In this article we will look at several different planks random access memory, let’s find their differences and decide which one is better and for which system. For example, if motherboard does not support a memory frequency of 2133 MHz, then there is no point in overpaying for such memory; it is much more reasonable to take 1600 MHz and use its full potential. The article will contain dies from different manufacturers so that the picture is more complete.
This company has long established itself as a good company. It produces good memory chips, reliable ones. This particular model uses 8 chips with a total capacity of 4 GB. It operates at a frequency of 1600 Mg, and the timings are 11-11-11. At first glance, it may seem that the timings are high, but you need to take into account that the module operates at a voltage of 1.5 Volts. And, if your motherboard does not support a higher frequency, then there is no point in overclocking it, you can try lowering the timings to 9-9-9, but for this you will have to increase the voltage, and since there is no cooling system here, there is a chance of overheating. Conclusion: if you want overclocking, you will have to install the cooling yourself.
Just as you see in the photo, the bar of this model is low-profile, that is, not high, which solves the problem of placement in small-sized cases. This form can help solve the problem when a large cooler on the processor, for example, interferes with the installation of RAM. Thus, if you don’t want to bother with overclocking, installing additional cooling, and also don’t want to overpay for lower timings, or you just need compact RAM, then the Kingston KVR16N11S8/4 is quite suitable for you.
Kingston KVR1333D3N9/4G
Kingston KVR16N11/8
Characteristics declared by the manufacturer:
- 8 Gigabytes of memory,
- at a clock frequency of 1600 MHz,
- with timings 11-11-11.
However, without any problems, the timings can be lowered to 9-9-9-24 without changing the voltage, which, let me remind you, is one and a half volts. If you raise the voltage to 1.65 V, the overclocking potential increases, but whether it’s worth it is a big question. Plus, there is a possibility of overheating, because there is no cooling system on the bar, and as the voltage increases, the heat dissipation will go up. Therefore, if there is no need to overclock the RAM and the most you can do is lower the timings, then this module is perfect for you.
Link to Yandex Market.
Has excellent appearance thanks to its cooling system. But, in addition to visual appeal, this is also a necessity, because two 4 GB sticks operate at a clock frequency of 2133 MHz, which is quite a high figure. It is worth paying attention to this, since your motherboard must support this value, otherwise purchasing such memory simply will not make sense. The timings are 11-11-11, but the voltage is stated to be 1.5 V, so there is a possibility that if the voltage is increased to 1.65 V, the timings can be reduced to 9-9-9. In addition, the installed radiators must cope with the increased heat dissipation in this case. 
If you are building a powerful modern gaming computer, then this model will suit you. It will also fit perfectly into a system without a video card, for example, based on an AMD A10 Kaveri processor, where memory frequency is important, since the video core built into the CPU uses RAM to store textures and other graphic information.
Link to Yandex Market.
Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
Also, as in the case of the model above, these modules (two 4 GB each) have a cooling system. It is needed to remove heat from memory chips that operate at increased voltage 1.65 V. Increased voltage is required to reduce timings to 9-9-9-24 and, as a result, more productive operation of the dies. Further overclocking is a risky undertaking and is not recommended.
Perfect for systems where the motherboard does not support RAM frequencies above 1600 MHz.
Link to Yandex Market.
Hynix DDR3 1600 DIMM 4Gb
Hynix produces reliable memory chips that are used in a wide range of different equipment. It is thanks to this prevalence and accessibility of the chips themselves that there are a lot of fakes on the market. Memory modules are sold simply based on chips from this company. You need to be very careful, because there are practically no counterfeits, but this is not so bad, and the most important thing is that they often fail and BSODs appear. Look for Hynix Original, which some craftsmen overclock to a frequency of 2133 MHz at timings 11-12-11-28 at a voltage of 1.6 Volts. This is a very worthy result at an extremely low price.
How to distinguish an original Hynix from a fake or simply from RAM based on chips from this company? Firstly, the color of the PCB is not a guarantee. There is an opinion that the originals are made only on blue textolite, but this is not so. Think for yourself, is it really possible that if someone wanted to make a fake, they couldn’t change the color too? This is a very weak parameter. Secondly, another weak, but still criterion, is a narrow sticker with an orange inscription on a white background or white on orange: hynix KOREA xx (CHINA xx) and the main characteristics under this heading. But what can really help in determining the originality of Hynix is the information embedded in SPD (Serial Presence Detect). Any program, for example, CPU-Z, can read this data and everything about the manufacturer is written in it. True, to do this, you need to bring the bar home and connect it, but in case of fraud, you should immediately take it back to the store and demand a refund or replacement with the original.
Introduction
For a long time now, there have been no articles on the ruovers devoted to identifying the overclocking potential of DDR3 memory, especially the budget segment. This standard memory is used in a huge number of enthusiast computers, and modern software, especially games, require more and more resources every day. Therefore, many users are thinking about increasing the amount of RAM when minimum costs, so that you don’t have to hold back the potential of the good old Samsung or hynix. I will contribute to the research of this issue.
Review
So, the hero of today's review is the creation of AMD engineers. The volume is 4GB, the nominal frequency is 1600MHz, timings are 11-11-11-28. The product belongs to AMD series Radeon R5 Entertainment and is sold at retail as R534G1601U1S-U.
Packaging and equipment
AMD Radeon R5 modules are shipped in clear plastic retail packaging. The package consists only of the memory module itself.
Module design and features
AMD Radeon R5 RAM modules have a standard height of 3cm. Although the memory is not equipped with any heatsinks, it looks quite nice due to the combination of white markings and a black solder mask.
Looking at the sticker, in addition to the characteristics, you can note the real manufacturer of the modules - Galt Advanced Technology. This is indicated by the marking "MFR:GALTAE18".
Technical information
The volume of 4GB is collected by 8 schemes of 512MB each and has a 1-rank organization.
The memory chips are relabeled by AMD itself. Thaiphoon Burner sees the module like this:
Test stand
- Motherboard: MSI Z77 MPower (BIOS 17.12);
- CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K “Sandy Bridge” 4700 MHz;
- Cooling system: Thermalright Macho Rev A;
- Thermal interface: Arctic Cooling MX-2;
- Video card: AMD Radeon RX 580 8Gb GDDR5 / HIS Radeon RX 580 IceQ X2 OC (HS-580R8LC);
- Power supply: FSP Epsilon 800W;
- System drive: OCZ Vertex 4 128Gb;
- Housing: Old InWin with noise and vibration insulation.
You may have doubts about whether this stand is suitable for unlocking the potential of memory, but I can assure you that it will in this case it all comes down to memory itself. A repeat test was performed on the Gigabyte Z170M-D3H DDR3 MP, but the results remained the same.
Test results
Cache and memory test at standard settings gives the following values:
The maximum overclocking was 2260 MHz with timings 12-12-12-28 CR2 and voltage 1.5V. The system worked stably. Reducing the Command Rate did not bring success. There was no effect on increasing voltage at any frequency.
If you lower the frequency bar to 2183, the picture becomes more interesting. Timings were reduced to 10-11-11 CR1. When falling bandwidth by 3% latency decreased by 6%.
You can also see what minimum timings were set at standard frequencies from 1333 to 2133 MHz.
Conclusion
AMD R5 memory modules demonstrated excellent overclocking ability even without increasing the voltage. The frequency was raised from the standard 1600 MHz to a quite respectable 2260 MHz. But the best option is the 2183 MHz mode with timings 10-11-11-28 CR1.
Hello, dear friends. Artyom is with you.
What are RAM timings? That's what we'll talk about today.
Video version of the article:
Timings like the other one helpful information marked on the housing of the RAM stick.
Timings consist of a group of numbers.
On some strips the timings are indicated completely, while on others only C.L. delay.
Specifying only CL, and in this case CL9
What's happened C.L. timing you will find out as the article progresses.
In this case full list Timings can be found on the website of the manufacturer of the bar, by model number.
Any DDR RAM (1,2,3,4) has the same operating principles.
The memory has a certain operating frequency in MHz and timings.
The shorter the timings, the faster processor can access memory cells on chips.
Accordingly, there are fewer delays when reading and writing information into RAM.
The most common memory type is DDR SDRAM, which has a number of features.
Frequencies:
It (memory) communicates with the memory controller at a frequency half as low as that indicated on the RAM stick labeling.
For example, DDR3 running at 1866 MHz in diagnostic programs, for example, CPU-Z will be displayed as 933 MHz.
So on the body of the RAM stick the effective operating frequency of the memory is indicated, whereas in reality the operating frequency is two times lower.
The address, data and control lines are transmitted over one bus in both directions, which allows us to talk about the effective operating frequency of the RAM.
Data is transmitted at 2 bits per clock pulse, both on the rise and fall of the clock pulse, which doubles the effective frequency of the memory.
P. S. The RAM frequency is the sum of the multiplication factor (multiplier) by the frequency system bus.
For example, the processor system bus frequency is 200 MHz (any Pentium 4), and the multiplier = 2, then the resulting memory frequency will be 400 MHz (800 MHz effective).
This means that to overclock the RAM, you need to overclock the processor on the bus (or select the desired memory multiplier).
P.S. All manipulations with frequencies, timings and voltages are performed in the BIOS (UEFI) of the motherboard.
Timings:
Memory modules operating at the same frequency but with different timings may have different final operating speeds.
Timings indicate the number of clock pulses required for the memory chip to perform a particular operation. For example, searching for a specific cell and writing information into it.
The very same clock frequency determines at what speed in Megabytes per second read/write operations will occur when the chip is ready to execute a command.
Timings are indicated by numbers, for example, 10-11-10-30 .
DDR3 1866 MHz 9-9-9-10-28 will be faster than DDR3 1866 MHz 10-11-10-30.
If we turn to the basic structure of a memory cell, we get a table structure like this.
That is, the structure of rows and columns, by the number of which you can access a particular byte of memory to read or write data.
What exactly do the timing numbers mean?
Let's look at the example aboveDDR3 1866 MHz 10-11-10-30.
Numbers in order:
10 isCAS Latency (C.L.)
One of the most important delays (timings). The speed of RAM will largely depend on it.
The smaller the first digit of the timings, the faster it is.
CL indicates the number of clock cycles required to produce the requested data.
In the picture below you see an example with C.L.=3 And C.L.=5 .
As a result, memory with C.L.=3 provides the requested data 40% faster. You can even calculate the delay in ns (nanosecond = 0.000000001 s).
To calculate the clock period for DDR3 1866 MHz RAM, you need to take its real frequency (933 MHz) and use the formula:
T=1/f
1/933 = 0.0010718113612004 seconds ≈ 1.07 ns.
1.07*10(CL) = 10.7 ns. Thus, for CL10, RAM will delay data output by 10.7 nanoseconds.
P. S. If subsequent data is located at an address next to the current address, then the data is not delayed for the CL time, but is issued immediately after the first.
11 – ThisRAS to CAS Delay (tRCD)
The process of accessing memory itself comes down to activating a row and then a column with the necessary data. This process has two reference signals - RAS (Row Address Strobe) and CAS (Column Address Strobe).
Also the magnitude of this delay ( tRCD) is the number of clock cycles between the command being turned on "Activate (Active)» and the team "Read" or "Write".
The shorter the delay between the first and second, the faster the final process occurs.
10 isRAS Precharge (tRP)
After the data is received from memory, you need to send a special command Precharge to close the memory line from which data was read and allow another line with data to be activated. tRP time between command runs Precharge and the moment when the memory can accept the next command « Active» . Let me remind you that the team « Active» starts a data read or write cycle.
The shorter this delay, the faster the data read or write cycle starts via the command « Active» .
P. S. Time that passes since the command was launched « Precharge» , before the processor receives the data, it consists of the sum tRP + tRCD + CL
30 – ThisCycle Time (tRAS) Active to Precharge Delay.
If the command has already been entered into memory « Active» (and ultimately the process of reading or writing from a specific row and a specific cell), then the following command « Precharge» (which closes the current memory line to move to another) will be sent only after this number of clock cycles.
That is, this is the time after which memory can begin writing or reading data from another row (when the previous operation has already been completed).
There is one more parameter that is never changed by default. Unless with a very large overclocking of the memory, for greater stability of its operation.
Command Rate (CR, orCMD) , defaults to 1 T– one beat, second value 2 T- two measures.
This is the period of time between the activation of a specific memory chip on a RAM stick. For greater stability during high overclocking, it is often set to 2 T, which slightly reduces overall performance. Especially if there are a lot of memory dies, as well as chips on them.
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A lot of readers on our site are interested in questions one way or another related to the choice of RAM, and our site has a very strong desire to answer everyone. To make it interesting for you in the process of gaining knowledge, this article is presented by the author in the form of a fascinating story from which you will learn EVERYTHING about computer RAM!
You will learn not only how to choose and buy RAM from a quality manufacturer, but also how to correctly install RAM modules in your computer and much more, for example:
- How much RAM does a modern computer need for comfortable operation of all resource-intensive applications, for example: modern games on maximum settings, video and audio processing programs, etc. How powerful should it be? modern computer?
- (follow the link and read a separate article).
- (follow the link and read a separate article)?
- What way out does the operating system find when there is not enough RAM?
- Is having too much RAM good for your computer?
- Do you need to completely disable the page file if you have a large amount of physical RAM, for example 16 -32 GB?
- How much better is dual-channel RAM operating mode than single-channel? What is better to buy, one 8GB memory stick or two 4GB sticks?
- How to choose the right RAM modules for dual-channel operation?
- What is the frequency of RAM and is it possible to install RAM sticks with different frequencies in a computer?
- What is RAM latency (timings)? Is it possible to install RAM sticks with different timings in a computer?
- What is the difference between the RAM sticks used on laptops and regular RAM?
- Nowadays DDR3 memory is actively used, but are there DDR4 memory sticks on sale?
- If you have old computer and you want to buy additional DDR2 RAM, then think several times, because DDR2 memory is expensive, maybe it’s better for you to replace the motherboard, processor and change the RAM to DDR3.
- How to choose a RAM manufacturer and is all RAM made in China?
- Is overclocking of RAM necessary and how much will RAM performance increase during overclocking?
- Is a heatsink really necessary for RAM?
- What is a RAM controller, why is it needed and where is it located?
- What does ECC RAM marking mean?
How to choose RAM
Friends, in the last article we discussed the issue of choice and I was thinking about what article to write next. It seems logical to choose a motherboard for it after the processor, but I usually do it differently. After choosing the processor, I choose the memory and video card, I don’t know why, it’s probably just easier and you can immediately estimate how much to expect, since choosing a motherboard is the most difficult part of choosing a computer configuration. In view of this, I decided not to deviate from my chosen tradition and devote this article to the choice of random access memory (RAM). Since this site is dedicated to the repair of personal computers, of course the issue of choosing RAM will be considered not only for new, but also for older PCs.
Like choosing a processor, choosing RAM is not a difficult task at all. probably even easier. But, as with everything, there are some nuances. Often the choice of RAM comes down to its current price and the amount you are willing to spend. Recently, trends in price changes for RAM modules have been very ambiguous. Several years ago there was a real boom in increasing the amount of RAM in personal computers. And this was not even due so much to the growth of demands modern applications And operating systems, how much with an incredible reduction in price for it.
A 4 gigabyte (GB) memory stick could be purchased for only $25 or even cheaper. As a result, solely for marketing purposes (to make computers more attractive and increase sales), this same memory began to be “stuffed” into new computers in huge volumes. Yes, the cheapest system unit, costing about $200-250, necessarily had 4 GB of memory, and the average one for $300-350 had all 8 GB. Salespeople in stores placed great emphasis on this, while keeping silent about the fact that this amount of memory would never be realized (fully used) by these PCs, since the rest of the “stuffing,” such as the processor and video card, left much to be desired. This, in essence, was a kind of deception of buyers or, to put it nicely, a marketing ploy...
Unfortunately, gone are the days when you could stock up on RAM for free without even playing around, and now the price for it has increased significantly. It seems that we have again been hooked on the needle of technological progress... But is a large amount of RAM really needed?
How much RAM does a modern computer need?
I must say that until recently, I was fond of modern computer games. Therefore, I always tried to keep my PC up to date. Probably, since I built my first full-fledged PC in 1997, not a single year has passed that I haven’t treated myself to purchasing a new video card, processor or memory.
In those old (by computer standards) days, there was a certain division in how computers used operating system components. Games only needed a powerful video card, some RAM, and the processor almost didn’t matter, since all the calculations were performed by the video card, which has both its own processor and its own memory.
To encode video, on the contrary, it was necessary powerful processor and enough RAM, but the video card didn’t matter, etc. Modern gaming applications have “learned” to make full use of the previously “idle” powerful components of modern computers, such as the processor and RAM.
If we talk about using a PC as a gaming and entertainment platform, then, until recently, I had not come across games that could load at least 3 GB of memory 100% even at maximum graphics settings. But in some cases, the total memory load was close to this figure, despite the fact that the game itself consumed about 2 GB, and the rest was consumed by other applications, such as Skype, antivirus, etc.
Note: Please note that we were not talking about 4 GB, but about 3. The fact is that 32-bit Windows operating systems (OS) do not know how to use more than 3 GB of RAM and therefore the “excess” is simply “not seen”... In fairness, it is worth noting that for 32-bit OS built on the Linux kernel, such strict restrictions do not exist. So, friends, there is no point in installing more than 4 GB of memory on a 32-bit Windows; they simply will not be used.
For not very new, but also relatively old systems, on which you can put a lot of memory, using a 64-bit OS, in some cases, can be problematic. Since 64-bit versions of drivers for some equipment may simply not exist.
Not so long ago, just at the moment of total reduction in the price of memory, I purchased the same amount in addition to my 4 GB. But this was not caused by its shortcoming, but by the fact that on my fairly powerful motherboard, due to some misunderstanding) there were slots for almost outdated DDR2 memory and I was afraid that a little more and it might completely disappear or wildly increase in price, and here is such a “freebie”... After that, I switched to a 64-bit operating system, since otherwise this purchase would not have looked so reasonable). You also need to take into account that I have a fairly powerful 4 nuclear processor and an expensive modern video card, thanks to which I can play games at very high graphics settings, at which RAM consumption is maximum.
If you have an entry-level or mid-level PC, then 4 GB of RAM will be enough for you, since you can comfortably play modern games only at low or medium settings, which do not require large amounts of memory. In such conditions, installing, say, 8 GB of RAM is wasted money. But if your PC is powerful enough and is a gaming PC, then I would still recommend installing 8 GB, since there is a tendency towards a gradual increase in RAM consumption by modern games.
For example, the recently released game Call of Duty: Ghosts simply refused to launch if it detected that you had less than 6 GB of RAM installed. Again, in fairness, it should be noted that folk craftsmen made a fix that allowed you to bypass this limitation at launch and the game worked.
Regarding 64-bit operating systems, then you should know that it, like all 64-bit applications, consumes exactly 2 times more memory than 32-bit ones. Here this is already fully justified by memory addressing technology and significantly improves performance.
What should a fast computer be like?
We will not go into details, but you must understand that in order to feel the increase in speed, the following conditions must be met:
The central processing unit (CPU) must have a 64-bit architecture, the operating system must be 64-bit.
The application that you want to use to improve the performance of certain operations must be 64-bit, the data that is processed must be streaming (video conversion, archiving), since the speed increase is achieved through processing in one pass more information. In this case, the increase will be very significant – up to 2 times. Under such conditions, using Intel processor(with a longer pipeline) You will get the highest possible throughput for such operations. But, as you know, in games data is transferred in small portions (since it is impossible to predict the user’s next step), therefore, even in those games where there are 64 bit versions There will be almost no growth in the game engine. And yet the decisive role of the video card in them has not gone away.
As for professional applications, in areas such as video editing, 3D modeling, design, specialists in these areas know exactly what hardware and how much memory they need. Usually this is from 16 GB or more. And if, say, in 3D modeling there is no streaming data processing, then simply the volume and quality of models can be so high that a lot of RAM is “stupidly” needed to accommodate this model.
If you are not a professional, but really like to convert videos, then 4-8 GB will be enough for you.
Truly huge sizes of RAM can be in demand in scientific systems and highly loaded servers. In the latter, for example, a memory capacity of 64 GB or more is considered quite common. But the memory there is not cheap - server memory (with parity check and automatic correction errors), since failures on them are not allowed.
Well, as an example, I’ll give a situation from my real life. When I was training in networking and system administration, I often had to emulate a large number of simultaneously running operating systems and network equipment. Such combinations as 5-10 operating systems running in VirtualBox (or VMware) + the same number of emulated ones network devices GNS can use up a decent amount of RAM. And it’s good if, in addition to the powerful “process” that supports modern technologies virtualization, there will be 8-16 GB of RAM, otherwise the brakes are guaranteed...
Why can't you disable the page file?
What happens when there is not enough RAM? Yes, it’s very simple - the OS, in order to compensate for the lack of memory, begins to actively use HDD(the so-called swap file). By the way, God forbid you turn it off. The operation of the system is very deeply tied to the page file and disabling it will be more problems than it is worth. As a result, not only the processor slows down, but also the hard drive.
There is only one conclusion - there should be enough memory; if there is not enough memory, the computer starts to slow down terribly, but too much memory does not give any performance gain.
What types of RAM are there?
There is no such thing as memory...
A board with memory chips is usually called a memory module (or “stick”). There are single-sided and double-sided memory modules. On the first, the chips are placed on one side printed circuit board, on the second - on both sides. What's better? I don’t know) There is an opinion that double-sided modules “chase” better; read about what this means further in this article. On the other hand, the fewer chips, the higher the reliability of the module. I have seen cases more than once when one side of the chips on a strip failed and the computer saw only half of its volume. But now I would not focus on this.
The main thing you need to know is that if there are several memory modules in the computer, then it is desirable that they all be either single-sided or double-sided. Otherwise, the memory does not always get along well with each other and does not work at full speed.
Today the most modern memory is DDR3 type., which replaced the older DDR2, which in turn replaced the even older DDR. A new, more modern DDR4 memory has already been developed, but it has not yet reached the masses. We won't go deeper.
When building a new PC, you should only choose the latest memory standard. On this moment this is DDR3.
Sometimes replacing a motherboard and purchasing a new type of memory is equivalent in price to adding an old type of RAM to an old board.
The new memory will also be significantly cheaper than the older DDR2, for which greedy manufacturers and sellers “keep” (keep) a high price, since there is little of it left and for those who want to upgrade their PC there is simply no other choice but to agree to such draconian conditions. In this case, it’s worth thinking about, maybe adding a little and buying more promising components? And if you sell the old one, you can actually get a profit, if you’re lucky, of course)
Laptop memory
Laptops use the same memory as PCs, but have a smaller module size and are called SO-DIMM DDR (DDR2, DDR3).
Memory characteristics. Frequency and timings
Memory is characterized primarily by type. For desktop computers(desktops) today the types of memory used are: DDR, DDR2, DDR3.
The main characteristic of memory is its frequency. The higher the frequency, the faster the memory is considered. But this frequency must be supported by the processor and motherboard, otherwise the memory will operate at a lower frequency, and the money you overpaid will go down the drain.
Memory modules, as well as its types, have their own markings, which begin with PC, PC2 and PC3, respectively.
Today, the most common memory is DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333 MHz). It will work at its native frequency on any computer. In principle, the speed of the computer does not greatly depend on the memory frequency. For example, in games this increase will be absolutely indistinguishable, but in some other applications it will be more noticeable. But the difference in price, for example in comparison with DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) memory, will be very small. Here I usually follow the rule - if the price is slightly higher ($1-3) and the processor supports more high frequency, then why not - take faster memory.
Is it possible to install RAM sticks with different frequencies into a computer?
The frequency of the RAM does not have to be the same; the motherboard will set the frequency for all sticks to the slowest module, but very often a computer with sticks of different frequencies is unstable. For example, it may not turn on at all.
Timings
The next memory performance parameter is the so-called delays (timings). Roughly speaking, this is the time that has passed from the moment the memory is accessed until the moment it produces the necessary data. Accordingly, the shorter the timings, the better. There are dozens of different delays when reading, writing, copying, and various combinations of these and other operations. But there are only a few main ones that you can use to navigate.
Timings are indicated (though not always) on the label of memory modules in the form of 4 numbers with hyphens between them. The first and most important is latency, the rest are derivatives of it.
Delays depend on the manufacturing quality of the memory chips. Accordingly, higher quality, lower timings, higher price. However, it is worth noting that timings have a much smaller impact on performance than memory frequency. Therefore, I rarely attach importance to this, only if the price is approximately the same, you can buy memory with lower timings. Typically, modules with ultra-low timings are positioned as top-end, come complete with radiators (which we’ll talk about later), in beautiful packaging and are much more expensive.
Marking of main types, memory modules, their frequency and typical latency (CL)
DDR – outdated (completely)
DDR-266 - PC2100 - 266 MHz - CL 2.5
DDR-333 - PC2700 - 333 MHz - CL 2.5
DDR-400 - PC-3200 - 400 MHz - CL 2.5
DDR2 - obsolete (sometimes still found and can be used to add to an old PC)
DDR2-533 - PC2-4200 - 533 MHz - CL 5
DDR2-667 - PC2-5300 - 667 MHz - CL 5
DDR2-800 - PC2-6400 - 800 MHz - CL 5
DDR2-1066 - PC2-8500 - 1066 MHz - CL 5
DDR3 – modern
DDR3-1333 - PC3-10600 - 1333 MHz - CL 9
DDR3-1600 - PC3-12800 - 1600 MHz - CL 11
DDR3-1800 - PC3-14400 - 1800 MHz - CL 11
DDR3-2000 - PC3-16000 - 2000 MHz - CL 11
Is it possible to install RAM sticks with different timings in a computer?
The timings also do not have to match. The motherboard will automatically set timings for all modules according to the slowest module. There shouldn't be any problems.
Memory operating modes
Yes, yes... Perhaps not everyone knew, but RAM can operate in different modes, the so-called: Single Mode (single-channel) and Dual Mode (dual-channel).
In single-channel mode, data is first written to one memory module, and when its capacity is exhausted, it begins to be written to the next free module.
In dual-channel mode, data recording is parallelized and recorded simultaneously on several modules.
This, friends, is where using dual-channel mode significantly increases memory speed. In reality, the memory speed in dual-channel mode is up to 30% higher than in single-channel mode. But in order for it to work, the following conditions must be met:
The motherboard must support dual-channel RAM operation
There should be 2 or 4 memory modules
Memory modules must be either all single-sided or all double-sided
If any of these conditions are not met, the memory will only operate in single-channel mode.
It is desirable that all the strips be as identical as possible: they have the same frequency, latency, and are even from the same manufacturer. Otherwise, no one can give any guarantees about the operation of the dual-channel mode. Therefore, if you want your memory to work in the fastest possible mode, it is very advisable to immediately purchase 2 identical memory sticks, because after a year or two you will definitely not find the same one.
Another question is if you need to increase the amount of memory on an old computer. In this case, you can try to find a memory module that is as similar as possible to the one you already have. If you have 2 of them, and there are 2 more free slots on the motherboard, then you will have to look for 2 more of the same modules. An ideal, but not always economical, option is to sell the old memory as used and buy 2 new identical modules of larger capacity.
Of course, if your old computer is very weak, then there may not be a big gain from the dual-channel mode. In this case, you can install any module, but it is still better to choose the most suitable one in order to eliminate a possible conflict with old modules and complete inoperability of the computer. Try to agree in advance with the seller about a return or bring the system unit to him and let him try to select a suitable module.
RAM controller
It should be noted that previously memory controllers were located in the chipset (logic set) of motherboards. In modern systems, memory controllers are located in processors. In this regard, the dual-channel memory mode now has 2 more submodes: Ganged (paired) and Unganged (unpaired).
In paired (Ganged) mode, memory modules work the same as in old motherboards, but in unpaired (Unganged) mode, each processor memory controller (in modern processors 2) they can work separately with each strip. This mode can be set in Computer BIOS, but usually it is selected automatically by the processor. If the planks are identical, then Ganged (but not necessarily), if they are different, then only Unganged. In any case, the memory will operate in dual-channel mode. But I still recommend buying and installing 2 identical modules at once, this will eliminate distortions in their parameters and improve compatibility.
The dual-channel RAM mode has only one drawback - 2 memory sticks are slightly more expensive than one of the same size. Therefore, many stores and private collectors save money and set the same bar. As a result, we have a modern computer that does not work at full capacity.
Some modern expensive motherboards, which usually have 6 slots for memory modules, can even operate in three-channel mode.
By the way, if you have 2 or 3 memory sticks, then in order for the dual-channel or three-channel mode to work, all these sticks must be inserted into slots of the same color.
Some memory modules for desktops have the abbreviation ECC in their markings.
This is memory with parity, a technology used in server systems. You should not pay any attention to this, since on desktop PCs this technology is not critical and, in most cases, does not work at all. It's still the same marketing ploy.
Memory connectors
There's nothing to talk about here at all. Each type of memory DDR, DDR2, DDR3 has its own connector on the motherboard of the same type (DDR, DDR2, DDR3). You will not insert memory of one type into a slot of another type, since there is a special protrusion (key) in the motherboard slot,
Which should coincide with the slot on the memory module board. This was done precisely so as not to accidentally confuse and install the bracket in the wrong connector and, as a result, not damage both the memory and, possibly, the motherboard. When purchasing memory, you need to know exactly what type of memory the motherboard supports.
About RAM heatsinks
Some memory modules are equipped with so-called heatsinks, which are linings made of aluminum plates, sometimes painted copper or other colors, on both sides of the board. These pads are connected to the memory chips through special thermal pads, which are designed to better transfer heat from the chips to the heatsinks. Radiators can have additional fins to increase the cooling area and even better heat dissipation.
In practice, memory chips normal operation heat up slightly and do not require additional cooling. Gaskets between chips and heatsinks do not transfer heat as well as thermal paste between the processor and cooler. Besides, in free space There is an air gap between the board and the radiators, which interferes with natural cooling and over time becomes clogged with dust, which is difficult to clean out. This design provides for active cooling using an additional fan or good air flow inside the case. In addition, such modules can often cost more.
So who needs such joy, you ask? Well, ask me)
Answer: enthusiasts who never have enough of everything, who want to overclock everything, overtake everyone, etc. Besides, it’s just beautiful) Yes, friends, if you consider yourself to be in this group of users, then this memory is for you! Because such a cooling system will be effective only with sufficiently high heating as a result of overclocking with increased voltage and mandatory additional airflow. Remember - regular memory operating in normal mode does not need radiators.
An example of the correct use of memory with heatsinks in a powerful system
Overclocking RAM
Overclocking is a slang word in the computer lexicon that means manual installation more aggressive operating parameters of electronic components, such as processors, memory and video cards, than those provided by the manufacturer. Such parameters are usually the frequency (in processors there is also a multiplier). At particularly high overclocking, the voltage is also increased to ensure relatively stable operation of these components. As a result, higher heating of the elements occurs, requiring improved cooling. The so-called overclocking itself is possible thanks to a certain margin laid down by the manufacturer so that the product works stably, and not at the edge of its capabilities, or especially for advanced users) In any case, this event makes the operation of the entire system less stable and shortens the service life of overclocked components . If you still decide to experiment, then first thoroughly study all aspects and act strictly according to the instructions. By the way, if components fail as a result of overclocking, you may lose your warranty.
RAM Manufacturers
Like other components, memory modules are manufactured by many manufacturers. And, as always, they have different quality. I recommend paying attention to the following brands that have an optimal price/quality ratio: AMD, Crucial, Goodram, Hynix, Kingston, Micron, Patriot, Samsung, TakeMS, Transcend.
Enthusiast brands include: Corsair, G.Skill, Mushkin, Team. These companies produce a wide range of modules with radiators and increased technical characteristics. I recommend avoiding cheap ones Chinese brands: A-Data, Apacer, Elixir, Elpida, NCP, PQI and other little-known manufacturers.
Memory modules that are not manufactured in China deserve special mention. Currently, there are not many of these, for example, modules that are labeled as Hynix Original and Samsung Original are produced in Korea. The quality of such modules is considered higher; they cost a little more, but usually have a longer warranty (up to 36 months).
To be fair, it should be noted that even if you purchased memory from a well-known and reputable brand, this, unfortunately, does not mean that you will not encounter defective modules or modules damaged during transportation. Of course, products from top brands in individual packaging will have fewer defects (damages) than the cheapest modules that are transported and sold in bulk.
Memory module in individual packaging
How to choose memory for a new computer
First of all, choose the most modern type of memory used. Today it is DDR3. Decide on the volume you need. Briefly summarizing this article, I will give general recommendations on the minimum amount of RAM for PCs of different purposes:
For an office or weak home PC – 2 GB
4. It is better to select the most identical strips (single-sided or double-sided), with the same frequency and latency. The ideal option is to sell the old memory as used and install new memory in the required volume.
5. If you install memory with a higher frequency than your processor or motherboard supports, it will operate at a lower frequency.
Make the right choice with us, friends, and there will be no trouble for you)