The Mother Board

[violetgerald]

I ordered some RAM for an older computer the other day, 2 sticks of DDR PC3200, at 400mhz. They sent me a 333 and a 400 instead. I emailed them about the problem and this is the response I got:



Even though the one stick says 333MHz on the label (Kingston module with Nanya chips), it runs at 400MHz. Some modules are dual programmed which means they can run at two different MHz. We tested this module and it is programmed to run at 400MHz.




Legit? Fishy? I vote fishy.

[o1die2]

Just set your ram speed at 400 in the motherboard bios. Then check it with cpu-z, a free download. Ram can't be reprogrammed (changing the default speed) but it may run faster than default without any voltage increase.

[fussnfeathers]

It'll do that if the controller chip is already set to 400mhz automatically. If not, then yeah, you'll have to set it up manually. Not a big deal, assuming you're not on an OEM machine with a locked down BIOS.

Personally, I'd send the mislabeled stick back if it doesn't put itself at 400mhz. As Oldie said, there is no such thing as a multi-speed chip, but there IS a controller that tells the BIOS what speed the RAM is supposed to be running at, as set by the factory. The fact that the retailer blatantly lied as far as it goes is disturbing. No manufacturer sends out mislabeled RAM and tells you it's something other than what it is, and kicking 333mhz RAM up to 400mhz can quite often cause random crashes and instability.
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Mine go to 11

[pbailey]

It will adjust tothe speed of the other chips, but the other chips may SPD at the speed of 333.

SERIAL PRESENCE DETECT (SPD)

Install the newer memory you just ordered in slot 3 and 4. When you boot up it should tell you if it SPD errored to the 333 or 400.
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The day you stop learning, is the day you die!

Paul

[fussnfeathers]

^^^ Your RAM will only run as fast as the slowest stick. If you put both in, and the "mislabeled" stick drops both down to 333mhz (use CPUid from here to see first what speed the RAM is running at, and second to see what each stick is set to run at standard. First bit will be in the "memory" tab, second bit will be in the "SPD" tab. Look at each stick individually, that will give you the specs, date of manufacture, and other info on each stick. NOTE that the memory tabs WILL NOT SHOW 333 or 400mhz, that's the effective speed. Your stick labeled DDR400 will show an actual speed of 200mhz (double data rate makes it 400mhz), while the other stick labeled DDR333 will show an actual speed of 166mhz (again, double data rate makes it 333mhz).

I get the strong feeling you got ripped off. DDR333 is cheaper than DDR400. Not by a lot, but some people add up the few bucks here and there pretty quickly.
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Mine go to 11