RAM questions

[socalgal]

Hi Everyone ~

I am looking to purchase a stick of 128mg PC100 SDRAM. The best non-ECC. I am a bit confused about a couple of things.

1. Do I want a higher (10ns) or lower (8ns) clock-to-cycle output?

2. Are all access times 6ns? If not, then what is better?

3. I read at Tom's that CAS L 3 is better for overclocking, but isn't CAS L 2 better?

4. I used to have a link to a great page that listed all the markings and what they meant. Does anyone have a link?

Thanks !! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Ygor]

Socalgal... someone else will be able to answer this much more clearly than I can, but from what I have seen here in the last few weeks...

The speeds posted are not really there yet. This is marketting confusion.

Cas 2 is the best way to go, but if you overclock, it may default to Cas 3 as far as the bios/mobo is concerned.

There was a test of several sdram 100's done a few months back with respect to overclocking/stability. I don't have the link, but it was posted either here or at Anandtech's site.

Good luck sorting it out!

[Dash800]

My 2 Cents

10ns "PC100" RAM is not real PC100, 10ns is used on PC66, so it might not be able to make it up to 100mhz bus, some do, but it might not.

[AuraEdge]

www.accubyte.com/Memory.htm#168 PIN PC100 DIMMS
------------------EDIT
UBB dont work??
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Im gunna pick up a 128 stick from there soon. Its $104 for 6ns, $94 for 7ns, and $86 for 8ns.

I dont know which one to get...but i just found out today i had 64mb 10ns ram...it was sold to me as PC100..but its really PC66 capable of 100. Well Its a real big bottleneck for OCing..so im gunna sell it to friend and get a fresh 128 stick....what speed tho? I wanna get one for max upgradiblity. Since camino will be 133 bus, Im gunna need at least 7ns if i ever wanna 600+ P3. Is there really any need for 6ns? or should i just get 7ns and skimp 10 bucks?


[This message has been edited by AuraEdge (edited 06-13-99).]

[This message has been edited by AuraEdge (edited 06-13-99).]

[bub]

Try this bargain. You won't be sorry.

128mb cas2 Micron -8e on 3rd party pcb for $91 + $8 shipping from AGP Computer. Phone 888.383.8247 (agpcomputer.com). I have used this ram to 117mhz bus speed (527mhz) on Abit boards, but have read it goes much higher.

[Roy]

To All - Reread my post above. Read the BXBoards Article. Then think again. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[DavidX]

AuraEdge
URLs don't like spaces http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[BBA]

I wouldn't try any "exotic" brand/type when Ive seen a lot of "generic" 10nsec PC100 cas3 ram doing cas2 at 124Mhz continously with no hiccups at all!

Mine is but one example! Ive been running it continously since saturday afternoon, with Q2 timedemo's running all night long and playing on the internet all day today in between working on another PC here at the same time. This all to stress test my new P3, but a perfect example for a ram subject.

If you can, just look real close at the DIMMS before you buy it, it should be a thick circuit card due to its 4 layer constraction. Take an old non PC66 or EDO DIMM with you if you can for thickness comparisons, they were 3 layer parts.

Oh, and I havent even rebooted once since 26 hours ago yesterday!

BBA



[This message has been edited by BBA (edited 06-13-99).]

[socalgal]

Thanks everyone.

In my research I found this:
from www.crucial.com/library/realpc100.asp (http://www.crucial.com/library/realpc100.asp)
Although the 100MHz SDRAM peaks at a bus speed of 100MHz, it cannot sustain the speed required in the PC100 specification. A SDRAM that internally clocks at 125MHz is necessary to sustain the 100MHz local bus speed. It is important for consumers to closely analyze SDRAM offerings to ensure PC100 compliance. Since a consumer is unable to verify PC100 compliance, they are well advised to purchase 125MHz SDRAM modules
from a large, reputable vendor...

hmm, very interesting.

After reading reviews and checking many sites, it looks like the Corsair/Micron team gets my money. I am going to order the Corsair CM654S128-133. It's 128mg PC133 c:c output is 7ns, 5.4ns access time.

And I think I'll get it at the CAS L 3. I want to be able to get the max capability for future motherboard upgrades & o/c'ing. I want it friendly too http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

If I have missed anything, please let me know.

Thank you for your consistently great assistance and advice! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

~~ EDIT: I must have had my posting dialog window open for 2 hours! Just saw BBA! Trying to throw a monkey wrench in my decision? JK. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 06-13-99).]

[Roy]

Don't forget that Crucial Technology is a division of Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Micron Technology, Inc. Could there be a vested interest in selling the more expensive product? You've seen "premium Pre-PC100" sticks that are solid at 112! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Roy]

I hope others will enlarge on this.

1. Lower. Tclk=10ns is the maximum for PC100.

2. No. Tac=6ns is maximum for PC100.

3. CL=2 @ 100 implies ability to go faster. Mobo may need setting of CL=3 for overclocking.

4. I have some articles and charts of Mfr's numbers. The links no longer are active. One that is: www.bxboards.com/sdram.shtml (http://www.bxboards.com/sdram.shtml)

A good source of information about PC133 SDRAM is www.viatech.com/news/pc133.htm (http://www.viatech.com/news/pc133.htm) . They spearheaded the consortium that set the standards.

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Bleeding Edge]

Lower timing is faster. -edit- Some PC100 chips are actually rated at 125MHz with 8ns speed. Samsung, Toshiba, (I think they all make 125's).

Not all access times are 6ns. (-edit- I may be wrong here but somewhere on the manufactuers data sheets I saw differently) Again lower is faster.

CAS3/CL3 is better (more friendly) Bios setting for overclocking CAS2 rated memory modules. CAS2 can be set back to run at CAS3 to achieve a higher FSB and still operate functionally.

CAS3 PC133 modules can run at CAS2 settings below 133MHz.

You won't be going above 112/117MHz either way.

Last week I purchased 193MB of Micron PC133 with a CAS3 rating. I have it set to CAS2 in the Bios, as recommended by Micron. These modules run at 7.5ns or less.

In the past I have always stayed with Kingston memory for the workhorse computers.

Check the manufacturers site for detailed info.
Kingston. Samsung. Toshiba. Micron. Hitachi. NEC. Etc. Kingston doesn't actually make the memory chips like the others here but their site is very informative. Samsung and Toshiba semiconductor sites are also good.

Edit-

Had to edit this, since Roy's response was not posted yet.



[This message has been edited by Bleeding Edge (edited 06-13-99).]