PC 3200 RAM Question

[Atreju]

I have what I thought was 400 MHz RAM. Crucial Technology PC3200. It
is Dual Channel. But this program called CPU-Z is reporting it as 200
MHz. Is there a faster version which is 400 MHz or is it referred to
400 MHz because it is dual channel?

Please clarify for me.


---Atreju---

 

[Dave C.]

I have what I thought was 400 MHz RAM. Crucial Technology PC3200. It
is Dual Channel. But this program called CPU-Z is reporting it as 200
MHz. Is there a faster version which is 400 MHz or is it referred to
400 MHz because it is dual channel?

Please clarify for me.


---Atreju---

It is DUAL DATA RATE (DDR400) which runs at clock speed of 200MHz. Nothing
wrong with your RAM. -Dave

 

[Dave C.]

I have what I thought was 400 MHz RAM. Crucial Technology PC3200. It
is Dual Channel. But this program called CPU-Z is reporting it as 200
MHz. Is there a faster version which is 400 MHz or is it referred to
400 MHz because it is dual channel?

Please clarify for me.

OH, dual channel has nothing to do with RAM. "Dual Channel" is technology
incorporated into certain mainboards. Any RAM can be run in "dual channel"
mode, if the RAM is compatible with a motherboard that happens to be able to
run RAM in "dual channel" mode. If you really bought RAM that is "dual
channel" then it's likely you paid too much for it. Several RAM
manufacturers have been using "dual channel" as a marketing gimmick. A RAM
manufacturer claiming that RAM is dual channel is like a tire manufacturer
claiming that a tire is 150MPH. Well, the tire might be able to handle
that, but only if the CAR it's installed on can DO 150MPH. So if you pay
extra for a 150MPH tire for a Yugo, you just got ripped off. In the same
way, if you pay extra for RAM because it is "dual channel", then you just
got ripped off. Especially considering that RAM conforms to certain other
specifications which are STANDARD. There is NO difference between (two
sticks of) PC3200 RAM and (two sticks of) PC3200 "dual channel" RAM, if all
other specifications are equal. Yet you will often find the latter two
sticks costing more, and advertised as "dual channel". -Dave

 

[Atreju]

SNIP

OH, dual channel has nothing to do with RAM. "Dual Channel" is technology
incorporated into certain mainboards. Any RAM can be run in "dual channel"
mode, if the RAM is compatible with a motherboard that happens to be able to
run RAM in "dual channel" mode. If you really bought RAM that is "dual
channel" then it's likely you paid too much for it. Several RAM
manufacturers have been using "dual channel" as a marketing gimmick. A RAM
manufacturer claiming that RAM is dual channel is like a tire manufacturer
claiming that a tire is 150MPH. Well, the tire might be able to handle
that, but only if the CAR it's installed on can DO 150MPH. So if you pay
extra for a 150MPH tire for a Yugo, you just got ripped off. In the same
way, if you pay extra for RAM because it is "dual channel", then you just
got ripped off. Especially considering that RAM conforms to certain other
specifications which are STANDARD. There is NO difference between (two
sticks of) PC3200 RAM and (two sticks of) PC3200 "dual channel" RAM, if all
other specifications are equal. Yet you will often find the latter two
sticks costing more, and advertised as "dual channel". -Dave

Nah, it wasn't advertised like that I was just reading the readout on
the program. It obviously incorporates certain characteristics of the
memory and motherboard to put the information together.

I bought Crucial RAM, and I most definitely did not overpay. They are
the best.

This is what I got:
2qty 512 MB DDR PC3200 • CL=3 • Unbuffered • ECC • 5ns • 2.5V • 64Meg
x 72


Thanks for the info I think that's what I thought.


---Atreju---

 

[Michael Hawes]

I have what I thought was 400 MHz RAM. Crucial Technology PC3200. It
is Dual Channel. But this program called CPU-Z is reporting it as 200
MHz. Is there a faster version which is 400 MHz or is it referred to
400 MHz because it is dual channel?

Please clarify for me.


---Atreju---

What CPU? The FSB can be called 200, but DDRAM runs at Double the clock,
which gives 400.
Mike.

 

[cowboyz]

OH, dual channel has nothing to do with RAM. "Dual Channel" is technology
incorporated into certain mainboards. Any RAM can be run in "dual
channel" mode, if the RAM is compatible with a motherboard that happens to
be able to run RAM in "dual channel" mode. If you really bought RAM that
is "dual channel" then it's likely you paid too much for it. Several RAM
manufacturers have been using "dual channel" as a marketing gimmick. A
RAM manufacturer claiming that RAM is dual channel is like a tire
manufacturer claiming that a tire is 150MPH. Well, the tire might be able
to handle that, but only if the CAR it's installed on can DO 150MPH. So
if you pay extra for a 150MPH tire for a Yugo, you just got ripped off.
In the same way, if you pay extra for RAM because it is "dual channel",
then you just got ripped off. Especially considering that RAM conforms to
certain other specifications which are STANDARD. There is NO difference
between (two sticks of) PC3200 RAM and (two sticks of) PC3200 "dual
channel" RAM, if all other specifications are equal. Yet you will often
find the latter two sticks costing more, and advertised as "dual
hannel". -Dave

Which reminds me of a shop I saw the other day selling 512Meg PC3200 for
NZ$150 (which is actually quite reasonable) or 1024Meg "Dual Channel" PC3200
kit ( 2x512) for NZ$600.

It would have been funny if it wasn't so sad.

 

[#]

I have what I thought was 400 MHz RAM. Crucial Technology PC3200. It
is Dual Channel. But this program called CPU-Z is reporting it as 200
MHz. Is there a faster version which is 400 MHz or is it referred to
400 MHz because it is dual channel?

Please clarify for me.

---Atreju---

FSB = DDR = Code

200 400 3200
166 333 2700
133 266 2100

 

[Tweek]

At best buy, they have a few different capacities and speeds of Kingston
ram. On the label on the box of several of them it says 'not dual channel
compatible'. I wonder what makes it not dual channel capable?

 

[Dave C.]

At best buy, they have a few different capacities and speeds of Kingston
ram. On the label on the box of several of them it says 'not dual channel
compatible'. I wonder what makes it not dual channel capable?

By itself, that is CORRECT. What the box does not mention, is that TWO
sticks of that RAM WOULD be dual channel capable. (but one stick is not)

Dual channel mainboards basically take two sticks of RAM and use it as one
really wide (data path) stick of RAM. But obviously, they can't do that if
you only install one stick of RAM. -Dave