about memory

D

Darkserge

New Member
I dont know much about memory... I beleve PC4000 is faster than PC3200, right? and I dont understand about 3-4-4-8 stuff. Higher number is better?

Hi, I am using P4P800 SE motherboard. In the book said my motherboard support DDR PC2700 and DDR PC3200. but in http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=P4P800+SE said my motherboard also support PC4000 too.

So is DDR PC4000 3-4-4-8 or 2.5-4-4-8 much better than DDR PC3200 3-3-3-8?
 
That model Asus board runs upto 184pin DDR533 memory namely the PC4000. The numbers of 2-2-2-5 or 3-3-3-8 or 5-5-5-12 refer to timings. The lower the number the faster. But some boards will refuse to run memory with fast Latencies. When going to buy memory for any make or model board the first thing to look at is the actual specifications on the board itself to see what it will support. That will usually show any limitations as well. For that Asus model board you look them over at http://www.aberdeeninc.com/abcatg/MB6770.htm
 
The higher the number after the PC the faster the memory runs, the more bandwidth it has. For the timings (3-4-4-8, 4-4-4-12, etc), lower is faster. The timings are how much delay there is for running a given command.
So is DDR PC4000 3-4-4-8 or 2.5-4-4-8 much better than DDR PC3200 3-3-3-8?
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Both PC4000 variants are faster/better than the PC3200 you have listed.
 
The problem there is the max speed on the board being 400mhz while it will still run the PC4000 memory. A pair of 1gb DDR400 PC3200 would still work out well for stock application until you eventually upgrade to a newer board since the 4000 would simply be backclocked to 400mhz. The newer boards run DDR2 240pin dimms not the 184pin you are looking at. You could only see a gain when ocing the fsb there between the two speeds of memory.
 
DDR PC4000 3-4-4-8 or 2.5-4-4-8 will work on my motherboard? but in Asus.com still said DDR PC2700 and DDR PC3200 only.
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It will work, you don't have to worry about that. However, it will only run at PC3200 unless you are overclocking, which is what that RAM is designed for.
 
With 2gb of PC3200 memory here the only to boost performance for things other then gaming and video related would be to go with a faster cpu. But unless ocing the fsb here will remain at the 400mhz speed. Is it worth buying the faster cpu or saving for the next build? The prices on AM2 boards is seen as low as $50-. The cost of a new video card and memory as well as cpu would be the bulk of things there. If you plan the keep the current build for a year or more then moving up from PC2100 or PC2700 to PC3200 is a good move. But for a fast swapout upgrade(board, cpu, DDR2) or new build?
 
PC eye said:
With 2gb of PC3200 memory here the only to boost performance for things other then gaming and video related would be to go with a faster cpu. But unless ocing the fsb here will remain at the 400mhz speed.
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Well technically your Athlon 64 does not have a FSB, you can call it that if you want. But it does not run at 400MHZ, your processors (bus) speed is 200MHZ and your PC3200 runs at 200MHZ too!
 
Cromewell said:
It will work, you don't have to worry about that. However, it will only run at PC3200 unless you are overclocking, which is what that RAM is designed for.
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In my bios setup Utility, AI Overcolck Tuner there is setting. There is Standard, Manual, Overclock 5%, 10%, 20% and 30%. I set it in Standard, I leave all the setting in manual alone, cuase I dont want to screw up, but is overclock 5% to 30% will shorten CPU life? I know it will make CPU run hotter and take more watts.
 
Constant OCing will take a toll on the life of any hardwares. You are placing stresses on it as well as seeing temps climb as a rule. This is why you will see many planning to oc go with a large 3rd party cpu cooler, large case fans, hard drive and memory as well as video card cooling setups and even liquid coolders as well. They even have air conditioned pc cases available.
 
Darkserge said:
In my bios setup Utility, AI Overcolck Tuner there is setting. There is Standard, Manual, Overclock 5%, 10%, 20% and 30%. I set it in Standard, I leave all the setting in manual alone, cuase I dont want to screw up, but is overclock 5% to 30% will shorten CPU life? I know it will make CPU run hotter and take more watts.
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As long as you keep the temps down it wont shorten its life to bad, more Voltage will do more harm then anything. But like I say if you keep the temps down and dont over volt it to much the processor will be out dated before you wear it out.
 
The simple solution is if you are unfamiliar with how to twesk and fine tune things in order to see a stable system even when you oc then run it stock. That will save you from making any bad mistakes. Even without raising the voltages temps will climb especially cpu temps when you go to oc that. If you are running a stock heat sink/fan combo and basic cooling you would want to invest in a good 3rd party cpu cooler and extra or even larger case fans to see temps kept down. The occasional oc is one thing while constant ocing will eventually cost in hardwares.
 
I did upgrade CPU and Video Card few month ago. World Of Warcraft is perfect but Civilzation 4 is take longer times to take turn as more stuff growing.
 
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I did overclock it, but the memory goes like this in bios setting.,

5% overclock: memory speed 210 MHz 3-3-3-8 as FSB 210 MHz, Bus Speed 840 MHz
10% overclock: memory speed 147 MHz 3-4-4-8 as FSB 220 MHz, Bus Speed 879.9 MHz
20% overclock: memory speed 160 MHz 3-4-4-8 as FSB 240 MHz Bus Speed 960.3 MHz but it crash in game.

so that DDR PC4000 will bring 240 MHz when I using 20% overclock? I am still using PC3200 DDR

2GB kit 1GBx2) DDR PC4000 3-4-4-8 for 251.99 or
2GB kit (512x4) DRR PC4000 2.5-4-4-8 for 267.98?
 
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