Memory not running up to speed?

[D1sc1pl3 0f Mal1c3]

I have two 512 sticks of PC3200 in my machine, and CPU-Z tells me that it's running at something like 164.6 mhz. Isn't DDR400 supposed to be running at 200mhz?

 

[baldrik]

check the bios to see if you have a ram divider set

 

[D1sc1pl3 0f Mal1c3]

What does that do and where in the BIOS would I find it, and if I don't how do I set one?

 

[baldrik]

if a ram divider is set, it will make your ram run slower than the fsb. if your fsb is 200 and your divider is set at 166, your ram runs at 166. setting the divider to 200 makes the ram run 1/1 with the fsb; setting the divider to 166 makes your ram run at 5/6 your fsb speed; setting it at 133 makes your ram run at 2/3 your fsb speed; 100 runs it at 1/2. if you want your ram to run at 200 it needs to be set to 200.

as for actually doing it, bios are different for every board, so check your mobo manual. should be in advanced bios features or something like that.

 

[D1sc1pl3 0f Mal1c3]

Thanks a bunch ^_^

Forgive my ignorance, but why wouldn't the motherboard just automatically set the RAM to match up with the FSB, provided it wasn't RAM rated lower than the FSB? My un-overclocked CPU's FSP is at 200 right now, and my RAM is rated for exaactly that speed, so why would a divider be put to set it lower? This just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Lord of Shadows]

Some motherboards have automatic settings that do weird things. It will work at whatever the divider is set at, make sure its 1:1 with the front side bus.

 

[Tet5uo]

YOu may need to put your memory in different slots as well..

a64's are weird with 2 double-sided Dimms ...

For example, here's the memory charts for my board.. If i use certain combos the memory wont run at 400 but 333..

On my last 754 board, the Gigabyte K8nsPro there was nothing I could do to make it run my memory at DDR400, so I just sold it...

 

[Bullitt]

YOu may need to put your memory in different slots as well..

a64's are weird with 2 double-sided Dimms ...

For example, here's the memory charts for my board.. If i use certain combos the memory wont run at 400 but 333..
[
On my last 754 board, the Gigabyte K8nsPro there was nothing I could do to make it run my memory at DDR400, so I just sold it...

You have hit the nail on the head. thats a small thing that people tend to miss... The manual contains vital information on memory limitations like that.