PC4800!? PC5400? Can't find an explanation

Pesticle · Nov 23, 2005, 08:37 AM

I saw looking around on some hardware sites I frequent, and memory has always been a sort of weak point for me when it comes to basic knowlege.

Now, most every motherboard I see out there supports a speed of DDR 400, or PC 3200.

Now I'm seeing reviews for OCZ's PC4800 and PC5400 and I am lost. I looked at the motherboard used in the test setup for the benchmarks ran with these types of RAM, and to my surprise when I looked at the specifications I read the memory speed as PC3200, no mention of 4800.

So, is this some sort of clever naming gimmick for their memory to make it look better? Did I read false motherboard specs, or is the memory being clocked down to match the motherboard (I don't see any reason why this would happen x.x).

All answers are appreciated.

PS. The article which spawned this whole post can be found here :

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/840...r_2/index.html

CDsDontBurn · Nov 23, 2005, 08:50 AM

you're looking at DDR2 there buddy

. DDR2 has 240 pins, runs at higher clock speeds (like the ones you've been finding), and has a stock voltage of 1.8v. DDR memory has 184 pins, runs at DDR266/333/400.

the notch in the middle of DDR and DDR2 are slightly offset so you wouldn't be able to physically fit in a DDR2 stick in a DDR dimm slot and vice versa.

from the way you made your post sound like, you're running DDR memory, not DDR2. so if you plan on upgrading your memory, look into DDR400

. DDR memory is currently used on AMD64 systems and for intel basically any 478 p4

hope this helps w/the confusion

PangingJr · Nov 23, 2005, 09:04 AM

OCZ High Grade Memory - PC4800 DDR and PC5400 DDR-2
read the introduction page it said "PC4800 DDR"

Pesticle · Nov 23, 2005, 09:42 PM

Right, and that's what I was talking about.

They say the PC4800 is targetted toward A64 users, and I have yet to see a motherboard that supports a speed higher than PC 3200

(All I did was look on newegg for them)

swimtech · Nov 23, 2005, 10:10 PM

All those numbers...

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to write this down in easy to digest terms , but here's a great article on the subject. Understanding how the memory numbers relate to everything on the 'motherboard system - CPU, Memory, and System Bus' can be a bit confusing...

Directron Article

And a lot of the high end ram numbers (PC 5400 for instance...) out there are rated for one purpose - overclocking headroom.

Matth · Nov 24, 2005, 02:35 PM

More common, for instance, is PC4000 DDR (DDR500) - enabling a 25% FSB overclock for an A64 in a suitable motherboard, without altering RAM dividers.

There is NO standard for DDR memory beyond PC3200 - all higher DDR DIMMS are are for overclockers.

Nov 23, 2005, 08:37 AM	#1
Pesticle DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 155 Rep Power: 0	PC4800!? PC5400? Can't find an explanation I saw looking around on some hardware sites I frequent, and memory has always been a sort of weak point for me when it comes to basic knowlege. Now, most every motherboard I see out there supports a speed of DDR 400, or PC 3200. Now I'm seeing reviews for OCZ's PC4800 and PC5400 and I am lost. I looked at the motherboard used in the test setup for the benchmarks ran with these types of RAM, and to my surprise when I looked at the specifications I read the memory speed as PC3200, no mention of 4800. So, is this some sort of clever naming gimmick for their memory to make it look better? Did I read false motherboard specs, or is the memory being clocked down to match the motherboard (I don't see any reason why this would happen x.x). All answers are appreciated. PS. The article which spawned this whole post can be found here : http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/840...r_2/index.html

Nov 23, 2005, 08:50 AM	#2
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	you're looking at DDR2 there buddy . DDR2 has 240 pins, runs at higher clock speeds (like the ones you've been finding), and has a stock voltage of 1.8v. DDR memory has 184 pins, runs at DDR266/333/400. the notch in the middle of DDR and DDR2 are slightly offset so you wouldn't be able to physically fit in a DDR2 stick in a DDR dimm slot and vice versa. from the way you made your post sound like, you're running DDR memory, not DDR2. so if you plan on upgrading your memory, look into DDR400 . DDR memory is currently used on AMD64 systems and for intel basically any 478 p4 hope this helps w/the confusion __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Nov 23, 2005, 10:10 PM	#5
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	All those numbers... Unfortunately, I don't have the time to write this down in easy to digest terms , but here's a great article on the subject. Understanding how the memory numbers relate to everything on the 'motherboard system - CPU, Memory, and System Bus' can be a bit confusing... Directron Article And a lot of the high end ram numbers (PC 5400 for instance...) out there are rated for one purpose - overclocking headroom. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Nov 23, 2005, 09:04 AM	#3
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	OCZ High Grade Memory - PC4800 DDR and PC5400 DDR-2 read the introduction page it said "PC4800 DDR"

Nov 23, 2005, 09:42 PM	Thread Starter #4
Pesticle DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 155 Rep Power: 0	Right, and that's what I was talking about. They say the PC4800 is targetted toward A64 users, and I have yet to see a motherboard that supports a speed higher than PC 3200 (All I did was look on newegg for them)

Nov 24, 2005, 02:35 PM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	More common, for instance, is PC4000 DDR (DDR500) - enabling a 25% FSB overclock for an A64 in a suitable motherboard, without altering RAM dividers. There is NO standard for DDR memory beyond PC3200 - all higher DDR DIMMS are are for overclockers.