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Shadow_Homfixr · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:12 am Post subject: Bad Ram or timing?

I was noticing things didn't run so smooth on this new machine so I checked the ram using CPU_Z and I see that it has two different timings maybe different on each stick? I'm not sure what I'm looking at

. Some explanation on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

This ram is suppose to 5-5-5-18 and not sure about the voltage. I'm not sure what the 4-4-4-13 is.

bsmart · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

The two memory sticks are different speeds. What does the machines spec sheet say is required. As long as the memory meets that requirement it shouldn't matter if it is faster but I have always believed in putting matched memory into a machine

As a quick opinion I believe stick 1 is below requirements at 270MHz.

Shadow_Bshwackr · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

I agree with Bob. Both sticks should match IMO or at the very least come closer than those are. A computer by default will 'slow' down the faster ram to the slower rams speed, so in fact you're running at the slower less optimal speed.

Kitform · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

And yet, I don't see a problem with Homey's ram.

I see a matched pair or closely matched sticks of 2gig each running in dual access mode at a FSB of 800MHz Total 4gig on-board.

IIRC 1.8v is correct for that type of Corsair ram sticks.

Shadow_Homfixr · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:23 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

But both of these were bought as a matched pair. Bought at the same time in the same package. Shocked

So maybe one stick is bad? Mobo supports up to 1066mhz ram..these are were supposed to be 800 mhz but I see them running slower than that. MoBo ASUS M2N-SLI Deuxe supports :

Dual channel memory architecture
4 x 240-pin DIMM, support max. 8GB DDR2 800/667/533 ECC and non-ECC, un-buffered memory

MOBO Specs here:

usa.asus.com/product.a...ap7crpBaQE

I know I said it supports 1066 and it is suppose to with the new BIOS that is installed but this ram is supposed to be only 800 which should be fine.

Ram is :

Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB)

Kitform · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:30 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

Shadow_Homfixr wrote:

Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB)

And that's exactly what you've got IMHO.

Although your mobo is capable of a FSB of 1066MHz, the memory fitted is only capable of a speed of 800MHz.

Therefore 2x400MHz = a FSB of 800MHz

bsmart · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:56 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

Doesn't the one screen say that stick one is only checking out as 270 Mhz? That bothers me. If the two sticks were part of the same package I would be talking with whoever I bought them from.

I'll admit I don't know Corsair that well (I've seen them at the local store but that's all) When I was putting machines together (mainly laptops) I preferred Kingston or PNY but it has been more years than I want to think about since I did that on a regular basis

Shades · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

Homey, I've had this before with Asus auto detection (on my soon-to-be-replaced current system in fact).

I bought 2 sticks of DDR2 4-4-4-12 but my BIOS auto-detected both at 5-5-5-15.
Nothing would work.
Wouldn't even boot properly and, when it did, it would shut down shortly after.
Took me ages to figure it out and even then I couldn't do it on my own.

In the end I manually configured the timings in my BIOS and it's run fine since.

Well, actually it hasn't. It's been a pile of poo. But that's mostly down to Vista, not the memory.

[edit: I see what Bob's talking about now (not used CPU-Z before). They do appear to be two different sticks, which are not even the same RAM, let alone 'matched. The first column is the memory stick in slot 1, the second column is slot 2.]

Kitform · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

The JEDEC figures are just the timings that the ram will operate at, in the case of Corsair ram you get the lower figure and the higher figure.
The older version of cpuz also gave an EPP figure which should be the same frequency as the higher JEDEC figure.

Running the memory at a lower FSB (JEDEC#1) has lower clocks per cycle,
4-4-4-13. Running at a higher frequency (JEDEC#2) will give you clocks of 5-5-5-18.
If the EPP figure was displayed it would probably read in the order of 4-4-4-12
(The above timings are taken from my machine, not Homey's info above)

Using the SPD tab gives indepth info on each stick of ram, as I look at Homey's specs...I see two identical DDR2 2gig sticks, one in slot 1 and one in slot 3.
The better tab to use to see the actual speed of the memory is the memory tab Smile

This will show how both memory sticks are seen by the mobo.

Since the memory is running in dual channel mode the DRAM frequency is shown at half the actual speed of the FSB.

Shadow_Homfixr · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

So Kit what u are saying is all is fine with the ram? Every now and again I'm getting like a lag situation when I'm running JOPS but I know is isn't lag. It's like the video just skips a beat or two. I noticed this also when watching videos on you tube and other sites. I have two 9800 GT in SLI mode and 12 megs down and 3 megs up on the net so I didn't figure it was lag. My other puter which has almost the same specs as this one except for MOBO runs smooooth with Windows 7 Ultimate but this one is kinda quirky at times. Anyway I'll keep checking things and the ram was the first idea so on to other ideas. Thnx for the info guys even tho I didn't understand most of it...lol.

Shades · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

Gotcha Kit.
Be ready for my attempts at overclocking my new system.
Might need you on standby.
Can never get the hang of timings.

Razz

Kitform · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

As far as I'm concerned you don't have a problem with your memory.

It look like there is a bit of confusion as to the info that cpuz is producing...The JEDEC#1 and JEDEC#2 figures apply only to the ram stick in slot one and again apply only to the ram stick installed in slot 3.

It is not showing you that one stick of memory is running at 270MHz and the other stick is running at 400MHz.

They are both running at 400MHz with a timing of 5-5-5-18
When you look at your memory tab you see each stick of ram is running at 400MHz with an overall timing of 5-5-5-18 with a clock cycle of 23.
Since you are running thr ram in dual channel mode, your front side bus is running at 800MHz.

I don't see a problem with it at all.

Now the glitches/stutters you get in jops.
With your machine specs you obviously wouldn't expect to get glitches on the graphics when playing games, especially jops.

There are IMHO three reasons why you may get graphical issues...

You first have to determine what the fault is...Is it lag...Is it graphics...Or is it sound...

Lag...
Doesn't matter how big you bandwidth is...The key factor is PING.
You could have 50meg up and down but if you have a high ping your going to get lag.

Graphics...
Normally cured by running the latest video drivers for your graphics card.
One vendor may not suit all, Geforce drivers seem the best.

Sound...
This for me is probably the cause of your glitches/stutters...You have on-board sound...It's a killer for games unless you can manage it properly.
Make sure you have the latest drivers installed.
Run DXDIAG and go to each sound tab in turn and reduce the slider down to basic acceleration.
Go into the game and reduce the sound quality to about 22KHz, you won't notice the difference.

If you have done all the above then I would expect your graphical issues to be resolved.

Shadow_Homfixr · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:36 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

Cool Thnx Kit! I'll give that a go. I have latest drivers for my graphic cards and I install the latest drivers for my sound last week and I could not get my mic to work so I reverted back to the old drivers for the sound. I'll let you know the outcome in a few days as I won't have time to play JOPS till I get project done for my grand babies.

Kitform · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:04 am Post subject: Re: Bad Ram or timing?

bsmart wrote:

Doesn't the one screen say that stick one is only checking out as 270 Mhz? That bothers me. If the two sticks were part of the same package I would be talking with whoever I bought them from.

Hi Bob,
If you look in the top left of the 1st pic Homey posted, you'll see that it's slot 1 that's providing the info only.
The second pic is only for slot 3 ram.
If you compare JEDEC timing between both pics, that is JEDEC#1 pic 1 and JEDEC#1 pic two, you'll see they are identical, likewise JEDEC#2 between both pics is also identical.

cpuz provides timing for the two JEDEC frequencies and it depends on how fast the FSB is running as to how close to the optimum 'clocks' you can achieve.

In all honesty, we are only concerned with how fast we can run the FSB as a fast FSB equates to a 'fast' computer since CPU to MMU has always been a bottle neck.

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