Overclocking and memory

[Guest]

Okay...I'm thinking about trying some overclocking for the first time and
some of it's confusing, particularly when it comes to memory, so I'm turning
you for help.
I read articles about how some memory is better for overclocking than
others, lower CL rating is better than higher, and how some tweak the memory
settings. But I'm confused because looking at the Kingston web site for
memory they show 512MB PC3200 (DDR400) memory with different numbers of
digits in their names. Examples:

512MB Kit 400MHz DDR PC3200 DIMM 3-3-3
1GB Kit HyperX DDR 400MHz 2-3-2-6-1

Reading a review on www.anandtech.com about some Mushkin memory (Mushkin
PC3200 2-2-2 Special) they talk about different timings with FOUR digits
like 2-2-2-5, 2-2-3-5, and 2-2-3-7 (each one being a little faster than the
one before). See why I'm confused? We've got 3-digit, 4-digit, and 5-digit
timings/ratings/whatever.

Are there any good web sites that will help sort this out for me?

Thanks for your replies,

Phil

 

[BigBadger]

The first 3 figures (access and precharge latencies) are the ones your
interested in, the first (CAS) having most effect on performance. The fourth
is the tRAS (short for the RAS Pulse width) which unlike the other latencies
is not 'lower the better'....so just because one module quotes '5' and
another '7' does not make the first module better. On my Nforce 2 board the
setting for best performance is '11'.
The fifth digit is CMD (Commend Rate)...this is actually a chip-set latency
it needs to be taken with a pinch of salt because it depends on the
motherboard chip-set and the number of RAM banks installed.

See mushkin's site for more details:
http://www.mushkin.com/mushkin/pop-up/latencies.htm


*****Replace 'NOSPAM' with 'btinternet' in the reply address*****

 

[Gareth Jones]

Okay...I'm thinking about trying some overclocking for the first time and
some of it's confusing, particularly when it comes to memory, so I'm turning
you for help.
Are there any good web sites that will help sort this out for me?

There is a really excellent FAQ in one of the www.overclockers.co.uk
forums

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