Sandra Memory Benchmark question

[IntelConvert]

I have a P4 1.6A running on an ASUS P4S533, and 1 256 MB stick of Corsair XMS DDR3200 RAM.

Running the memory at 200 Mhz, I noticed this oddity. Note the memory timings in the pics - the first is at CAS 2.5 and the second is at CAS 2. All other timings are identical. So what is up with the identical scores?


http://home.nc.rr.com/enternow/images/DDR_Article/mem@DDR400%20CAS2.5.JPG
http://home.nc.rr.com/enternow/images/DDR_Article/mem@DDR400%20CAS2.JPG

[NDD]

Welcome to SysOpt ! :)

Either your mobo has some bug in changing CAS value in BIOS (CAS remains the same although indication changes), in this case BIOS update might help, or the CAS is "hard-locked" for the memory chip, not really something I heard about before :confused:
To verify the second situation, try some other memory module, same or another PC3200 is not required, you can even try with older CAS2.5 PC2100/PC2700.

[IntelConvert]

Thanks for the welcome!
Good idea for the test. I have a stick of Crucial 2100, I'll give it a try and see what happens. Now that I think about it, I can try setting my FSB/Mem ratio down to 1:1 just for a test of CAS 2 vs. 2.5. It wouldn't surprise me if the RAM was defaulting to 2.5 somehow, but if that is the case, it just bothers me that it is still recognized as CAS 2.

Is there a good program similar to WCPUID to definitively show the memory clock in Windows? My kingdom for a PCR file for this MB. Well, if I had a kingdom. :)

[NDD]

CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.htm) is also good.
WCPUID v3.0g (http://www.h-oda.com/) :)
They both show CAS latency value.
And Sandra, as always :)

[IntelConvert]

Thank you ND, but I guess 645DX is not supported yet. WCPUID shows system clock but I get an error message from trying to view System info, which is where I assume the memory timings are shown. CPU-Z is new to me, I downloaded it, but unfortunately, on the memory tab, the only thing that isn't grayed out is size = 256 MB. :(

In further testing, I set my ratio down to 1:1 and tried again. I got 2035/2035 CAS2.5 and 2044/2044 CAS2, using -2-2-4-1 timings. At least there is some difference there, but not nearly as much as there should be.

I also briefly flashed back to BIOS 1008 beta 001 (I was and am using 1008 beta 003) and had the same thing happen. I wrote an email to ASUS tech support detailing the problem yesterday.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

I get the same on a mobo with the excell2000 sis chipset. It goes to cas2 6ns yet no speed gain or gain in the mem bench. I assume its the chipsets fault. I have flashed the bios to a 2001 version yet no change. 100mb/sec. is all I can get out of the mem. I think I'm just dumping that board I found one with the Intel 440zx chipset and its a Gainward 6IZB mobo for $20- new. Time for a change I guess. Oh well.:rolleyes: :t