set
too extreme.
The memory modules are *rated* for continuous operation at 166MHz.
However, your BIOS has been configured to *run* them overclocked at
200MHz. Consider if you want a stable machine at a tiny loss in
performance (usually only detectable in benchmarks and not in
applications) or if you want an unstable host with a tiny performance
gain. Unless you know, practice, and are willing to suffer overclocking
experimentation, don't do it.
Manufacturers often produce parts in one assembly line that fail testing
at high specs so they sell at lower specs. Problem is that their
assembly line may have so few failures that they don't have enough to
sell at the lower spec. Many customers expect paying lower prices for
lower spec'ed parts and manufacturers must fulfill this market's wants.
So they produce their high-spec parts but label them as low-spec parts
to sell them at a lower price. However, the SPD is programmed at the
end of the assembly process and should match on the lower-spec under
which they sell the component. Those in the know about the parts by
research or personal experience might know that these low-spec parts
have a good chance of being overclocked, so they install the low-spec
parts (at a cheaper price) and then overclock them. In fact, you have
to be careful when buying, for example, a video card because many will
sell at a higher price but are actually just overclocked products. BFG
is one such video card brand that likes to sell overclocked video cards.
Be aware of any part that mentions "OC" in their product description.
They're overclocked and maybe you don't want those. A stable host is
far more valuable than one that achieve 2% to 5% performance gain which
is usually only measurable in benchmarks and not under real use.
.
- References:
- ACTUAL RAM SPEED
- From: kandinsky63
- Re: ACTUAL RAM SPEED
- From: Big_Al
- Re: ACTUAL RAM SPEED
- From: Paul
- Re: ACTUAL RAM SPEED
- From: kandinsky63
- ACTUAL RAM SPEED
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