About RAM speed

[satimis]

Hi all,

This is a newly built PC with following config

AMD 8-core FX-8150 CPU
Motherboard ASUS M5A97R2.0
Video card ASUS HD6450 Silent 1GB DDR3
Hard Disk WD 2TB Black Series
RAM Kingston HyperX KHX1600C10D381K2/16G (2x8G) (Blue Memory)
OS Ubuntu 12.04 desktop 64bit

Installation w/o problem. PC is now working.

$ sudo lshw -short -C memory

H/W path             Device     Class       Description
=======================================================
/0/0                            memory      64KiB BIOS
/0/4/5                          memory      384KiB L1 cache
/0/4/6                          memory      8MiB L2 cache
/0/4/7                          memory      8MiB L3 cache
/0/2c                           memory      16GiB System Memory
/0/2c/0                         memory      DIMM Synchronous [empty]
/0/2c/1                         memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz 
/0/2c/2                         memory      DIMM Synchronous [empty]
/0/2c/3                         memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz

Showing the RAM speed is 1333 NOT 1600?

ASUS M5A97 R2.0 Specification
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD...specifications

Kingston HyperX KHX1600C10D381K2/16G (2x8G) (Blue Memory)
http://www.kingston.com/us/memory/hyperx/blu

The RAM sticks are inserted on slot-1 and slot-3
(counted from the Power Supple Connectors-socket)

Did I make mistake here? Pls advise. TA

B.R.
satimis

DESCRIPTION FEATURES
Kingston's KHX1600C10D3B1K2/16G is a kit of two 1G x 64-bit • JEDEC standard 1.5V (1.425V ~ 1.575V) Power Supply

(8GB) DDR3-1600 CL10 SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), 2Rx8
memory modules, based on sixteen 512M x 8-bit FBGA compo-
nents per module. Total kit capacity is 16GB. Each module kit
has been tested to run at DDR3-1600 at a low latency timing of
10-10-10 at 1.5V.The SPD's are programmed to JEDEC stan-
dard latency DDR3-1333 timing of 9-9-9 at 1.5V. Each 240-pin
DIMM uses gold contact fingers. The JEDEC electrical and
mechanical specifications are as follows

You will need to increase the ram speed in bios and also alter the cas timings to get DDR3-1600

[bob]

moved to Linux Chat (Ubuntu involved, not Fedora)

[satimis]

Originally Posted by Yellowman

You will need to increase the ram speed in bios and also alter the cas timings to get DDR3-1600

Hi,

I got it.

On BIOS
Memory Frequency - Auto

change "Auto" -> "DDR3 1600"

Thanks

[Maryyy]

Just out of curiosity, does it now say 1600 in lshw or still 1333?

I'm curious, becasue I have similar Kingston memory, but it's XMP capable. After selecting the XMP (1600Mhz) profile in BIOS it was still at 1333, not only reported by BIOS, but also by lshw.

After forcing it to 1600Mhz it's reported as running at 1600Mhz in BIOS, but not in lshw, that still reports 1333.
Memtest86+ reports correctly 1600Mhz and I did few benchmarks and it is technically really running at 1600, though only 1333 reported by lshw.
Also, I had to raise voltage to 1.55V (1.53V reported), otherwise even if it was 100% stable even in prime95's blend, it refused to boot in maybe 10% of cases.

[Ihatewindows]

It is probably a limitation with Ubuntu.

[satimis]

Hi all,

I'm now running Fedora 17 desktop 64bit on the same PC (another HD)

BIOS
Memory Frequency auto

$ sudo lshw -short -C memory

[sudo] password for satimis: 
H/W path        Device      Class       Description
===================================================
/0/0                        memory      64KiB BIOS
/0/4/5                      memory      384KiB L1 cache
/0/4/6                      memory      8MiB L2 cache
/0/4/7                      memory      8MiB L3 cache
/0/2c                       memory      16GiB System Memory
/0/2c/0                     memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz (0.8
/0/2c/1                     memory      DIMM Synchronous [empty]
/0/2c/2                     memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz (0.8
/0/2c/3                     memory      DIMM Synchronous [empty]

/0/2c/0 memory 8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1333 MHz (0.8

If set the "Memory Frequency 1600MHz" on BIOS, it shows "1600 MHz

I have run memtest but could not find the frequency there.

One thing I couldn't resolve:-
On BIOS it shows;

DRAM SPEED INF  Max Bandwith 1333

But on the packing box of Kingston RAM it indicates

HyperX KHX1600C10D381K2/16G (2x8G) (Blue Memory)

[Maryyy]

Thanks satimis.
I just think that different chipsets/memory controlers give lshw a headache. Like it reads only SPD info with some chipsets and is not capable of determinig actual memory speed correctly, who knows.

Apart from not being XMP capable (which didn't work for me anyway even though it should), your memory is the same as mine, including module sizes. Yet, memtest86+ reports speed correctly for me, not for you. But lshw reports correct speed for you, but not for me.

Golden CPU-Z..

Originally Posted by Ihatewindows

It is probably a limitation with Ubuntu.

Hardly.

$ cat /etc/fedora-release 
Fedora release 17 (Beefy Miracle)

[satimis]

Hi Maryyy

your memory is the same as mine, including module sizes....

Actually I was looking for;
Corsair Vengeance CMZ32GX3M4X1600C10 DDR3 1600MHz 32GB Kit (4x8GB)

Unfortunately it was not available. No 32G kit was available on the shop which I visited. The shopkeeper recommended me;
Kingston's KHX1600C10D3B1K2/16G

I never use Kingston RAM before. Therefore I purchased one set to try. After one month if w/o problem I'll get another set.

satimis

[Maryyy]

I used Kingston's before. Four 2GB DDR2 modules are in this work machine I'm typing this from now.
I chose it simply because they tend to play nice with Intel and Intel has more of lab tests with them on their boards. Plus, this specific XMP type was also certified directly by Kingston to run on my DH77KC. Well, it runs fine, but only after forcing the speed. But this may as well be a BIOS problem and can be resolved later. Even though I got the latest BIOS after I read that the new release should fix just that. Hmm, one can't have everything.

[schurke]

Hello,

Similar problem here, 1600 MHz modules are seen as 800 MHz by lshw:

$  sudo lshw -short -C memory
H/W path       Device     Class       Description
=================================================
/0/0                      memory      64KiB BIOS
/0/34                     memory      32GiB System Memory
/0/34/0                   memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
/0/34/1                   memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
/0/34/2                   memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
/0/34/3                   memory      8GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
/0/42                     memory      192KiB L1 cache
/0/43                     memory      4MiB L2 cache

and dmidecode fails, too, particularly with "Configured Clock Speed":

$ sudo dmidecode -t memory
# dmidecode 2.11
SMBIOS 2.7 present.

Handle 0x0034, DMI type 16, 23 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 8 GB
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Number Of Devices: 4

Handle 0x0036, DMI type 17, 34 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0034
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 8192 MB
	Form Factor: DIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM_A1
	Bank Locator: A1_BANK0
	Type: DDR3
	Type Detail: Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered)
	Speed: 800 MHz
	Manufacturer: Kingston        
	Serial Number: 8D16B745  
	Asset Tag: A1_AssetTagNum1
	Part Number: 99U5471-039.A00LF 
	Rank: 2
	Configured Clock Speed: Unknown

Handle 0x0038, DMI type 17, 34 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0034
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 8192 MB
	Form Factor: DIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM_A2
	Bank Locator: A1_BANK1
	Type: DDR3
	Type Detail: Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered)
	Speed: 800 MHz
	Manufacturer: Kingston        
	Serial Number: 9516F87A  
	Asset Tag: A1_AssetTagNum0
	Part Number: 99U5471-039.A00LF 
	Rank: 2
	Configured Clock Speed: 30955 MHz

Handle 0x003A, DMI type 17, 34 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0034
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 8192 MB
	Form Factor: DIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM_B1
	Bank Locator: A1_BANK2
	Type: DDR3
	Type Detail: Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered)
	Speed: 800 MHz
	Manufacturer: Kingston        
	Serial Number: 92162646  
	Asset Tag: A1_AssetTagNum2
	Part Number: 99U5471-039.A00LF 
	Rank: 2
	Configured Clock Speed: Unknown

Handle 0x003C, DMI type 17, 34 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x0034
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 8192 MB
	Form Factor: DIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: DIMM_B2
	Bank Locator: A1_BANK3
	Type: DDR3
	Type Detail: Synchronous Unbuffered (Unregistered)
	Speed: 800 MHz
	Manufacturer: Kingston        
	Serial Number: 95163A7B  
	Asset Tag: A1_AssetTagNum3
	Part Number: 99U5471-039.A00LF 
	Rank: 2
	Configured Clock Speed: 1 MHz

BIOS is well set-up, and displays 1600 MHz both when set on "auto" and "force 1600".

What - if anything - should be done to have the memory speed properly displayed?

[satimis]

Originally Posted by schurke

- snip -

BIOS is well set-up, and displays 1600 MHz both when set on "auto" and "force 1600".

What - if anything - should be done to have the memory speed properly displayed?

Hi.

On BIOS don't select "auto". Select the speed corresponding to the RAM module. That fixed my problem, nothing else.

satimis

[schurke]

Originally Posted by satimis

... Select the speed corresponding to the RAM module...

Nope, still the same, as I mentioned previously. The board can see and adjust the memory but lshw and dmidecode cannot guess the right memory "speed".

[hbaird]

I am glad I saw this thread. I had set my MB Bios for 1600 ram when I got it two years ago. updated the Bios a few days ago when it failed. The bios went back to nominal 1066. I ran code shown and found the clock speed to be 1066. I rebooted and reset the Bios to 1600. All is well. It does not seem any faster.