PC2100 or 2700?!

[vagabond]

According to my mobo, an AsRock K7S8X ver. 3.0 (flashed w/the newest BIOS) my RAM is recognized as a 512DDR-SDRAM w/333FSB.

I checked this out with SANDRA and gave me this in the benchmark:

Bank 0 512 MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5 3.3.9 CL2 CMD
Channel 1
Speed 2X166MHz (332MHz data rate)
Multiplier 5/4x
Width 64-bit
Refresh rate 7.8

What's strange is I've never really thought about it but I bought a 512MB DDR-SDRAM @PC2100 or 266MHz.

So, who's right? Me or the computer and SANDRA?

I'm planning on adding another 512 stick.

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[Mr5oh]

Looks to me that you got PC2700.

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[vagabond]

Thanks D00D ! ! !

Another question, would it cause a problem when I buy RAM of different manufacture but keeping the same FSB and latency?

I've done this to non-DDR RAM and worked. I've read that when DDR-RAM is not paired it can cause stability issues. I know about dual-channel memory and I'm not referring to that.

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[dunklegend]

I've done that with DDR and it worked, but it will depend on each ram and each system.

<font color=blue>Left to themselves, all things go from bad to worse</font color=blue>

 

[vagabond]

OK, thanks.

I'll just have to borrow/steal/kill someone's 512 RAM and try it ot before I invest on it.

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[BrentUnitedMem]

The specification set for the module was most likely correct at PC-2100 2.5-3-3 (this a standard specification for 2100).

However, many PC-2100 module are built using chips that are capable of higher speeds. The chip will decide the performance potential of the module; the sticker on the module will tell you how the module has been programmed to operate (not neccessarily the truth).

How your system recognizes the RAM, and how the RAM is programmed to operate are often independent.

<font color=green>*****
"Memory with lifetime warranty? So, whose lifetime is that?"
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<font color=red>AIM BrentUnitedMem<font color=white>

 

[BrentUnitedMem]

I've done this to non-DDR RAM and worked. I've read that when DDR-RAM is not paired it can cause stability issues. I know about dual-channel memory and I'm not referring to that.

The reason people tell you to buy matched pairs is to ensure that the chips on the modules and the SPD program match.

When you have one bad egg, it affects the entire bunch. Same concept applies to memory. You have to think of memory in terms of the chips. A 512MB modules comes with 16 chips normally; two modules, and you have 32 chips. If you have one slow chip, all 32 chips will run slow on the chipset. Also the SPD chips on the modules are read mutually exclusively, meaning that only one of them gets read by the BIOS, not both.

Furthermore, different chip dies for the same chip-specification perform slightly different. So when you mix chip dies, it's usual for all chips to perform at the level of the weaker die. Unfortunately, the fallacies add up against system performance.

An ugly man and a beautiful woman still have ugly children, right? haha.

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[vagabond]

So what you're telling me is it doesn't matter what the manufacturer is as long as the timings and chip configuration and FSB match.

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[vagabond]

Forgot something, that's just what I'm trying to point out.

I bought this RAM through an online distro and was packaged
with the specs: PNY 512MB DDR-SDRAM @PC2100 DDR266MHz and then the P/N.

I just wanted to make sure because I want to pair the two. I've looked all over the place for another stick from PNY but I can't find anymore. I have to get it from a different manufacturer but I want the timings and latency and FSB of the new RAM to be similar as my existing one. I've had this RAM for three years now and it's never let me down. My OS has been running stable for almost a year now but I think when I put another stick in that it will help a bit especially when I'm doing multi-tasking or video-editing. Finally invested on a DVD burner.

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[BrentUnitedMem]

So what you're telling me is it doesn't matter what the manufacturer is as long as the timings and chip configuration and FSB match.

That assumption is false, however it may be true for a number of cases.

For example, the manufacturer gets to decide what PCB to use, which plays a role in the module's integrity.

Also, some manufacturers simply build modules better than others.

The following is a statistical fact:
Modules built by the maker of the chips have fewer RMAs (returns) than modules built by third parties.

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<font color=red>AIM BrentUnitedMem<font color=white>

 

[vagabond]

In other words, it's a shot in the dark.

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[BrentUnitedMem]

In regards to multi-tasking or video editing you should be okay even if you mix two modules.

Keep in mind the "best" modules for this purpose follow standard specifications (PC-3200 CL3). Many modules don't follow these standards because people demand tighter timings.

Two different modules should be okay. Best to purchase from reputable vendors.

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<font color=red>AIM BrentUnitedMem<font color=white>

 

[vagabond]

ok, thanks.

will keep that in mind.

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[BrentUnitedMem]

In other words, it's a shot in the dark.

Just know your source.

I do not ever recommend buying memory from a broker (this would be a shot in the dark)

But PNY, Kingston, Crucial, OCZ, etc.. these are reputable companies and you should be ok.

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<font color=red>AIM BrentUnitedMem<font color=white>

 

[vagabond]

I didn't think that anybody's ever heard of PNY manufacturing RAM. They're more known for their GPUs.

Yeah, I got this from a reputable distributor. My problem is I don't have access to the company anymore otherwise I'd order a second from them.

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[BrentUnitedMem]

Your right..

PNY is not a very popular brand of memory, because their supply has been inconsistent. yet their memory still exists and PNY, most importantly, is a reputable company.

I wonder if people still remember Siemens, Toshiba, Hyundai memory.. Siemens is still considered major brand =)

Toshiba, Hyundai.. debatable as major brands today.

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[vagabond]

I still have RAM lying around with those manufacturers on the chipsets.

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