Adjusting RAM settings to reach the full potential - Hardware & Software

Just recently, after showing my computer specs through Speccy, someone pointed out that something may be wrong with my RAM. [img]http://i.imgur.com/hX2A2.png[/img] The type of RAM I have is Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3. On the corsair site, the technical specs of the RAM are: [img]http://i.imgur.com/1ySrF.png[/img] Looking at my Speccy screen shot, I don't think everything is right. I was wondering if someone could help me adjust all the settings in my BIOS for my RAM to let it work to its full potential. I have an Asus Sabertooth X58 Motherboard, if that helps. Thanks to anyone who is able to help.

I'm not a RAM expert, but I don't see anything wrong in there.

[QUOTE=Bloodclaw;30895439]I'm not a RAM expert, but I don't see anything wrong in there.[/QUOTE] It's running at 800Mhz when it's tested at 1600Mhz. I have no clue by the way, something in the BIOS.

[QUOTE=SuperHoboMan;30894129] Looking at my Speccy screen shot, I don't think everything is right. I was wondering if someone could help me adjust all the settings in my BIOS for my RAM to let it work to its full potential. I have an Asus Sabertooth X58 Motherboard, if that helps. Thanks to anyone who is able to help.[/QUOTE] I have the same RAM as you and it isn't running the best it can. I'm not familiar with asus mobos but if you have the manual for yours there'll be some instructions on how to change the RAM settings. [editline]4th July 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Darkebrz;30896105]It's running at 800Mhz when it's tested at 1600Mhz. I have no clue by the way, something in the BIOS.[/QUOTE] It's probably just a halved figure, I don't think it would choose default settings that are that bad.

[QUOTE=halflife_123;30896107]I have the same RAM as you and it isn't running the best it can. I'm not familiar with asus mobos but if you have the manual for yours there'll be some instructions on how to change the RAM settings. [editline]4th July 2011[/editline] It's probably just a halved figure, I don't think it would choose default settings that are that bad.[/QUOTE] See, I would look at the manual, but I know nothing about what kind of settings I'll need to change. I don't know exactly what I need to change.

Actually my bad, I think I read your post wrong. If speccy shows that info then I think it's running fine, RAM frequency is one of those values which are sometimes seen halved, so 801MHz means it should be running at ~1600MHz. Those latencies seem fine too.

So higher numbers are good with RAM timing? Or would lower be better?

Higher numbers are better, but obviously don't go over what the manufacturers recommend unless you know what you're doing.

DDR stands for [b]Double[/b] Data Rate, so everything on speccy and etc is halved, its working optimally.

[QUOTE=halflife_123;30898457]Higher numbers are better, but obviously don't go over what the manufacturers recommend unless you know what you're doing.[/QUOTE] No, you want lower RAM timings.

[QUOTE=Armotekma;30900983]No, you want lower RAM timings.[/QUOTE] Sorry, I should really have been more clearer. Higher frequencies are better but higher latencies are not.

Ram timings should scale with your cpu speed (motherboard does this automatically), otherwise; if the memory timings are too fast: the ram's data cells could become corrupt and cause program crashes/bsod. If you want however, you can tweak the speed up on the ram in your bios (independently from the FSB speed), and use [url=http://www.memtest86.com/]Memtest86[/url] to check how stable it runs. [editline]asdf[/editline] Oh and yes, faster is better, but it is also prone to corruption.